Politicology

Over two decades ago, Ruy Teixeira predicted that America was on its way to a bright blue future, thanks to an inevitable demographic shift that would deliver the Party a dominant, durable political coalition.

“Demography is destiny” became the mantra of the Democratic Party—proven out by Obama’s decisive 2008 electoral college win.

But then, in 2016, Trump upended that coalition, and, consequently, anti-Trumpism naturally became a defining feature of the Democratic Party.

But—beyond its opposition to Trump—what does the Democratic Party stand for today?

With the Republican Party infected with extremism and so embarrassingly unable to govern, why aren’t Democrats winning sustainable majorities?

And why is the Democratic party still losing ground with some of the core parts of its base?

In the second part of this two-part conversation, former Center for American Progress senior fellow Ruy Teixeira joins Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Where Have All the Democrats Gone? The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes.

In part 2:

(01:06 ) The shift towards identity politics and how it’s changing the party’s approach to race and civil rights

(08:40) Radical approaches to transgender rights

(16:50) The change in environmental policy from responsible stewardship to the more extreme positions of the Green New Deal

(41:14) The rise in independent voters, what it really means, and how it should impact political strategy

(45:45) Whether it’s even possible for structural reforms in our political system to improve the health of our democracy

Read Where Have All the Democrats Gone?: https://bit.ly/3P8hpGm

Check out The Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/

Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬.

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Over two decades ago, Ruy Teixeira predicted that America was on its way to a bright blue future, thanks to an inevitable demographic shift that would deliver the Party a dominant, durable political coalition.

“Demography is destiny” became the mantra of the Democratic Party—proven out by Obama’s decisive 2008 electoral college win.

But then, in 2016, Trump upended that coalition, and, consequently, anti-Trumpism naturally became a defining feature of the Democratic Party.

But—beyond its opposition to Trump—what does the Democratic Party stand for today?

With the Republican Party infected with extremism and so embarrassingly unable to govern, why aren’t Democrats winning sustainable majorities?

And why is the Democratic party still losing ground with some of the core parts of its base?

In this two-part conversation, former Center for American Progress senior fellow Ruy Teixeira joins Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Where Have All the Democrats Gone? The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes.

In part 1:

(01:50 ) Ruy’s background

(05:00) How the Democrats became the party of the elites 

(10:10)The impact of the 2016 election 

(23:23) The importance of working class voters in the Democratic party’s victories 

(30:20) The party’s increasingly liberal stance on immigration 

Read Where Have All the Democrats Gone?: https://bit.ly/3P8hpGm

Check out The Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/

Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

*NOTE: Upcoming Mailbag Episode! Send us your questions to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬*

This week, we discuss Senate Republicans picking a new leader, Trump’s push for recess appointments, named cabinet nominees, and White House staffing.

Next, we discuss reporting that FEMA workers were told to skip houses with Trump signs, and the allegations it was a widespread practice.

Finally, in our separate Politicology+ episode we talk about a House hearing about UFOs and the former military leaders sounding alarms that we are unprepared this technology.

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Susan Del Percio  (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) 

Stef Kight (Politics Reporter at Axios) 

Segments this week:

(02:56) The Senate and recess appointments for Cabinet positions 

(28:34) FEMA skips Trump supporters 

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/DelPercioS

https://x.com/StefWKight

Related reading:

Segment 1:

Axios - John Thune wins Senate Republican leader race

Politico-Tracking Trump’s Cabinet picks

Axios - Republicans "stunned and disgusted" as Trump taps Matt Gaetz for AG

WP - Trump demanded senators allow recess appointments. Here’s what that means.

NY Post - Progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal reneges on support for axing filibuster after Republicans flip the Senate

Segment 2:

Daily Wire - EXCLUSIVE: FEMA Official Ordered Relief Workers To Skip Houses With Trump Signs

Fox News - Fired FEMA employee says instructions to skip Trump homes were part of ‘colossal avoidance’ policy

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Alua Arthur (Death Doula) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss the importance of embracing mortality, talking about death, and her new book, Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life and Getting Real About the End. 

Segments to look forward to:

(02:31) What is a death doula? 

(05:39) Alua’s journey and embracing mortality 

(07:28) The impact of avoiding conversations about death 

(10:33) Practical ways to approach contemplating death 

(26:00) Having conversations about death with your loved ones 

(28:10) Supporting loved ones facing end-of-life challenges 

(30:30) Reframing our language about death and disease 

(32:19) The desire for “more time” at the end of life 

(38:10) The importance of quality of life in end of life care

(40:00) Assisted Suiceide and personal autonomy 

(43:40) Meaningful rituals for death 

(47:14) Mourning people with troubled legacies 

(51:10) Being briefly, perfectly human

Read Briefly Perfectly Human: https://bit.ly/4a5UYJb

Check out Going With Grace: https://goingwithgrace.com/

Follow Ron on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

Email your questions to [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬ 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week, we discuss the presidential election results, what the early exit polling numbers could mean, and what Democrats will need to do moving forward after losing the popular vote for the first time in two decades

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we talk about the questions Trump’s electoral victory raises for and about the media. 

