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cover of episode #396 — The Way Forward

#396 — The Way Forward

2024/12/20
logo of podcast Making Sense with Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

AI Deep Dive AI Insights AI Chapters Transcript
People
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Matthew Yglesias
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Sam Harris
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Sam Harris:认为民主党输掉选举是因为脱离主流文化和道德价值观,并对身份政治的负面影响表示担忧。他还批评了民主党在处理边境移民问题上的失败。 Matthew Yglesias:认为民主党对身份政治的过度关注以及在处理犯罪、警察暴力等问题上的表达方式存在缺陷,导致他们失去了民心。他认为民主党应该回归到以个体为中心,根据行为进行判断的价值观,并减少对种族和族裔的过度关注。他还批评了左翼媒体对Daniel Penny案的报道,认为其缺乏思考且糟糕。他认为,解决贫困问题应该关注客观指标,例如收入、财富和健康状况,而不是过度关注种族。他还认为,民主党应该避免在政策制定中使用基于身份的偏见判断,并以平等主义的视角来处理社会问题。 Matthew Yglesias:认为民主党应该避免在政策制定中使用基于身份的偏见判断,并以平等主义的视角来处理社会问题。他还认为,解决贫困问题应该关注客观指标,例如收入、财富和健康状况,而不是过度关注种族。他以奥巴马医改为例,说明了利用种族分歧来反对平等主义经济计划的做法,并指出马丁·路德·金等民权领袖也主张超越种族界限,争取所有人的利益。他还认为,过分关注精英阶层的身份政治,对真正受苦的人们没有帮助,应该关注客观指标来解决贫困问题。他认为,特朗普主义并非完全依赖于特朗普个人,其背后存在更深层次的民族主义思潮。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What are the primary reasons for the Democrats' political decline in recent years?

Democrats have become out of touch with mainstream cultural and moral values, overly invested in identity politics, and have lost focus on core issues like protecting vulnerable people and ensuring social safety nets. This has distorted progressive thinking and alienated many voters.

How has Matthew Yglesias' view on identity politics evolved?

Matthew Yglesias has shifted his view significantly, recognizing that the focus on political correctness and identity politics was overblown and harmful to the Democratic Party's ability to address issues like crime and police brutality effectively.

What was the outcome of the Daniel Penny case, and how was it perceived on the left?

Daniel Penny was acquitted of all charges in the Jordan Neely subway incident. However, some left-wing media and politicians portrayed the case in a morally deranged manner, often focusing on racial dynamics rather than the facts of the case.

Why does Sam Harris believe that race should be de-emphasized in politics and ethics?

Sam Harris argues that race is often referenced in ways that are politically and ethically suspect, leading to moral confusion. He believes that changing skin color in a situation can alter people's moral intuitions, which is a sign of flawed thinking and should be avoided.

What does Matthew Yglesias suggest as a better approach to addressing disparities in wealth and opportunity?

Yglesias suggests focusing on class and wealth inequality as a race-blind approach to addressing disparities. This would help disproportionately benefit people of color without invoking politically divisive racial categories.

What does Matthew Yglesias predict for Biden's legacy?

Yglesias believes Biden's legacy will be meager, as his presidency failed to deliver on promises of stability and a return to traditional Democratic values. His inability to prevent a Trump comeback further diminishes his legacy.

What concerns does Matthew Yglesias have about a second Trump term?

Yglesias is concerned about Trump's unpredictability, potential authoritarian tendencies, and the possibility of further damaging American institutions. He also worries that Trump's low character and erratic behavior could have severe consequences for the country.

Will Trumpism persist after Trump, or will the Republican Party return to a more traditional form?

Yglesias believes that while Trump has a unique personalistic appeal, elements of his crude nationalism and populism have deep roots in the Republican Party. If Trump loses, there may be a return to a more normal Republican Party, but his victory could solidify these trends.

Why did the Democrats' handling of immigration at the border prove politically disastrous?

The Democrats' failure to address the immigration issue at the border was politically disastrous due to its terrible optics, which alienated many voters and highlighted the party's inability to manage a critical issue effectively.

Chapters
The Democrats have lost touch with mainstream cultural and moral values, becoming overly invested in identity politics and neglecting the core values that appeal to voters. Their focus on an "escalator of privilege and oppression" has distorted their thinking and communication.
  • Democrats out of touch with mainstream values
  • Over-investment in identity politics
  • Distorted thinking due to focus on privilege and oppression

Shownotes Transcript

Sam Harris speaks with Matthew Yglesias about the future of Democratic politics. They discuss where the Democrats went wrong, the failure of identity politics, the Left’s reaction to the Daniel Penny case, what a second Trump term might look like, immigration and the border, gender and racial disparities in crime, wealth inequality, Matthew’s “nine principles for a common sense Democrat comeback,” and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe).

Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up) app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.