The Ezra Klein Show

Thank you, Ezra. Yours is one of the few podcasts I depend on to help me make sense of the world and to talk with the people in my life about how to take action. But in answering the question “How did we get here?” you talk about the rise of right-wing populism globally - neglecting the role centrist liberals have played in derailing and demeaning a vital alternative: Left-wing populism. And in thinking about who’s inspiring or effective in this moment, you make no mention of the liberal left that’s taking the message to the people: Walz, AOC, Bernie. You may or may not agree with their tactics, but I hope you will keep them in view. If we leave populism to the right, they will keep winning.

Ezra regularly being interviewed by one of his subordinates simply doesn’t work. I realize, like in the “ask me anything” episodes, the throngs are waiting on Klein’s answers with bated breath (and, I suppose, the conceit — no pun intended — attracts a bigger fan base). But the self-interview, as it were, comes off as kind of contrived and simply weird. Just lose the bit and stick to a Klein one-sided narrative or interview (of others).

I was truly surprised by the analysis of why Dems lost. IMO the number one reason was racism not elitism. We have made some progress since Brown vrs The Board of Ed but not much. Yes there were many other factors: Biden should have not run as he said going into his term, there should have been an open primary, Dems should have said we welcome everyone and all are deserving without hyper-focusing on any one group but racism was IMO absolutely at the top.

Get real guts, guys. DOGE dodges the real waste: cut one week from DOD’s budget.