9 chapters across the catalog
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pulled out of his campaign, sparking rumors about a potential role in a future Trump administration. Analysis of Adams' populist platform and his impact on the city's subway system will be featured in an upcoming column on The Oasis Substack.
Al Gore appeared on PBS to warn that failure to act on climate change could result in one billion climate refugees crossing international borders. Gore argued that this mass migration would threaten the capacity for self-governance and empower authoritarian dictatorships globally.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participated in a NewsNation town hall where he addressed claims that his candidacy serves as a "spoiler" for Joe Biden. He refused to personally attack Donald Trump, instead emphasizing his goal of bridging the national divide through common-sense populism. Kennedy shared a personal anecdote about his father's 1968 funeral train to illustrate his ability to appeal to both urban and rural voters.
Trump Two-Pronged Strategy, Midterm Elections, Populist Movement
Robert Barnes argues that Trump's January 6th strategy serves a dual purpose: a legitimate attempt to prevail and a "backup plan" to identify political enemies within the GOP. By forcing a vote, Trump can determine which legislators are "loyalists" and use that information to fuel his populist movement and primary challenges in the 2022 midterms.
Nigel Farage on EU Centralization and Brexit
Nigel Farage addresses the European Parliament, criticizing Jean-Claude Juncker's plans for a more centralized EU with a single president and a powerful finance minister. Farage argues that the EU has learned nothing from Brexit and is moving toward an undemocratic "militarized" union. He warns that the populist wave in Europe is far from over and will likely intensify if these centralization plans proceed.
A professor in Brussels discusses the "frightening" parallels between Donald Trump's victory and the Brexit vote. The segment explores how populist parties in France, the Netherlands, and Germany may be galvanized by the American election results heading into 2017.
MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell characterized the Electoral College as a "political card trick" designed to override the will of the voters. The hosts discuss the shifting definitions of "populist" and "demagogue" used by the media to describe Donald Trump's victory.
The 2016 election cycle has demonstrated that massive Super PAC spending, such as the $40 million wasted by Jeb Bush, cannot guarantee success against a populist movement. Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have both utilized small, unsolicited donations to bypass the traditional "donor class" and the expected influence of the Citizens United ruling.
Beppe Grillo, Italian Elections, Debt Renegotiation
Comedian Beppe Grillo's rise in Italian politics is discussed as he campaigns on a platform of renegotiating Italy's national debt. The hosts predict that Grillo's populist movement may face severe opposition from the European establishment.
