We continue our conversation about “Landslide,” the fantastic new NPR podcast series – and about the transformation of politics in the 1970s, the emergence of a new kind of populist politics, how the Republican Party was taken over by rightwing radicalism that ultimately rose to power with Ronald Reagan in 1980, and how all that relates to what we are experiencing today.   In last week’s Part I, we already talked about the process of partisan sorting and party realignment – certainly one of the key stories in recent U.S. history; about the reaction of the Republican establishment to the Reagan-led rightwing insurgency that oscillated between arrogance, helplessness, and complicity; we discussed Reagan as a radical figure in U.S. history and why we can only understand the rise of these rightwing insurgents if we focus on the racial and cultural grievances around which their political project was organized.   In this Part II, we start by tackling the question of how to reconcile individual agency and structural contexts, presidential politics and grassroots activism, the contingencies of the political process and broader cultural and ideological shifts when we think about and try to explain history. We also reflect on the question of how to relate Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump – on the relationship between the political styles, promises, and projects they embody: Reaganism and Trumpism; on the similarities and echoes, but also the differences between these two brands of reactionary politics. And finally, we reflect on the lessons we ought to learn (or not learn) from the 1970s for our own political moment, and whether the story of Gerald Ford and is best interpreted as a role model for a more moderate politics oriented towards compromise – or as a cautionary tale of what happens when the Republican establishment tries to appease and harness, rather than oppose, the forces of rightwing extremism.   Show notes: “Landslide” at the NPR podcast network: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510376/landslide   Nuance Tales – Ben Bradford’s podcast production studio https://www.nuancetales.com/home

“Landslide” is a new NPR podcast series that tells the story of American politics in the 1970s, specifically of the 1976 and 1980 presidential elections, of Jimmy Carter’s unlikely path to the White House and, most importantly, of how Ronald Reagan and the New Right rose to power. And as you will hear in our conversation with our guest Ben Bradford, the man who created, hosted, narrated, and produced “Landslide,” it is also so much more. For this episode, I recruited the help of Seth Cotlar, professor of history at Willamette University (and our first returning guest on the show), who is currently writing a book about the relationship between establishment Republicanism and far-right activism in Oregon since the 1950s. Together, we discuss the story of “Landslide” with Ben Bradford – and the many questions of fundamental historical and political importance it tackles. We investigate the Republican Party’s radicalization to the Right and the role Ronald Reagan played in this process; the emergence of a new kind of politics and political culture; the relationship between Reagan and Trump – and between the political styles, promises, and projects they embody: Reaganism and Trumpism. And we reflect on the lessons we ought to learn (or not learn) from the 1970s for our own political moment, and whether the story of Gerald Ford and is best interpreted as a role model for a more moderate politics oriented towards compromise – or as a cautionary tale of what happens when the Republican establishment tries to appease and harness, rather than oppose, the forces of rightwing extremism. If you are interested in the pre-historie(s) of our present and how we got to where we are today, I promise this conversation is for you. We actually had so much to talk about that we are releasing the conversation in two episodes – look out for Part II early next week.     Show notes: “Landslide” at the NPR podcast network: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510376/landslide Nuance Tales – Ben Bradford’s podcast production studio https://www.nuancetales.com/home

Analysis of the GOP primaries reveals Trump's dominance but weak general election prospects. The podcast explores divisions within the Republican Party, Nikki Haley's strategies, and challenges faced by Republican officials. Biden's State of the Union address is dissected, along with reactions and critiques in the political landscape. The episode also delves into justice delivery in a polarized era and initiatives promoting collaboration.

Joe Biden is “too old” and should step aside – at least that is what many of the nation’s most prominent commentators are telling us. But do their arguments actually hold up to scrutiny? Is Joe Biden too old and unfit to be president? Is he incapable of campaigning and defeating Donald Trump in the 2024 election? And if he were to step aside, what should be the plan going forward? Specifically, is an open convention in the summer, as Ezra Klein has argued, the best path towards a Democratic victory in November? We discuss why this discourse, although frustrating and exhausting, matters; we evaluate the arguments of those who describe Biden as manifestly unfit; and we explain why, even though we are concerned too, we remain staunchly unconvinced by the arguments and suggestions the “Biden too old” camp has presented. Finally, we reflect on the case against voting for Biden that is coming from the Left, where “Biden too old” is often seen as merely a distraction from what are supposedly the much more significant reasons to reject the president, especially his stance on Gaza. We offer our thoughts on how people should approach an election in which we are confronted with a binary choice between either, in all likelihood, Joe Biden – or Donald Trump as the extremist leader of a party fully controlled by a radicalizing anti-democratic movement that is seeking to impose a vengeful authoritarian order on the country.   Show notes: Ezra Klein, “Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden,” New York Times, February 16, 2024 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/ezra-klein-biden-audio-essay.html   Perry Bacon, “Biden’s Democratic Party is to the left of Obama’s. Thank a progressive,” Washington Post, July 13, 2023 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/13/why-progressives-winning-inside-democratic-party/   Thomas Zimmer, “What the ‘Biden too old’ discourse is really about,” Democracy Americana, February 13, 2024 https://thomaszimmer.substack.com/p/what-the-biden-too-old-discourse

What would a second Trump presidency look like? We explore the detailed plans of the Right for when they regain power, including expanding presidential power, purging federal employees, and transforming American government into a revenge machine. We delve into the controversial views expressed by the president of the Heritage Foundation and the radical values that underlie these plans. The chapter further discusses the plan to replace personnel with loyalists aligned with the Trump administration's ideology and the implications of transforming the American government by removing experts.

Claudine Gay, Harvard's first black president, resigned after a rightwing campaign that attacked diversity and progress at institutions like Harvard.The campaign was financed by a billionaire donor and pushed by MAGA Republicans like Elise Stefanik.Media coverage of the campaign legitimized dangerous false allegations of plagiarism against Gay.Mainstream media deliberately joined the campaign, indicative of the media's role in normalizing attacks on higher education.The hypocrisy and lack of humanity in the plagiarism accusations were revealed.An analysis of the racist and sexist culture in American universities, highlighting the isolation and lack of protection for marginalized students in social science fields.

Michael Podhorzer, a political analyst, discusses the confusion around poll data and the dynamics of American politics. He challenges the perception of Trump's abilities and the limitations of data analysis. The growth of the anti-Maga coalition and education polarization are also explored.

Discussion on polling data and election results, examining attitudes towards political violence, cultural priorities in American politics, public sentiments on history teaching and abortion, exploring the deep acceptance of a narrative in evangelical churches, and a survey on American political behavior.

The podcast discusses the new Speaker of the House who rejects democracy and the role of threats of violence in politics. It also analyzes the state of the 2024 presidential race, focusing on Trump's popularity and Biden's age.

The podcast reflects on the Israel-Hamas war and the dangerous state of Republican politics. It discusses the chaos and division within the GOP, the role of media in distorting political discourse, and the lack of trust in the Republican Party's ability to govern. The podcast also explores the media's focus on chaos and controversy, as well as the weakness of the party and concerns about governing.