Jon Stewart on the Divide Between Dems and the Working Class with Sarah Smarsh | The Weekly Show

[@petuliapark]

She's the best post-election guest you've had. Bring her on The Daily Show, please! She needs to be heard by as many people as possible.

[@donsmith-lw4qd]

I was unaware of this woman. Finally someone who actually gets it. Why isn't she on every national news program instead of the fools who understand nothing. Thank you Jon for bringing her on.

[@betmo]

lol because capitalists own the media

[@littleshopofrandom685]

Cause most platforms do not want nuanced educated discussion. They want click through. She is pretty amazing.

[@markr.jolliff2554]

Good question, but I think k the answer is "they don't want to hear it."

[@stval]

Because they are owned by the very same people who benefit so disproportionately from the current system?

[@littleshopofrandom685]

@@stval They benefit from circular rage cycles. Noting GOOD any candidate did or had said about them ever made the air... only the outrage. If something good was said while being outraged, that's just an accident.

[@MargotLilith-z9t]

I've never left a KZbin comment before but this conversation made me think about the SNL Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks showing how people are connected by more by class than race. Also, I am a progressive in a red state and what Sarah said about how brave it is to express views that go against the grain of the culture really resonated with me. Citing a young boy holding a BLM sign in Kansas. It made me feel like I need to be more brave.

[@Suelabrie]

every life matters

[@nancywoo4675]

This interview really resonates with me. My parents had very poor upbringings. And they had very little education. I became a nurse and every day you cared for people who were from so many different backgrounds. And for the brief encounters you had with them they would share nuggets of their life. There was no judgement. No classification. Just a respect for lives to be lived. An interest in what they had to share. And now I am near the end of my life and there is so much noise. It reminds me of the story of the Tower of Babel where everyone is shouting but no one can understand the other person. So when I hear an interview where there is a heartfelt sharing of another's experience. Not a recrimination. It gives me hope. Because I won't be around to see how this works itself out but I pray that it does. And somehow people will be more gentle, kind and patient with one another. And that people, not inventions, will be primary in how we live our lives.

[@ncree4526]

Thank you, Nancy, for your profound truth. You are words amplify the hope I found in Jon Stewart &Sarah Smarsh's conversation (as well as his wonderful staff's closing commentary). While the Tower of Babel haunts human communication in all our 21st century technology, the truth you remind us all of being more gentle, kind, and patient has the greater power of comfort & future promise. I share your prayer and am grateful for your witness.

[@J.M.-nb4gw]

Well said and spot on 👍 I'm a 65 year old white guy and nurse working at a large urban hospital in the US Midwest, found myself out of a job in my early 50s and went back to school and got my nursing degree at the age of 55. Grew up in working class UNION family in the US Midwest and saw so many working people suffer and make less money since the bullshit of the Reagan years and it's only gotten worse since then. I'm happy to have a decent paying job where I get to help people while I'm still in relatively good shape physically and mentally! 💪

[@zeitgeistx5239]

I love how dystopian America has become that the homeless use the ER for housing and people that can’t afford healthcare use the ER as primary care because of EMTALA.

[@BeanMacdui]

Such a beautiful and thoughtful post. And spot on. Thank you Nancy! ❤

[@prism8289]

Holy crap, I’ve been saying this for years and screaming at Dems. She does it so mix better though than I ever have. At the same time, that John Stewart, who has been out there will first responders and military, completely missed this is frankly astounding.

[@bonniehalf-elven]

I live in a small town. I grew up on a farm. What I see with the working class, and especially the working poor is 1) Now that corporations are people and politicians need money from them to run for election, there is even less chance that either party will really work for the working class. 2) With our investment economy, shareholders demand the biggest profits possible, but the better approach for the long term is for companies to reinvest in their business infrastructure. And they must innovate. Without constant innovation, corporations fail. We see it every year, with executives only realizing after the fact that the world moved on without them. 3) Corporations must reward their workers and treat them with the dignity they deserve. That means the CEO doesn't get a ten million dollar bonus, while saying there is no money available for raises for the ones in the trenches. Great interview. I was constantly nodding my head vigorously during this show. Sarah Smarsh nailed it!

[@cyberius7042]

Same

[@Bobaseaworth]

Wtf did I miss her saying any of this in the interview? Most of her arguments were childish semantics and shit everyone already knew.

[@daviddickey1994]

Who wasted a billion dollars on the campaign> THE DEMOCRATS. Where did all that money come from, huh? You are the biggest bunch of losers, liars and hypocrits in the history of this country.

[@markr.jolliff2554]

Yep.

[@vgstb]

Remember, if you're not at the political table, you're on the menu. Politics decides everything in your life, better make sure they take the right decisions.

[@Uglyarmadillogaming]

As someone with a disability - schizophrenia - I notice that there is virtually nothing I can do to change the world for the better other than work on myself whether it be exercising or becoming knowledgeable about current events and so I wanted to thank you for existing and pointing out new ideas, such as the inefficiencies of the current democratic platform. I always look forward to these videos.

[@MoonBerryShrimp]

Take care of yourself, best of luck. Don't be afraid to ask for help 👍

[@drew2c659]

I’ve been getting a lot more out of this weekly podcast than the daily show because of these conversations that go a bit longer. I don’t watch news anymore and will watch the weekly podcast videos just to keep in the know about what’s going on and it’s saved me a lot on mental health. Keep it up Jon!

[@grayj7441]

Imma 50 year old dude, been a Cook for 36 years. I support liberal ideologies. But the politicians don't generally talk to, or about my kind... working poor.

[@ANSELNaamehRahab]

True

[@leelindsay5618]

If you support Labor, Unions, Small businesses and or workers, you don't support liberal ideologies. You support "Leftist" ideologies. If you support capital, shareholders, and CEOs, then you support liberal, or neo-liberal ideals.

[@Beretta249]

Respect for Cooking for that long. It's not glamorous, but feeding folks is good work. As MLK put it "whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth."

[@benjaminaristotleboes3157]

I'm drywall, Master of my craft.... Broke.... You can't make money LOL.... The ONLY WAY is for me to get somebody else to do it and have them cut corners AND UNDERPAY them..... And not just one guy, I'd need more than a few to hit "middle class" income....

