Authors John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira discuss the rise of a 'shadow party' alienating white working-class voters. They explore the impact of elite donors, activist groups, and media voices on the Democratic Party. The podcast also touches on the transformation of political parties in the late 1990s, the defection of the white working class, the influence of trans issues, and the role of the labor movement in the party.
The rise of a "shadow party" within the Democratic Party, dominated by progressive activists, has alienated the white working-class vote.
The dominance of the "shadow party" has led to a more liberal stance on cultural issues, making them non-negotiable within the party.
The Democratic Party needs to address the concerns and priorities of young voters, including economic issues and a sense of identity.
Deep dives
Democrats losing support among white working class and non-white working class voters
The podcast episode discusses how the Democratic Party has seen a decline in support among both white working class and non-white working class voters. The episode highlights the factors that have contributed to this shift, such as the party's stance on immigration and its alignment with progressive social issues. It emphasizes the need for Democrats to address these concerns and find common ground with working class voters to regain their support.
The rise of the shadow party and its influence on the Democratic Party
The podcast explores the concept of the shadow party, which refers to a subset of the Democratic Party dominated by progressive activists and organizations with extreme views on social issues. It discusses how the shadow party's influence has grown within the party, pushing Democrats in a more liberal direction, particularly on issues like gender ideology and transgender rights. The episode notes the challenges this poses for the party and the importance of finding a balance to appeal to a broader range of voters.
The impact of the shadow party on cultural issues and policies
The podcast examines how the dominance of the shadow party within the Democratic Party has shaped its stance on cultural issues, such as transgender rights, race, and climate change. It discusses how these positions have become non-negotiable within the party, and anyone who deviates is seen as not part of the 'elect.' The episode raises questions about the implications of these positions and the need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to address these complex issues.
The challenges faced by the Democratic Party in appealing to young voters
The podcast highlights the challenges the Democratic Party faces in appealing to young voters, especially on economic and social issues. It discusses how young voters are driven by concerns about the economy, social disorder, and a sense of identity that may not align with the progressive ideology dominating the shadow party. The episode emphasizes the need for the party to recognize and address the priorities and values of this younger demographic.
The importance of labor and the need for a reevaluation of priorities
The podcast emphasizes the importance of the labor movement to the Democratic Party and the need for a reevaluation of priorities. It discusses how the Democrats must align themselves with the concerns of working class voters, including issues like job security, fair wages, and healthcare. The episode suggests that the party should prioritize policies that support the labor movement and create opportunities for economic advancement for working class Americans.
In 2002, John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira published The Emerging Democratic Majority (Scribner). Now the pair are back with Where Have All the Democrats Gone?: The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes (Henry Holt, 2023). In their new book, an essential guide to the trends that roil the Democratic Party and threaten its national standing, the authors forthrightly acknowledge that they had underestimated “the defection of the white working class” from party ranks. Our conversation focuses on a core reason for this defection: the rise of a “shadow party” of elite donors, activist groups and media voices that is alienating the white working-class vote with an unbending, culturally-left posture on hot-button matters like race, immigration, climate change and sex and gender. This self-appointed “vanguard” possesses a quasi-religious mindset of a neo-Puritan stamp—an outlook that many Democratic voters, and not only in the white working class, reject. The battle is on, Judis and Teixeira aptly warn, for “the soul of the party in the age of extremes.”
Veteran journalist Paul Starobin is a former Moscow bureau chief for Business Week and a former contributing editor of The Atlantic. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. His latest book, Putin’s Exiles: Their Fight for a Better Russia (Columbia Global Reports) will be published in January.
