
Jacob Hacker
Political scientist at Yale University, co-author of "Let Them Eat Tweets", focusing on the relationship between inequality and the Republican Party.
Top 3 podcasts with Jacob Hacker
Ranked by the Snipd community

Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 50min
Should the U.S. Have a Public Health Insurance Plan?
David Goldhill, CEO of Sesame and author of 'Catastrophic Care,' debates Jacob Hacker, Yale professor and political scientist. They tackle whether a public health insurance plan could effectively compete with private options. Hacker advocates for enhanced coverage and systemic improvements, critiquing current inefficiencies. Goldhill counters with concerns about market regulation and the need for competition. The discussion delves into healthcare disparities and explores innovative solutions while debating the balance between public and private systems.

Nov 8, 2021 • 29min
Baby Boom or Bust
Birth rates in many countries, including China, Japan, Italy and the UK have dropped below replacement level. Clare McNeil asks if we should be concerned about this, and the burden it will place on taxpayers and the young, or welcome it as a good thing for climate change, where some think that the fewer consumers and CO2 emitters the better. But with fertility rates of 1.58 in England and Wales, and only 1.29 in Scotland, society is aging, with the higher healthcare and pension costs to be borne by the taxpayers of working age. What role could or should the government play in increasing the birthrate? Presenter: Clare McNeil
Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Editor: Jasper Corbett Speakers:
Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy, the University of Sheffield
Lord David Willetts, President of the Resolution Foundation
George Monbiot, environmental campaigner and author
Felix Pinkert, Assistant professor of Philosophy and Economics, University of Vienna
Jacob Hacker, Professor of Political Science, Yale University
Jade Sasser, Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies, University of California, Riverside
Ronald Lee, emeritus professor of Demography and Economics, University of California, Berkeley

Aug 6, 2020 • 1h 19min
How inequality and white identity politics feed each other
Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, political scientists and co-authors of "Let Them Eat Tweets," delve into the symbiotic relationship between inequality and the Republican Party. They argue that as economic disparity grows, the GOP resorts to identity politics and undermines democracy to maintain support among both elites and downscale white voters. The conversation highlights how these dynamics shape political strategies, the struggles within party coalitions, and the implications for American democracy amid changing demographics.