FiveThirtyEight Politics

How the Diploma Divide Took Over Our Politics

Oct 23, 2024

Matt Grossmann and David Hopkins, political science professors and co-authors of "Polarized by Degrees," dive into the unprecedented educational divide shaping American politics. They discuss how college-educated voters lean Democratic, while non-college-educated voters are shifting right. The conversation highlights Democrats' reliance on expert opinions versus Republicans' skepticism, exploring the impact on governance and public perception. They also examine the implications for party strategies and the future of electoral outcomes in this polarized landscape.

41:16

Episode guests

David Hopkins

Matt Grossmann

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The growing educational divide in American politics has led college-educated voters to increasingly align with Democrats while non-college-educated voters favor Republicans.

This educational split shapes party governance approaches, with Democrats relying on expert-driven policies and Republicans expressing skepticism towards credentialed specialists.

Deep dives

Realignment of Voter Education and Political Affiliations

The 2016 election revealed a significant realignment of American voters based on educational attainment, with non-college-educated white voters leaning towards the Republican Party while college-educated voters shifted towards the Democrats. This transformation has entrenched various voting patterns, where Democrats struggle to regain the support of working-class voters who previously aligned with them. Historical battlegrounds like Harris County in Texas have become less competitive for Republicans, indicating this shift is part of a broader, lasting change in political dynamics. As detailed in 'Polarized by Degrees,' these patterns suggest that educational divides are becoming a central factor in American political affiliations.

Intro

2min

The Cultural Divide: Education and Politics in America

3min

Navigating Expertise in a Politically Divided Landscape

3min

Education and Political Polarization

9min

Navigating the Diploma Divide: Democratic Strategies in a Changing Electorate

4min

Navigating Political Polarization

19min

For decades, Republicans were thought of as the country club set, while Democrats were the party of the working class. But increasingly, education has become a larger dividing line in American politics than economic status. This trend has seen college-educated voters move toward the Democratic Party and non-college-educated voters shift toward Republicans.

In this installment of the 538 Politics podcast, Galen speaks with Matt Grossmann and David Hopkins, authors of "Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics." They explore how this educational divide is reshaping not just electoral outcomes, but the way each party approaches governance and policy.

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FiveThirtyEight Politics

How the Diploma Divide Took Over Our Politics

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Realignment of Voter Education and Political Affiliations

Impact of Education on Governance and Policy Making

Complexities of Polarization Beyond Education

Future Implications of Educational Polarization

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts