Caitlin and Trent ask Alan Elrod, President and CEO of the Pulaski Institution, about what nationalism is and what kinds of nationalism are at play today. We discuss how white nationalist and Christian nationalist proponents justify it, and how U.S. progressives can participate in a national identity that celebrates pluralism and multiculturalism. And we let Alan indulge in a little American exceptionalism, as a treat.

References

Alan’s article on nationalism: https://pulaskiinstitution.org/the-pulaski-blog/tragic-nationalism-hungary-trianon-and-the-american-right

“Poisoning the blood” comment: https://nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna130141

“Globalism” comments: https://cnbc.com/amp/2025/03/06/trump-blames-globalists-for-stock-market-sell-off.html

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/president-trump-we-have-rejected-globalism-and-embraced-patriotism/

Chuck Schumer “Palestinian” comment: https://theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/trump-chuck-schumer-palestinian-slur

Executive order on eradicating “Anti-Christian Bias”: https://whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/eradicating-anti-christian-bias/

Executive order on English as Official Language: https://whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/designating-english-as-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/

Linguistic Society of America statement: https://lsadc.org/lsa-statement-against-designating-english-as-the-official-language#:~:text=The%20Linguistic%20Society%20of%20America,are%20not%20valid%E2%80%94and%20in