[@Sam-uz4iy]

The worst is they claim to have a "ground game" and talk to the poor, but when the poor give their feedback, the dems leadership recoil at the feedback and ignore them. Why would we vote for them when their actions lack the basic level of respect?

[@jlw1684]

One of the best episodes of the weekly show I’ve listened to. Thank you Jon for hosting such a great series!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@prettyshinyspaghetti8332]

I love Sarah wholeheartedly. I've been waiting literal years for someone to say what she said about intersectionality and I was fascinated when she talked about pride. Some folks are happy with being working class, so why shouldn't their concerns be validated? Why are we collectively rejecting hustle culture but still look down upon working class folks. She was a breath of fresh air

[@mariannemilkshines2390]

Such a great conversation. I am almost 70 now and always felt that the people on the bottom had more in common and keeping them divided prevented them from being empowered in a way that benefits them

[@gammasmash1924]

I always thought it was a bad approach to address this community's poverty or that community's poverty when it should have just been; poverty.

[@mephik]

Bailed out and those bailing tricked into fighting over red vs blue.

[@mephik]

@@gammasmash1924 They figured bootstraps mentality and a general (very vocal) disdain for "nanny government" (pre-woke woke!) meant the folks didn't want it. You folks bitch in both directions. Grow the fuck up. Get after life. We all wade in the same pool, bruh. Victims doing victim shit. Again.

[@ellencervantes753]

I loved this interview. I bought her book, each chapter makes me stop and think. I’ve recommended it to all my friends and on Facebook.

[@threeofeight197]

I remember Obama saying something about moving for work. I ended up unemployed in my hometown so long. I eventually did have to move. I didn’t want to. And now my parents are still there. They’re aging and I’m established here. I finally could make a living. And now it’s difficult to get back. But I miss it every day.

[@LindaC616]

I lost my mom just as I finished grad school. So I had the freedom to go wherever I came to the east coast, thinking that my possibilities are finding someone to have a family with would be greater here than they were back in the midwest. Turns out I was wrong.

[@BeanMacdui]

@@LindaC616Sorry that it’s been a rough journey. Don’t give up hope! The right person is out there waiting for you! It’s never too late ❤ I have heard many happy stories of people finding love when they felt it would never happen. So put it out there and get out there and send me a wedding invitation when you’ve found your person! 😊

[@BeanMacdui]

I am so sorry that things have turned out like that for you. And having your aging parents not living near you is beyond hard and stressful. I will send prayers and good energy your way. Go buy a lottery ticket! You never know 😊

[@LindaC616]

@BeanMacdui lol, don't know that that will happen, but if it does, will do! 😄 I was married in grad school briefly, but to the wrong guy, so those 4 years made me think carefully and learn how to write people off more quickly. Sadly, when I was in grad school, I had a better dating pool than I do here. And I turned down two jobs, one in a small town where I was already working with a great group of people, but I just didn't want to be there, 2 hrs from any major city, as a newly single person. I moved here, I focused on career, and don't feel the same sense of possibility. I pretty much have to go to 1 of the states on either side to find anybody worthwhile.

[@marcusc4476]

It's a phenomenon happening in all neoliberal economies. As the country moves towards producing advanced goods that can be sold for more, but it is at the expense of areas in their own borders and developing countries they exploit for cheaper goods/labour. I'm from NZ and it has made massive impacts.

[@carolwhite5484]

I'm glad you're talking about this. Enough talk about the middle class. I am working class, which means I work retail jobs, food service jobs, ect... The problem with that is most of these jobs are not union and even the one I worked at was, they rarely hire full time. They will only hire you part time and you do not get a set shift. They usually demand you be available anytime, unless you are a student, and that makes it difficult to work another part time job to pay your bills. And forget health benefits, vacation, sick days. Also, alot of people either are good at their jobs, or are not cut out for college, or don't have office skills. People do not realize how challenging those jobs are. I am 51 and it is starting to take a toll along with the stress and hustle it requires. We are not compensated enough for the value of our work. We really need a living wage instead of a minimum. Thanks for discussing this. More people need to.

[@heidimueller1039]

The USA has the lowest federal minimum wage at $7.65 an hour SINCE 2009.

[@5353Jumper]

You are working jobs that used to be "middle class" The fact that those jobs are no longer middle class is "the erosion of the middle class" everyone is talking about. Lefties are talking about growing the middle class because they want positions like retail, restaurant, and factory workers to be raised up back into the middle class - where a single income from one of those jobs is enough to support a moderate household. "Low income part time jobs" should be strictly for students, seniors and families second income when saving up for something. They should not make up the majority of the workforce. You should be able to work a full time job at a restaurant, with benefits, with healthcare, and be able to afford a moderate household. You should be "middle class" along with most of the other restaurant employees. But decades of "conservative" deregulation focused politics intentionally reducing the value of your labor has dropped you into poverty struggling with multiple part time jobs for minimum wage and no benefits.

[@applejean4336]

This humble exchange gave me more hope than ANYTHING I heard during the election/campaigns. I literally broke into applause (by myself 😂) more than once during this conversation. The Left (of which I am a part) has needed to confront this subject for soooo long. Finally. Finally.

[@jeffmarshalek8859]

Sure, but they keep making the same mistake: "It's clear these people (rurals) are simply wrong, but how can us smart people make them see the light of our message." You don't do that by infantilizing people. That's exactly what they've done with identity politics of all stripe so rather than give up on their identity model, they just want to figure out a way to shoehorn more people into it. Will be fun trying to watch them sell this to their other sacred identities.

[@Gala-yp8nx]

This interview is a breath of fresh air. The Democratic Party needs to understand that the Stock Market is entirely divorced from the economic reality for the overwhelming majority of Americans.

[@hilarystrander6823]

Yes! So many complicated ideas articulated so well! Now everybody send it to your democratic representatives to make sure they can hear it too!

[@rudyzk]

The left makes everything too complicated.

[@fayeb.5855]

Exactly. Both parties are ineffective communicating with/supporting the average worker.

[@wereguy]

I'm a little tired of people who seem to think working people don't live in cities. You only find working people in the middle of nowhere, apparently. I wonder who's fixing sinks and roads and cars in those huge hives of human activity. Cities are where the majority live.

[@gg829]

The way class is discussed in the US is criminally unscientific.

[@sophie20001]

They have no clue what’s going on in this country.

