Episode #273: Who Am I to Buttigieg?

President Trump’s attacks on Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is part of a familiar tactic of singling out a woman of color, a Muslim no less, for words or actions that the president finds objectionable … a tactic that he has been using since 2015, one that helps him with his base.  But by being a controversial figure in her own right, Omar has become a lightning rod among some Democrats as well.  Kevin den Dulk of Calvin College explores American views of Islam, from 9/11 to the current day. Only recently it was Beto O’Rourke.  Now the Flavor of the Month seems to be Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year old mayor of South Bend who is running for president and has been appearing on every TV show in sight.  Dave Weigel of the Washington Post tries to explain the Pete Phenomenon and why the media seem to have fallen head over heels for him. And Ed Kilgore of New York Magazine offers a list of the Top 10 Worst Presidential Primary Campaigns in recent memory — a perfect exercise for political junkies. Music used in this podcast: The Impossible Dream by Frank Sinatra Let ‘Em In by Paul McCartney Outlaw Pete by Bruce Springsteen Gary, Indiana by Robert Preston from The Music Man What’s Wrong With Me? by Dawn Chorus & The Blue Tits