Lily Geismer

In this engaging discussion, historian Lily Geismer, a professor at Claremont McKenna College and co-editor of "Mastery and Drift," dives into the historical roots of patronage politics within the Democratic Party. She reveals how the party shifted from its patronage-driven past to a more technocratic approach. The conversation touches on the decline of traditional loyalty networks, the ramifications for labor movements, and the evolving challenges in contemporary urban governance. Geismer expertly analyzes the implications of these shifts for grassroots political representation.

Lily Geismer, a historian at Claremont McKenna College, and Brent Cebul from the University of Pennsylvania delve into the intricacies of professional-class liberalism as explored in their collection, Mastery and Drift. They discuss how the PMC has shaped contemporary politics, including trends from the Clinton and Obama eras to the rise of populism. With insights on the tension between expert-driven policies and grassroots movements, they critique the reliance on philanthropy over public solutions. The conversation offers a historical lens on labor, activism, and the changing face of liberalism.

Lily Geismer, a historian specializing in the Democratic Party and author of "Left Behind," explains how the Democrats shifted from unionized industries to tech and finance under Clinton's Third Way. Political economist Mark Blyth analyzes the rise and perceived failures of Bidenomics, which aimed to address inequality but faced political backlash. They also discuss the evolving trade policies and the implications of these changes, signaling a departure from the neoliberal consensus that once dominated the party.