[@sbarron2000]

The cities already vote Democrat, so those city working people don’t matter to the party calculation.

[@sophie20001]

@@sbarron2000 not after this election.

[@hudson2861]

I'm from Iowa and that is how they think too. That they are the hard working rural folks upon which this country was built and are ignored by all those rich people on the coasts and in the cities. And don't think for a moment that if one wants to leave the city and live in a rural area that it is as easy as finding a place and moving there. The people who claim to be such dignified, kind people because of where they come from will NOT gladly welcome a newcomer. They will however welcome with open arms any Chinese or foreign conglomerate that wants to buy up thousands of acres cropland and then treat their land like a chemical dump polluting the water, the land and the air while making sure a steady flow of meth and fentynal keep flowing to keep them occupied and out of the way. Americans have sold out to the highest bidder. It doesn't matter if it was the home you raised your kids in in Silicon Valley or the legacy farm or the business built from scratch, if there is a chance they can sell so they can live on a golf course, eat and drink and drive whatever they want, pretend that they are as important as their idols they will do it. So everyone needs to stop competing to be the most hardest working, dignified american and just realize that we have been weaned on greed and consumption and as both parties pointed out clearly and often, we want your vote but we don't want to talk to you because you just are not as fun, as rich or nearly as important as some rapper or golf pro or owner of a social media disease. All of these politicians are repressed rock star fantasies and are confusing entertainment with politics.But, again, the people swallow it.

[@ro7977]

It's so good to finally hear someone saying these things.

[@jerseygunz]

To be fair, I can think of a German philosopher from the 1800s who said all this stuff already hahaha

[@LindaC616]

Weber? ​@@jerseygunz

[@annakumor1859]

@@jerseygunz Marx?

[@blacklagooner6452]

Bernard Sanders sends his regards

[@jerseygunz]

@@annakumor1859 😉

[@AtrociousNightmare]

This is the kind of conversation that everyone should see on mainstream media

[@Steep-Basics]

Sarah, you are a breath of fresh air. My god, you so skilfully and patiently EDUCATED Jon here. You can see him actively listening, being visibly uncomfortable as he perhaps didn’t fully ‘get’ this view and is learning throughout. I’m buying your latest book twice and gifting a friend a copy. I’m not even American, I’m in the UK but my gosh you really articulated many things that I have been struggling to ‘get’. Thank you and thank you Jon Stewart for giving you the airtime.

[@MADDcartman]

“Educated” in all caps is a bit demeaning but I won’t assume objection on Jon’s part. He’s very connected with emergency service workers and has used his podium for decades to speak up for such workers. It’s not a mistake that she was invited. But I agree her voice is a unique one.

[@Steep-Basics]

@@MADDcartman Caps was a substitute for italics, I wanted to emphasise that I think he had a real learning moment here, beyond his experiences and work with/for the First Responders. And I agree, I imagine Jon is secure enough to not object.

[@DoktorDevious]

I'm in the UK, we're the just the 51st state now and struggling from the influx of 'neo-liberalism' killing us and having destroyed the identity that was so strong particularly in the UK about class culture. Unchecked , unregulated Capitalism where social care isn't a part of the conversation is something that the elite have skilfully created as the only reality.

[@amberbranch1145]

Disagree. I saw Jon being patient during her rehearsed rhetoric. But he's always open, and she did finally get "real" as she adjusted to frank conversation, later, at about halfway through. Point of view. You're gushing over looks.

[@DoktorDevious]

I mean I've never believed that either but then I've been lucky enough not to have to constantly work so hard each day that I didn't have time to study the history, politics and socio-economics that brought us to this point in time. Capitalism requires inequality to function and at the end of the day, is that the world we want to work towards? I'd prefer one where socialism is first, capitalism is second, and eventually down the line maybe we don't see the need for capitalism. It's not an easy road but before the cold-war and after the second world war, we were building social support into democratic countries and that's a foundation we need to re-create to get back on the right track.

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

Jesus, how do we get this INCREDIBLY sane conversation into our nation’s discourse?

[@BufordTGleason]

We don’t…..we’re circling the drain. Paying the price for believing that infinite growth is possible on a finite planet. There is nowhere left for us to spread.

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

@@BufordTGleason Though I fear you're absolutely correct in this assessment, I have two three year-old granddaughters that have (largely) killed my Nihilism. But, yeah, I know.

[@Magus_Union]

By getting away from corporate media platforms as much as possible. Bring back "underground" political discourse.

[@hobbitluck]

I don’t really want to take shots… because paradoxically that is what I am about to call out: it is incredibly difficult to have conversations when one “leading politician” is constantly name calling and validating logical fallacies left and right. How do we teach people to see that as “not healthy” for a discussion, when calling it out is seen as worse than the actual destructive behavior?

[@MartinMary-c2n]

Sarah has some better interviews on PBS but Jon and Sarah seem to have good banter where PBS gave Sarah almost a free range.

[@AJ-gv2hj]

Jon's a great interviewer as always and bringing to light some really thoughtful and intelligent voices on the subjects that matter. Kudos and thank you both

[@loisamcnulty]

undeserving people ARE benefitting from the fruits of our labor- but they aren't " illegals" they are the untaxed billionaires ! THAT'S where all our country's damn money is going-straight to the top.

[@heidimueller1039]

‘Twas always so!

[@xxkildarxx]

It is easier to blame your problems on the "witch" that lives outside of town in the woods than the king living in the castle with guards surrounding him.

[@Xeonerable]

Why people think that billionaires, whose core value is greed (obviously because they are a billionaire right?), are somehow gonna fix everything and make things better for everyone as some selfless act of altruism is beyond me.

[@charliepee4358]

@@loisamcnulty They exploit illegals willingness to work for less than minimum wages. That's a major reason for the strange acceptance of something that's literally illegal. It's literally illegal. You don't see anything cognitively dissonant about that?

[@marcelcicort9671]

And yet most dont get this simple notion...

[@DaisyPen]

A company worth $678.99 billion dollars saves money by paying their employees starving wages, then benefits from that poverty by ensuring their stores are the most affordable option for the employees they underpay (employee discount alone is incentive not to shop elsewhere). Every month, Walmart can rest assured that their employees will pour hundreds of dollars in food stamps & government assistance $ right back into the company store.

