Episode 138: Why Don’t Young Americans Vote?

Dan Savage, Rich Smith, and Eli Sanders talk about a hard truth: young people don’t vote in midterm elections. What, exactly, is the problem here? In the post-Trump, post-Parkland era, is the youth vote going to meaningfully increase? Because it needs to. For the last US midterm elections, back in 2014, only 16 percent of Americans age 18 - 29 voted. For Americans age 60 and over, the figure was 55 percent. It was the 2014 midterm elections that gave us the Republican-controlled House and Senate we have today—and the political reality that so many young Americans are seething about. Now, in 2018, will young Americans actually show up at the polls and help change control of Congress? After that, Katie Herzog talks about the controversy surrounding Quinn Norton, whose friendship with a neo-Nazi cost her a spot on the New York Times op-ed page. Katie prods us to wonder: Can you be friends with a neo-Nazi and still be a good person? How about a good columnist? Finally, with the Oscars coming up this Sunday we talk about two more movies that are nominated for Best Picture: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Post. Plus, as always, the music of Ahamefule J. Oluo! This episode of Blabbermouth is brought to you by Everlane: Luxury basic clothing and accessories, made at ethical factories without those retail markups. For free shipping, and to support the Lovecast, go to Everlane.com/Blabbermouth