Keen On America

Harry Freedman, a historian based in London and author of 'Bob Dylan, Jewish Roots, American Soil,' explores the profound impact of Dylan's Jewish upbringing on his art. He argues against the myth of the artist as a tabula rasa, highlighting Dylan's rich cultural heritage that influenced his songwriting and activism. Freedman analyzes Dylan's early efforts to conceal his identity, the shaping of his protest songs by Jewish values, and his complex relationship with musical legends like Guthrie and Seeger, revealing a multifaceted persona thrumming with cultural resonance.

In this discussion, Jonathan Gould, a writer and former musician, reflects on the legacy of the Talking Heads, the quintessential art school band of the 1970s. He reveals how their agnostic approach reshaped rock music, prioritizing artistic evolution over commercial success. Gould emphasizes the band's unique roots in NYC's vibrant cultural scene and how their minimalist performances and the groundbreaking film 'Stop Making Sense' continue to influence modern artists. He argues that their questioning of norms makes them archetypes of alternative rock.

Elise Loehnen, a writer and editor, dives into the complexities of being a 'good woman,' exposing it as a 'misery trap.' She argues that societal expectations force women to suppress basic instincts, leading to exhaustion. Loehnen highlights how the seven deadly sins reflect harmful conditioning and discusses the toxic commercialization of the wellness industry. She also explores the Enneagram's potential to help women embrace their full selves and calls for breaking free from victim-villain-hero dynamics in personal relationships.

Evan Osnos, a Staff writer at The New Yorker and author of "The Haves and Have-Yachts," shares insights on the ultra-rich in America. He highlights how today's billionaires flaunt their wealth in a way that reshapes societal values. The discussion dives into the psychological complexities driving their behaviors, such as an obsession with immortality. Osnos contrasts past and present billionaires, revealing a stark shift in philanthropy and power, while emphasizing the concentration of wealth among a mere 19 individuals who influence our economy and politics.

Megan Greenwell, an accomplished journalist known for her work as the first female editor-in-chief of Deadspin, dives into the troubling impact of private equity on the American Dream. She reveals how her personal experience with Deadspin's acquisition by private equity companies illuminated broader issues like the debt transfer loophole and the invisible struggle of workers under these firms. Greenwell argues that private equity undermines free market principles, highlighting its role in decimating local economies and essential services, pushing for urgent regulatory reform.

In this conversation, Keith Teare, co-founder of TechCrunch, dives into the seismic shifts at Google over its 25-year journey. He explains how AI is disrupting the traditional web model, breaking the 'simple bargain' that once benefited both Google and content creators. Teare also highlights the ramifications of AI-driven search, which bypasses links, fundamentally altering how we access information. He questions if the AI revolution might turn the tables and challenge Google's dominance in the digital landscape.

Mark Bray, a historian focused on human rights and political violence, explores the rise of American fascism linked to Trump's MAGA movement. He shares insights on how history’s racist backlash informs modern resistance, drawing connections to anti-fascist activism from the KKK to today. Bray emphasizes the importance of disruption over traditional politics for effective resistance, discusses the complexities of violence in movements, and highlights the impact of social media in organizing against authoritarianism. Happy NO KINGS DAY!

Spike Cohen, a prominent libertarian activist and the Libertarian Party's 2020 vice presidential nominee, shares his views on the essence of libertarianism as the 'principle of human respect.' He critiques both major political parties, emphasizing how government overreach creates societal issues rather than solving them. Cohen also discusses the troubling federal funding schemes that facilitate family separations and argues that Donald Trump has failed libertarian values by expanding government debt and spending, betraying his supporters in the process.

According to Deborah Baker, author of Charlottesville: An American Story, America has become the Charlottesville of the Unite the Right Rally of August 12, 2017. Baker, who grew up in Charlottesville in the shadow of Jefferson's Monticello, watched in shock as neo-Nazis marched through her hometown in August 2017 with torches and flags. What began as her attempt to understand how such hatred could manifest in a progressive college town became a deeper reckoning with America's buried histories and recurring tragedies. The fascist ideologies that once seemed confined to internet forums and fringe rallies have now, she argues, been institutionalized at the highest levels of government. The warning signs were there in 2017—but too many people, from university administrators to progressive leaders, chose to look away. If we close our eyes, she warns, it won’t go away. five key takeaways1. America Has Institutionalized ExtremismWhat began as fringe internet movements and basement trolling has now moved into the mainstream of American politics and government institutions. The ideologies that shocked people in Charlottesville 2017 are now, according to Baker, embedded at the highest levels of power.2. Progressive Institutions Failed to Take the Threat SeriouslyUniversity administrators, mayors, and police chiefs in liberal Charlottesville told citizens to "stay home" and ignore the approaching Unite the Right rally. This pattern of progressive leadership closing their eyes to fascist organizing represents a dangerous institutional failure that continues today.3. White Supremacy Has Always Married Anti-Semitism with Anti-Black RacismThe Nazi flags at Charlottesville weren't separate from the Confederate monuments debate. White supremacist ideology consistently portrays Jews as the puppet masters behind Black civil rights movements, combining European fascism with Southern white supremacy into a unified hateful worldview.4. America's "Buried Histories" Keep RepeatingBaker discovered that Charlottesville had experienced a similar white supremacist rally in the 1950s that had been completely forgotten. This pattern of burying ugly chapters allows the same mistakes to be repeated, as communities fail to learn from their past encounters with organized hate.5. Economic and Political Destabilization Creates Fertile Ground for FascismThe conditions that radicalized figures like Richard Spencer include the "forever wars," the 2008 financial crisis, and the broader betrayal of working-class Americans. These "self-inflicted wounds" by American institutions create the chaos that fascist movements exploit to gain followers.Deborah Baker was born in Charlottesville and grew up in Virginia, Puerto Rico and New England. She attended the University of Virginia and Cambridge University. Her first book, written in college, was Making a Farm: The Life of Robert Bly, published by Beacon Press in 1982. After working as a book editor and publisher, in 1990 she moved to Calcutta where she wrote In Extremis; The Life of Laura Riding. Published by Grove Press and Hamish Hamilton in the UK, it was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography in 1994. Her third book, A Blue Hand: The Beats in India was published by Penguin Press USA and Penguin India in 2008. In 2008–2009 she was a Fellow at the Dorothy and Lewis C. Cullman Center for Writers and Scholars at The New York Public Library. There she researched and wrote The Convert: A Tale of Exile and Extremism, a narrative account of the life of an American convert to Islam. Published by Graywolf and Penguin India, The Convert was a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award in Non-Fiction. The Last Englishmen: Love, War and the End of Empire was published in October 2018. For this book she received a Whiting Creative Non-fiction grant and a Guggenheim fellowship. Charlottesville is her sixth work of narrative non-fiction. She is married to the writer Amitav Ghosh and lives in Brooklyn and Charlottesville.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jonathan Rauch, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributor to The Atlantic, discusses the concept of 'Postmodern Patrimonialism' to analyze Trump's governance. He argues that Trump's chaotic, venture-capital-like strategy aims to overwhelm opposition through simultaneous initiatives. This approach has caused institutional breakdown in Congress, leading to a growing executive power. Rauch highlights Gavin Newsom's emergence as a key figure opposing Trump, and delves into the challenges facing universities and legal frameworks amidst political strife.