[@sabre230]

Amazon be doing the same shit.

[@Gabriel_H77]

Add into that that government then has to provide assistance to the workers - which in effect allow Walmart to underpay workers. I.e. Taxpayer money is being used to subsidize corporate profit - it is Mussolini's notion of what a fascist economy should look like.

[@lynneanderson1385]

I dropped my Amazon membership

[@rudyzk]

Employee discount is an advantage for the employee and for the company. Apart you can use that discount for your friends, relatives

[@HenryWeems-kr9wr]

Smart move, though immoral of course.

[@IamSCS]

If you’re a democrat start by checking your rudeness, abruptness and agressiveness with your servers at restaurants. The three people with whom I have dined to behave like this were all devoted democrats. Don’t be unwavering in your allegiance to the party-of-the-people then act inappropriately with workers. Additionally, from Life Skills 101: it’s wise to be pleasant with people who handle your food.

[@rickauclair705]

Thank you for the calm, intelligent conversations at this moment. We need the adults in the room to step up and direct the conversation towards understanding and solutions rather than projecting doom and gloom.

[@longkesh1971]

Also, as we're going deeper and deeper in debt, we see the government giving our tax money to foreign countries for war. Why shouldn't I be mad about paying taxes if they will give it away, as if they have plenty of money, but none for me?

[@Joshcoshbagosh]

@@longkesh1971 the bigger picture is important. Why do conservatives not care about the progression of mankind as a whole? Only how much their eggs cost. Allowing Russia to annex more of Ukraine is not the path to long term peace. It only shows them and China that they can take what they want and get away with it.

[@martavdz4972]

​​​@@longkesh1971 If you're talking about Ukraine, a lot of it is the value of old equipment that the government would have to scrap, and that costs money anyway. Also, Ukraine has natural resources and I think there's silent understanding that if it manages to keep Russia at bay, it will become a source for cheap or even free gas and other resources for the US. Not to mention that Ukraine not losing has kept China from attacking Taiwan, and that has kept the prices of electronics fairly stable. If China attacks or annexes Taiwan, the entire world economy might crash because Taiwan makes like 80% of the world's microchips that are needed for computers, phones, cars, smart air conditioning, you name it. If we struggle to put food on the table now, we might actually have to eat grass if China attacks Taiwan. That's why all governments are scared s**tless of any Taiwan crisis. - Not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing, but you're underestimating your government's pragmatism.

[@karenteneyck9835]

💯

[@premiumfruits3528]

@@Joshcoshbagosh mankind will continue to progress regardless of whether Ukraine is a part of Russia or its own nation, the US has almost all of its natural gas needs met by our own sources or pipelines from Canada, we don't need cheaper gas from the other side of the world, it's a lie you've been told to sell you on the war, you are completely lost in the sauce, which is ironic considering you're in the comments of a podcast episode about why your side lost so badly

[@jeremiahbullfrog9367]

Being a person who grew up in South Carolina and now lives in Portland Oregon. I always blow people’s minds when I explain many areas in the south where 1 out 4 people are high school dropouts. I could listen to Ms. Smarsh all day long about these subjects. Great conversation!!! #johnStewart2028

[@lisacarbone7792]

Jon, your weekly shows have pulled me out of panic and depression and given me enough understanding to see way forward, I can’t thank you enough

[@fatemakarim5054]

Wow.... Yep, the undereducated really do love trump

[@beachgirl6565]

As someone that moved from Ohio to South Carolina in 2012 I thought it was more than one out of four. I worked at SC Works and was helping with job searches and resumes. I was surprised to see how many people in my age group that hadn’t graduated & left really early. I’m 68 but so many couldn’t really read and write. Right now they rank 43 in the nation in education.

[@brianjones6500]

I bought a house In South Cakalakie and I was told that half of all people didn't have a high school education because to hunt and fish only required equipment not intellectual capital.

[@michaellovullo7363]

Most college educated liberals talk about poor people like they read about them in a book.

[@JohnTyree]

Jon, the bravery you show with this ultra high resolution camera you've got is admirable. I've never felt so close... possibly to anyone.

[@JennyPost]

This is the best interview I have seen all week. This is, absolutely, the hit. This is the only way. I was sooo upset after watching your interview with a previous guest last week, who was so insulting in her gaslighting on the economy. She did EXACTLY what Sarah described, as I have seen repeated everywhere. (Ahh, come on. I know you think it is bad, but it is actually good and you just dont understand economics). I have seen people watering it down in vapid memes, such as "people chose cheaper eggs over women's rights" or some bullshit, which totally minimizes the despair and hopelessness people are feeling. We MUST see class as an identity and recognize it as a vector of oppression (yaay sociology)!! This was wonderful! Thank you for having her on. PLEASE challenge neoliberals/democrat apologists (like that particular guest you had last week) EVERY chance you get! PS. Stewart4President 2028!!

[@knithacker]

exactly how i felt. the woman last week was offensive and i couldn't finish that one. this one is revolutionary.

[@RS-sp9hj]

Huh. I felt the same way about the previous guest too. I thought about no longer watching these but I'll check this out based on your comment.

[@JennyPost]

@@RS-sp9hj awesome. Yeah, I was really pissed after the one last week and about ready to stop visiting Jon Stewart, but the conversation and his honest perspective has given me a lot of hope. I HOPE to see him bring last week's guest back on and challenge her apologetics and the MANNNNYY things she got wrong.

[@pensivepenguin3000]

Are you talking about the Heather Cox Richardson interview?

[@knithacker]

@@pensivepenguin3000 yes

[@tylerlarson3730]

CLASS! Finally someone says it out loud.

[@jondevaney6860]

Class is extremely obvious in society. When I took a university sociology course back in 1980 class was discussed a lot. These days the social sciences are full of postmodern nonsense, so who knows what students learn about class these days.

[@MartinMary-c2n]

Marx has been saying the same thing for centuries. But because the average American equates Marxism to Evil. No one bothers to read Marx with an open mind.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

​@@jondevaney6860Throughout US history, class has often been a taboo topic further obscured by racial issues/dimensions. But as this election makes clear, many Americans are starting to realize that socioeconomic class is important.

