This week I sit down with Ross Barkan, a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine and expert on the American left who has his own great newsletter, Political Currents. We begin with a review of the legacy media’s performance during the 2024 election—and why you might have been better prepared for the results if you read the right people here on Substack. After extolling the virtues of independent media, Ross, a Brooklyn native, breaks down why Democrats performed so poorly in New York City and how the party can chart a path forward. Which Democrats might take up Obama’s mantle of party spokesperson? Is the answer to Democrat’s working-class woes economic populism mixed with social moderation? Can Democrats finally ditch the "alphabet" left? Tune in for a rollicking conversation on all that and more. Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe

In our first post-election episode, I’m joined by Patrick Ruffini, a co-founder of Echelon Insights and the author of Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP. We dive right into last week’s results, starting with how and why non-white voters shifted so much towards Trump. We cover the “cosmopolitan trap” that Democrats have fallen into—focusing solely on issues that motivate white voters with a college degree—and why the Harris campaign over-indexed on abortion and democracy. Will Democrats finally have a “Sister Souljah” moment? Who might emerge as the face of a changed Democratic Party? What can the Trump administration focus on to improve the GOP’s standing with their new voters?  Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe

In this engaging discussion, Tim Shenk, a history professor at George Washington University and author of "Left Adrift," delves into the evolution of liberal politics since Bill Clinton's campaign. He contrasts the coalition-building strategies of political strategists Stan Greenberg and Doug Schoen. Shenk also assesses Kamala Harris's campaign approach and its potential to reshape Democratic rhetoric. Lastly, he emphasizes the need for progressives to engage meaningfully with working-class voters to foster unity ahead of the 2024 elections.

As Election Day draws closer, I'm joined by my AEI colleague Sean Trende to break down all things 2024. We discuss swing state polling before moving into who we think might be favored to win the White House. Did Democrats make the wrong VP pick? What's behind Harris's stubborn leads in the Midwestern battlegrounds? Why are some pollsters suddenly weighting on recalled vote? Who's favored to win the House and Senate? Tune in for answers to all that and more! Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe

Musa al-Gharbi, an assistant professor at Stony Brook and columnist for Compact Magazine, dives into his book, 'We Have Never Been Woke.' He discusses how social justice discourse can perpetuate inequality, especially in blue cities. Al-Gharbi critiques the disconnect between elite narratives and working-class realities, exploring the irony of those pushing social justice while being part of the elite. He also reflects on the evolution of 'wokeness' in political campaigns and the need for genuine community engagement in discussions about issues like prison abolition.

Today I sit down with my AEI colleague and fellow punditry aficionado Jonah Goldberg. In addition to co-founding The Dispatch, Jonah hosts The Remnant podcast and writes a regular column for the Los Angeles Times. We explore the rise of populism within the GOP, the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump, and the intellectual roots of conservative movements like the so-called "Reformicons." We also get into the challenges facing the Democratic Party, the overproduction of elites, and the role of identity politics. Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe

Julius Krein, editor of American Affairs magazine, dives into the current political landscape, examining the division within the Republican Party under Trump. He discusses the Democratic Party's potential new centrism and the struggle with wokeness and economic policies. Their conversation highlights innovative economic models inspired by countries like Israel, emphasizing government involvement in venture capital. Krein also analyzes the complexities of U.S. industrial policy and the need for bipartisan cooperation moving forward.

Pollster-extraordinaire Kristen Soltis Anderson joins the podcast for a riveting discussion on the Democrats’ candidate swap and recent surveys showing Kamala and The Donald neck-and-neck. We dive into the shifting voting behavior of Millennials and Gen Z, before a look at the ever-increasing gender gap. Finally, we ponder what a Trump loss might mean for the future of the Republican Party—and Kristen takes us home with a killer Jurassic Park analogy. Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe

This week we take a break from horse race coverage and welcome cultural commentator Kat Rosenfield to the podcast. Now doing great work at The Free Press, Kat is the author of five novels and hosts the Feminine Chaos podcast. We dive into how identitarian politics came to dominate our culture and try to explain how the left won the culture wars, but still pretends not to have any power. We compare notes on our changing views of the left, before Kat explains if there’s any hope for a more heterodox Gen Z culture. Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe

Political analyst Henry Olsen discusses French and UK elections, Biden's presidency, a hypothetical second Trump term, and green energy initiatives in an engaging and informative conversation with the host.