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)

Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica)

Hans Nichols (White House Reporter at Axios)

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/ZackCz

https://x.com/AndyKroll

https://x.com/HansNichols

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For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus

Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College Dr. Catherine Sanderson joins Ron Steslow to talk about happiness and how to harness the power of a positive mindset.

(02:49) The negative connotation of the “power of positive thinking” and adopting a growth mindset

(11:32) Revisiting the myth of monsters

(13:13) Redemption and reconciliation, and applying a growth mindset to others: the “fundamental attribution error”

(20:05) Let’s talk about stress

(22:43) Grieving shared loss and uncertainty

(28:20) Adequate sleep and happiness

(32:04) Smiling through the pain...and other methods

(36:17) Importance of conversations and meaningful relationships

(39:10) Bringing people together for political engagement

The Positive Shift by Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://benbellabooks.com/shop/the-positive-shift/

Politicology - March 10: Becoming Moral Rebels with Dr. Catherine Sanderson https://politicology.com/episodes/dr-catherine-sanderson-becoming-moral-rebels/

The Victory Lab by Sasha Issenberg https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215192/the-victory-lab-by-sasha-issenberg/

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805073690

Are you learning from Politicology? Contribute now at https://politicology.com/donate!

Follow Catherine and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SandersonSpeaks

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men. 

(02:04) The toxicity of “toxic masculinity”

(08:00) The “right” at war and the “left” in denial

(13:00) How negative partisanship only increases the problem

(15:00) The differences in funding and institutional support for men and women 

(23:00) Redshirt the boys 

(28:00) The criticism Richard has faced for his writing on boys and men

You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/

Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves

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This week, we discuss the huge gap between college-educated women and non-college educated men, what it could mean in the election and moving forward.

Later, we look at how attention has shifted away from the White House after Biden dropped out of the presidential race. 

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we dive into why the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission has become a hot-button presidential campaign issue and whether a Harris administration would change their approach to crypto. 

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)

Alex Thompson (National Political Correspondent for Axios)

Segments this week:

(02:18) The gender gap 

(37:12) Covering Biden after he dropped out

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/LPDonovan

https://x.com/AlexThomp

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

NYT- Opinion | We Poll for Democrats and Republicans. We Agree on Where This Election Is Heading. - The New York Times

Axios -MAGA speakers unleash ugly rhetoric at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally

NYT - In Closing, Harris Casts Herself as the Unifier and Trump as a ‘Petty Tyrant’ - The New York Times

Axios - America's youngest voters become major election liars

Politico - Opinion | Democrats’ Problem With Male Voters Isn’t Complicated

The Dispatch - Can Governing Norms Hold? - Dispatch Contributors

Segment 2: 

Axios - Biden sets off election firestorm with "garbage" comment

Axios - Harris stiff-arms Biden in final stretch

Axios - For Harris, remaking Biden's White House could be the best revenge

Alex Twitter Thread on “lock him up”

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For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus

Richard Reeves (author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It)  joins Ron Steslow to discuss his book and the struggles facing boys and men. 

(02:13) Richard’s work and how it led to studying boys and men 

(04:00) The risks if the problems are not addressed 

(07:30) The gendered education gap

(0z8:20) How economic shifts have impacted men

(11:20) Intersectionality in the research on gender 

(30:30) Recognizing these problems as structural and not individual

(34:40)  Weighing the biological differences between women and men 

You can order the book here: https://www.brookings.edu/book/of-boys-and-men/

Follow Ron and Richard  on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://twitter.com/RichardvReeves

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To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus

This week, we dive into Donald Trump’s trip to McDonalds and how both campaigns are trying to position themselves with working class voters. 

Then, we’ll look at Trump plans to sit down with Joe Rogan and Harris joining Brené Brown, and what the “podcast election” is revealing about the changing media landscape.

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss Trump’s longest-serving Chief of Staff, John Kelly, speaking out and warning that Trump would rule like a dictator. 

Joining guest host Hagar Chemali on this week’s panel: 

Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)

James Lynch (Communications Strategist)  

Segments this week:

(04:29) The McDonald’s Photo Op

(25:26) The Podcast Election

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

Send your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Check out Oh My World!: https://www.ohmyworld.tv/

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/HagarChemali

https://x.com/ZackCz

https://x.com/JamesGLynch

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

NYT - Kamala Harris and McDonald’s: A College Job, and a Trump Attack - The New York Times

WP - Trump serves McDonald’s fries to supporters in stage-managed campaign stop

NBC - Trump attempts to troll Harris by serving french fries at a Pennsylvania McDonald's

Segment 2: 

Axios - Joe Rogan to interview Trump on his podcast

WP - Opinion | Podcasts are dominating the 2024 election. Why?

Forbes -Here Are The Biggest Moments From Trump’s ‘Bro’ Podcast Tour Ahead Of Joe Rogan Appearance

NYT - Harris Will Campaign in Texas to Call Attention to Abortion Rights - The New York Times

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