[@treborkroy5280]

Identity/Grievance based politics is a cancer to the Democratic party. It's by its nature divisive and promotes animosity between the perceived groups that are seen as "oppressor and the oppressed". Telling trailer trash white people they have privilege while Beyonce is getting paid by the Democratic party for her endorsement is just...dumb. It's class. Every issue tackled through the lens of class will solve every issue assumed to based on race or other "identity" groups.

[@gg829]

And yet it is still obscured by "identity". Politically, class is everything, identity nothing.

[@maguszanin5296]

Her opening line "We've been in a burn It down moment for a while now" is exactly the thing I hope Democrats come to understand from this election. It started with the GOP rejecting Romney and Jeb Bush, and then continued with the public rejecting Hillary Clinton. Outside of the crisis in 2020, every establishment politician who has tried to run for president has lost.

[@eriksgrivins9483]

Ms. Smarsh described my identity better than I could possibly describe it myself. I have not gone down the MAGA route, but maybe, for the first time have a better understanding of how my neighbors have.

[@vulcanfeline]

i agree. the acknowledgement of pain - that's the ticket that makes me feel any understanding of people that voted for that man

[@scottsherman5262]

@@vulcanfeline Agreed, but it isn't just pain in that sense, many folks were also voting against her/Dems more than for him/Reps, & a lot of it really is the "woke" stuff. The Left went all the way over the cliff with it, & they were objectively wrong for doing so.

[@keefroc]

Absolutely love Ms. Smarsh. Very insightful, extremely smart, excellent communicator. Hope to see and hear more of her on other channels, networks, pods.

[@keithwiebe1787]

She linked to this video and in it she said she really doesn't want to do short interviews as it just gets sound bites. She's not into that. She says she turned down many of those interviews.

[@cwillott]

As Dan Osborne recently told Jessica Burbank, the key to getting voters to support you is listening to what is important to them before determining how you can best serve them. Center your campaign on your constituents, not yourself or your donors.

[@jesslikescoffee24]

Why is it that “working class” often is conflated with rural construction workers while city retail workers exist? Both are working class, but are likely going to differ politically.

[@jerseygunz]

@@jesslikescoffee24 almost like that has been done on purpose 🤔

[@dannyslag]

Exactly. The majority of the working class in America are retail and contact center workers now. It's so they can pretend "working class" means rich farmers.

[@sarahnicoleanastasia]

It’s my biggest annoyance. The majority of the working class isn’t boomer union construction workers!! Service workers are working class to the core! BUT LOOK AT US - we are made up of a diverse group of ppl. Not old yt men which is the facade being kept up

[@dannyslag]

Most farmers also aren't working class. Most farmers are rich. The working class are primarily retail, contact center, and office workers now.

[@paulschweizer7696]

Think of it as "working class" earns a living by labor and the "investment class" by capital.

[@maxstark4820]

I've heard people saying that liberals need "Elon Musk" and "Joe Rogan". No they don't , liberals need more Sarah Smarch.

[@jerseygunz]

@@maxstark4820 btw, very ironic asking jon Stewart if the left needs a joe rogan hahaha

[@zenon3021]

Jon Stewart should do Rogan

[@relentlesseducator]

Couldn’t be more wrong. Jon should do Joe Rogan. It helped Bernie immensely.instead of talking directly to the working class you want to continue to talk to people who write books about the working class. That is the problem.

[@William-the-Guy]

Joe Rogan and Elon Musk ARE liberals, at least they were for most of the last 20 years. The Democrats worked pretty hard to kick them out of their party.

[@Harab_Serapel]

​@@relentlesseducator Does Joe Rogan count as a member of the working class?

[@anthonyjames7534]

Great interview. I think Sarah really put her finger on an important issue. Thanks Jon and team.

[@mckeldin1961]

My God such a great discussion! Thank you both!

[@Gabriel_H77]

When Americans come to realise that anti-unfettered capitalism is not the same as anti-capitalism, y'all stand a chance.

[@StuntpilootStef]

Don't hold your breath.

[@maeschder]

Capitalism by definition trends towards being unfettered. This idea that it can be tamed and made to work for people despite its internal flaws and inherent impossibilities is part of what prevents America from improving.

[@ingrudmessenger1193]

Which is kinda funny because the US aren't as capitalist as they think they are. I'm not sure if it's in all states, but in a couple energy companies for example have a guaranteed monopoly. It's illegal to compete with them. In actual capitalism breaking/preventing monopolies is one of the few jobs a government has. People think russian Oligarchs have too much power, but don't look at US Oligarchs. Not in the same way at least.

[@choppermontana8212]

America has never been an "unfettered capitalist" country. Millions of financial regulations direct the market (review the SEC website). The checks and balances of a government created by free elections has seemed to work to create an economy that is still the largest and most productive in history. There will always be individual stories of financial strife. The US only promises opportunity.

[@StuntpilootStef]

@@ingrudmessenger1193 Preventing companies from becoming monopolies is what a social democracy does. It doesn't exist in a true free market.

[@claudiawatson4631]

This was a fabulous interview and I'm so happy to have discovered Sarah Smarsh! I will absolutely buy her book and let it sit on my nightstand for 3-6 months (I might even read it). I am really enjoying hearing Jon Stewart get back into conversations again, where he is asking questions, responding with authenticity and sharing his thought processes- I like this so much better than all the anger. Not that he shouldn't be angry, but sometimes you feel like you can see it erode someone's hope and humanity, and it was painful to watch that happen to a man who clearly has so much potential for sharing joy and solidarity.

[@torbs37]

Sincerely, thank you so much for platforming Sarah and putting out this incredible interview! I'm as left wing as they come, multiply marginalized in ways that currently make me a target, and was feeling so much despair and fear before listening to this. You've really helped me understand what people voted for and see where I and other lefties can do better. At the end of the day, all marginalized people struggle along class lines. This perspective gives me much needed hope that a future where the majority can agree on what's needed to improve the lives of most citizens is possible.

[@Geini0]

I am and feel exactly the same. Like the light bulb went off and my heart is full of hope. That we can bridge the divide. And we can all success in a life worth living.

[@thomasopp9104]

God damn I just started watching and am now very optimistic

[@AuntieMamies]

This woman is seriously enjoyable to listen to. She's really got her finger on the pulse. I think the Dems need to talk to this woman and learn something from her. Last week Heather Cox Richardson and now Sarah Smarsh. You spoil us, Jon

[@garretthazlett9116]

It's great to hear someone take the way we feel and spell it out so eloquently.

