In 2004, historian Thomas Frank proposed a theory about the rightward drift of the white working class. Was he a prescient king whose work presaged the rise of Trump — or a bumbling fool with a broken thesis? Unfortunately it turns out he is a secret third thing that takes one hour and six minutes to explain.

Special thanks to Julia Valdés for her help with this episode!

Where to find us:

Sources:

The Thesis That Drove American Politics Crazy: The Emerging Democratic Majority
What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Kansas?
Class is Dismissed
The White Working Class and the Democratic Party
It’s time to bust the myth: Most Trump voters were not working class.
How the diploma divide came to dominate American politics
The 'Diploma Divide': Does It Exist for Racial and Ethnic Minorities?
Blind Retrospection: Why Shark Attacks Are Bad For Democracy
Nationally poor, locally rich: Income and local context in the 2016 presidential election
Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government
Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America
Political Landscapes of Donald Trump
The White Working Class and the 2016 Election
Partisanship by family income, home ownership, union membership and veteran status
The Elites Had It Coming
What Explains Educational Realignment Among White Americans?

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

Paul Virzi: A Joke about Plan B