Ian Reifowitz

Ian Reifowitz, a history professor at SUNY Empire State University and co-author of Riling Up the Base, dives into alarming themes from Trump’s recent speech to military officials. He unpacks Trump’s rhetoric, characterizing America as under siege from within, blurring lines between domestic and foreign threats. Ian explores the dangers of militarizing U.S. cities and traces the historical roots of such grievances back to mid-20th century politics. He also discusses the effectiveness of mockery as a political strategy, spotlighting Senator Gallego's sharp rebuttal.

Ian Reifowitz, a SUNY Distinguished Professor and co-author of "Riling Up the Base," dives deep into Trump’s unique political communication. He reveals how Trump's 'truth-bringing' persona resonates despite factual inaccuracies, driven by audience intuition and feedback. The conversation highlights how stereotype-driven populism triumphed over policy in Republican primaries. Ian also discusses the media's struggle against Trump’s relentless rhetoric and explores resentment over political correctness, comparing Trump to shock jocks like Rush Limbaugh.

Ian Reifowitz, a history professor and co-author of Riling Up the Base, delves into Trump's alarming rhetoric during a speech to military officials. He explains how Trump blurs the lines between domestic and foreign enemies, echoing dangerous historical precedents. Reifowitz highlights the implications of Trump's calls for militarizing U.S. cities and discusses the roots of his fear-driven narratives linked to 1960s racial politics. The conversation also touches on the effectiveness of mockery in political discourse, particularly in response to such extreme rhetoric.