[@PennylessPrime]

In a country where the top 10% of earners own 93% of the stocks; when you place the value of investment above the value of labor, you end up leaving the other 90% of Americans behind.

[@paulschweizer7696]

Labor just won't do anything about that discrepancy. Labor unions are a valid option....

[@patrickvernon4766]

It’s a political problem. How can labor itself solve it?

[@makestank4800]

An environment like that is a fertile breeding ground for demagogues and false prophets that will tell working class people to hate somebody else because they are the reason why the economy is so unequal and messed up.

[@xarbinchaoticneutral1785]

she doesnt speak for the shareholders or establishment

[@mostlyguesses8385]

Ugly truth is poor Americans won't save, won't invest. You double their wages and they buy new car and jet ski... Asians working at gas station will save and be millionaire by age 50.... Economists say this, us white trash cant be made rich even throwing money at them. My stupid cousins blow $4000 on Vegas week and live in shack. Its not evil govt. I'm no better but I don't deny my grandparent would succeed if alive now ..

[@ewplayer3]

This is it! This is the way forward! This is the common ground upon which the great majority of citizens should be able to agree upon.

[@MADDcartman]

As they admitted themselves. We’re not rational but emotional voters. While the dialogue would improve both the rational and emotional sides of our brain I think there is still too much anger that can’t be reasoned with. That coupled with tribal thinking allows large swathes of the rural areas to be continuously swayed by hateful messages of the other.

[@paulschweizer7696]

Problem is that poor white working class folks DON'T ACCEPT that they are poor white working class folks. Mostly caused by the consequences of their OWN choices.

[@BeanMacdui]

@@MADDcartmanIs the anger and tribal thinking on both sides? I see it happening on both the left and right.

[@TacticusPrime]

@@BeanMacdui Both sides? Seriously? Democrats want to protect the rights of the people. Republicans want to entrench billionaires in power.

[@AlejandroRauderHurtado]

It's definitely not in both side as proven by electing trump. ​@@BeanMacdui

[@TheInnerParty]

That "faint discomfort", is how a lot of us has felt for the last four years. Modern Democrats have been serving up the country 💩sandwiches. Instead of mayonnaise, each sandwich came with liberal application of gaslighting. So good. I hope everyone that voted for that laughing hyena has that taste in their mouth for a very long time, but things are about to get better and are already getting better. I can't remember the last time I looked at tomorrow with more beauty in my heart and a hefty confidence in my mind. 💯

[@joanneedel9625]

Thank you Sarah...brilliant...So glad I heard you speak. Helps us see how to move forward...Totally agree.

[@lauriepeckins645]

Class is the common denominator

[@annetta7]

I'm back home in Missouri, after traveling the world. I love living on my hilltop. Finally someone is speaking truth about life in rural and small town America. She said we are underpaid, and it's true. So much pain for these families. Pain arising from economic disadvantage. Too many of my fellow Democrats still do not feel the pain experienced by this class of people. And they voted this year!

[@willlazenby1050]

Great quote by Stewart, "Action is the antidote to anxiety."; I'm sure it may have been from someone else but still awesome.

[@thomassandoval8025]

It's always weird when I read a comment quote at the exact moment it's spoken on a video.

[@bufo333]

Its worse than they even know. I work in IT and went to school for computer science, and many companies are outsourcing all IT to India and China. So not even those jobs are safe, that's the scary part. And the people we outsourced to cannot even do the job at a basic level, and the few Americans left working are now working around the clock until burnout to pick up the pieces.

[@piscinaiv7937]

just stay on your skills and get on a good contract or two and eventually someone will pick you up. A LOT of industries are re-shoring IT or at least minimizing their exposure to offshore for a lot of different reasons; its not all milk and honey with minimal skills anymore like the early oughts, but you can still carve out a good living.

[@ErinSmith-jo8td]

My sister worries about this for her job, which she expects will go over seas any time.

[@ErinSmith-jo8td]

@@piscinaiv7937When you already struggling and barely making it, making that jump is fucking hard to do. Yes, some do it, but most are not capable. Do better, why don’t we expect that from the fucking top more instead of the bottom?

[@debbyolivier5122]

IT security being outsourced to offshore platforms in india baffles me, can nothing better be done?

[@jool4867]

Fake degrees and certification fraud is a huge business in India and China. That’s why you have a bunch of “highly educated” employees who don’t know a thing about the job.

[@atwarwithdust]

9:26 "The Republicans are the ones validating the pain" is key.

[@epicgamingmomentz]

I love these conversations. Real. Fact based, neutral.

[@vikkivonkauffmann1967]

I’ve never felt more seen ❤ Thank you Jon and Sarah!!! This is the real conversation. I truly felt relieved hearing this, I felt crazy- why isn’t anyone noticing what’s happening!

[@thejeffguychannel4346]

Loved this interview. Love Jon. Love Sarah Smarsh. I met her at a book signing in Wichita, KS & she couldn't have been nicer. Nobody is talking about class in America like she is. She gets it. We all want to be seen. We all want to be validated. There are people who feel left out & she wants the people in her family, the people she knows, grew up with and everyone else to feel seen, listened to, acknowledged. She really gets it.

[@johnniejohnson73]

Never heard of Sarah until today but I found myself nodding yes to her the whole show. She was spot on. I think I'll listen to the whole thing again because of how important this conversation is. Thanks Jon and thanks Sarah.

[@Gabriel_H77]

She is espousing basic socialist principles - sadly the US has been brainwashed into thinking socialism bad. A good example is Bernie - a democratic socialist. It's an odd descriptor because socialism is by its nature democratic.

[@MattAndre24]

@@Gabriel_H77 💯💯💯

[@MattAndre24]

@@Gabriel_H77 America is drunk on capitalist greed…

[@Jody_VE5SAR]

Sarah made some brilliant extensions to Jon's core hypothesis - watching them feed off of each other was so natural.

[@BiffStrongo]

This lady speaks truth. She's got a common perspective, uncommonly brought to the surface. Preach.

[@NE8675309]

This is hands-down my favorite podcast! I always feel like I'm learning something new & vital by hearing the commentary of different perspectives, while still feeling like I'm informed enough to follow the dialogue. Sarah was such a great guest; articulate and insightful, without talking down to the common population. I've been looking forward to Thursdays every week since this pod started, & right now, it really feels important to have something to look forward to.

