In this episode, Brookings Vice President Darrell West and Senior Fellow Camille Busette discuss themes from West’s new book, “Divided Politics, Divided Nation: Hyperconflict in the Trump era,” including the economic, geographic, racial, and technological factors that have exacerbated U.S. political polarization to its current breaking point, and what’s needed to build a healthier democracy. West and Busette also speculated how these pressures may affect the 2020 presidential race.
Additional materials:
- William Julius Wilson and JD Vance’s discussion of race, class, and culture
- Event discussion: Divided politics, divided nation
- An economic agenda for the forgotten Americans in a divided nation
- The middle class is becoming race-plural, just like the rest of America
- Automation perpetuates the red-blue divide
Direct download this episode (mp3)
With thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo, Chris McKenna, Brennan Hoban, Fred Dews, and Camilo Ramirez for additional support.
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Commentary
PodcastThe roots of America’s divided politics
April 3, 2019