[@TheJodyShowdy]

I was worried when Jon was pitching unions getting involved in the financialization of work, but they really turned it around. Great conversation.

[@teresadavis8158]

This woman is so very impressive. I enjoyed listening to her. She gets America, and so few do.

[@Rakaamlil]

I love work, I work at the Salvation Army, I'm proud I'm not a banker, I do meaningful work that helps the world

[@tinydancer2607]

The stunningness of your bravery right there 👏🏼👏🏼

[@whatthecripesable]

problematic.

[@Rakaamlil]

@whatthecripesable keyword warrior

[@merlynalexander]

I'm 65. I voted for all Democrats. My dad mined iron underground for Bethlehem Steel. We were solid blue collar Pennsylvania. But the economy? I am retired. Planned/saved for retirement. I didn't foresee that my wife's serious illness would eat through both our retirement savings paying her medical bills. She died in 2020. I'm now on SNAP benefits because it lets me afford to buy food. So, honestly, i care more about the price of things i need to live (rent, food prices, etc) these matter most to me. I'd love to be working, but my macular degeneration means my eyesight now isn't good enough to do most jobs. And when i was hunting for a job after layoffs when I was 59, i ran into a lot of age discrimination. I got my first job when I was 17, worked all through college. I was a highly trained paralegal for almost 40 years. The economy for people like me isn't good.

[@William-the-Guy]

Clearly you didn't read the latest report on the GDP. The economy is the best it's ever been. Biden is also sharp as a tack.

[@heidimueller1039]

Canadian here. MEDICAL debt wiped you out, your family! That is the BASIC difference between us. We do not get medical debt, ever.

[@bathtub_marmot]

@@heidimueller1039 Harris' would have made it a campaign issue, but that would have upset the corporate donor base. Same for Palestine. Same for housing.

[@BeanMacdui]

@@bathtub_marmotWe are talking about US citizens. Also, Harris is married to a Jewish man. I didn’t get the sense that either Biden or Harris were on board with changing Americas stance on being supportive of Israel. I hope and pray that both sides reach an understanding so that there is no more lives lost in the countries of Israel and Palestine. 🤍🕊️

[@daviddickey1994]

And who is to blame for the inflation eating up our cash? YOUR GOLL DANG BLUE DEMOCRATS! Wise up and see Trumps policies rebuild our economy, and next time vote RED. If you have any sense.

[@sinnadar2025]

This was a really good episode

[@BrandonBousquet]

Appreciated this talk as someone who works in aviation in Wichita, KS, albeit I'm not in a union.

[@oscardiggs246]

This was 53 minutes well spent. Made some sense of what's happened and made me think differently about what is broken and what the way forward could be.

[@kenbareilles2794]

We need to get people on MSNBC that went to state college, community college and trade school. Too many Ivy League commentators.

[@UnpurrfectRobyn]

This conversation was everything! I mean, my goodness, this is IT. I'm sending this to EVERYONE I know. Holy cow. I'm shook.

[@Hypothalamus11]

Yep. "Emotions don't care about your facts"

[@travisbrinson848]

Never thought of class as an identity, shows how insulated you became John. Sarah, you're brilliant and please keep on preaching the message out here!

[@patriciadietrich667]

Thank goodness the truth has been spoken

[@who2u333]

"We have devalued labor" Interesting point.

[@RVOPuttPuttProductions]

Both my parents were in Teamsters. It’s how I was able to go to college and how my parents were able to retire.

[@HebaruSan]

"validating pain" is a partial explanation. "Scapegoating" is the complete version.

[@NiklasVonDyrendahl]

Scapegoating doesn’t include valid pain! And this valid pain is something new in the democratic party! Every pain is valid from being poor to the right to use toliets for trans people! Since when are we the ones to educate other what their lived experience is?

[@anonymousteacher4875]

I remember Sarah at KU! I love the quote about NYC. True for actors and musicians too. We COULD make it there and choose not to. Well done!

[@AlyxCoe]

I'll bet Kansas is a real happenin' place

[@scottl9660]

Bet you could get a great streak there, if you could afford it

[@ProffesionalZombie12]

Very relatable with the background hum of despair. I'm OCD, and an aspiring writer. I haven't been able to get anything--NOTHING done because it's so omnipresent that I can't think of anything else. I'm just stuck in this cycle of "Take action, you can sleep when you're dead." over this, even though I know that's not healthy. Also it's interesting that she talks about how the working class are a tightly knit, often publicly dismissed and even degraded community. It actually reminds me of my own family. My entire family comes from Oklahoma, but I'm the first dropout (Due to life happenstances) in my dad's family, meanwhile my cousin is the only college grad in my mom's. Who do I feel closer to? My mom's family of course, because my dad's family is definitely in the mindset of college degrees and middle class = success and human value. I'm the black sheep they tolerate, but ultimately want nothing to do with. So I hang with my fellow black sheep instead. This notion that the Dems sort of have an elitist viewpoint as it pertains to the working class, feels very similar.

[@novelero03]

This! This is precisely what needs to be discussed and talked about! Sarah needs to be interviewed as well in the Daily Show! A lot of people need to hear this, especially elitist folks, which exist on both sides.

[@leecox6292]

Much appreciated the discussion today, Missouri white guy here, am living the class reality daily. Voted Harris. Struggling with the results. This validated much for me today. Keep up the great work my friends.

[@thomasopp9104]

With you in spirit. Stay strong

[@treborkroy5280]

Missouri has weak men apparently. Be better.

[@SarahFieldsenpointe]

​@@treborkroy5280 Your comment is weak 😂

[@treborkroy5280]

@@SarahFieldsenpointe You use emojis like a teenage girl.

[@janef9926]

Fabulous- been saying this for a long time! We need to have a conversation about class. Sarah articulated the points so well! Thank you!

[@MsTiLaJ]

Excellent conversation. I hope everyone is hearing that we can’t leave anyone behind.

[@joshuacoble9187]

Dr King spoke a lot about class as well as race. He didn't want to alienate the white working class. I feel Democrats could learn a lot from him.

[@BeanMacdui]

Yes! Great point.

[@jacquelinemckinney4147]

Amazing guest.

[@tomhalpenny7057]

Great insights Sarah, as I come from a similar background to you, your assessment of rural, working class is bang on, and has been multi-generational in the making.

[@3akr3]

I love to watch Jon learn! It is like watching Bob Ross paint.

[@Lyrici17]

One of the best interview/discussions I've seen in a long time. Thanks for the introduction to Sarah Smarsh!

[@shahzadimam8497]

agreed, what an eloquent and thoughtful guest, really illuminating discussion amidst all the noise and outrage going on

[@PaulW-mc5fr]

Good afternoon, I am from the UK so the content of this video has no direct impact on me per se. Ordinarily I do not post comments online but I did want to show my appreciation for the guest in this show. I thought that Ms. Smarsh was incredibly engaging and thought provoking in her assessment of the topic discussed and the fact that she brought to the conversation the inequality of class was a masterstroke. It is the most coherent and unbiased viewpoint that I have heard in a long time concerning American politics. This in my opinion would resonate far wider with the population as a whole ( across both parties ) than the current identity politics that is continuously batted around like a political football. As Mr. Stewart said "this may be Pollyanna" but changing the narrative in the way that Ms. Smarsh eluded to would be a much kinder way of interacting with society and that would be truly progressive. The trick is to now get a quorum of intelligent, decent politicians to think in the way that she does ( or at least listen to what she has to say ). I do enjoy listening to smart people whom I can learn from and Ms. Smarsh is the best that I have seen in quite some time. Get her on your airwaves ASAP, for your own sake. Maybe I do have a stake in the game: Whatever happens in the U.S. eventually permeates into our society over here, and it has been going to the dogs for quite some time now. Do us a favour, "Give us a break please".

[@keithwiebe1787]

Please read her first book. She also did a book on Dolly Pardon and her latest they talked about here. I've only read her first book but think you would really enjoy it.

[@ncree4526]

Bless you 10-billion-times over, Mr. Amazingly Fabulous Jon Stewart, for your recent interviews with Sarah Smarsh & Heather Cox Richardson. You three are my Holy Trinity of Hope amid the post-doomsday apocalypse. My head AND heart found a healing balm with the facts both women presented & your reflections in support of their analyses of where USA is at. Thank you dearly from a small-town gal with a masters degree from Heather's BC days happily married to a very successful self-educated high school drop-out. Though he is of the Rush Limbaugh school of grievance politics & I am a Jimmy Carter disciple, we live daily the reality that respect & tolerance & compromise & HOPE are possible for a happy life. Your podcast encourages me that we are not unique; the "more perfect (read: peaceful) union" is a pledge of possibility in these recent days. Thank you sincerely.

[@michaelreader2384]

I attended Columbia University. I witnessed firsthand the major issue America is facing right now: most of the most vocal 'cultural identity' warriors were all from rich families, and that's why they ALWAYS excluded class as an identity in itself. They only cared about inclusion of minorities, but never had a word to say about the poor. It was quite fascinating to watch.

[@xZOOMARx]

In academic circles, the unspoken assumption is that minorities ARE the poor working class. It’s insulting to minorities who are in the upper class and shame inducing to the ones from the working class. It’s what turns so many people off of DEI

[@BeanMacdui]

Did you have John McWhorter as a professor? I completely agree with your comment, it’s well put.

[@michaelreader2384]

@ did not! I studied film and philosophy and literature a bit.

[@chaosinfusion8127]

YES!!! Rich families are happy to promote “equality” among the people they are exploiting. They do not care.

[@wallywallywa]

Yes! Jon's final statement hit the nail on the head. We all have our own interests.

[@mattsmelley5569]

Robert Reich has been saying for the last 50 years to up wages ...now THEY get what they voted in

[@debbykleinberg8779]

Really missed the whole point. A worker in KS doesn't know who Robert Reich is.

[@Newton-Reuther]

​@debbykleinberg8779 They know who Bernie is. And Bernie ran twice for the nomination. Got cheated both times. The Democratic elites made their bed and now with Trump, they can lay in it. When Trump starts going after his enemies, it's going to be the Clintoncrats who are the first to go.

[@jerseygunz]

@@mattsmelley5569 I can think of a German philosopher who was saying all this stuff in the 1800s 😉

[@navyrotc2012]

@@jerseygunz modern America is not 1800s transition from feudalism to industrial society Germany. Listen to people alive

[@jerseygunz]

@@navyrotc2012 and yet we still have a class system. Just sayin this stuff has been around a while

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Great convo 16:14 no sorry Sarah but some low-wage workers hate their work, though they do not qualify for higher-paid work no matter what you do to them. If you are a CSR, for example, dealing with angry customers all day, or working at a big-box the day after Thanksgiving, you hate your job but have no choice, certainly no union choice, it's all McJobs.

[@Monoma-gi1ol]

It's so refreshing to see a perspective that I've taken for granted FINALLY given some oxygen in a more mainstream space.

[@mr.bluesky2904]

I’ve been saying we’re living in the second gilded age of America, but now I will call it the lipstick age. Jon will you please run this country. I know you love your one night a week schedule but your passion and ability to listen, learn and articulate the needs of the people is what we need in a leader. You’re awesome at what you do. We need more voices like yours to drown out the Fox nation.

[@dannytrejo1359]

It feels bad to ask because he deserves to be happy.

[@FlamingSwordOfWisdom108]

This conversation does not account for automation and for AI. Labor is going to transform in ways we cannot possibly imagine the next 4 to 8 years.

[@noriringtail7428]

All the more reason the workers that remain need more representation and real power. Letting the billionaires decide how society works as they leave more and more of us in the dust isn't a workable plan.

[@chaosinfusion8127]

💯Automation and AI are two more reasons that _workers_ should own and control the means of production instead of a small number of plutocrats.

[@LadyMoonsparrow]

A seriously clever and profound conversation. Thank you!

[@sheisirish]

This was so very good to hear. My world view has definitely been expanded. Thank you, Jon. (Please run for office. I think I've been asking for more than a decade. And I'll keep asking. )

[@benfarr2761]

By the end of your conversation I thought: you just reached Bernie v.2.0! Congrats! That's kinda what Bernie has been saying for decades: it's about class, stupid! But Americans don't like to talk about class because the rich have conditioned us not to talk about it giving us the bilge about "upward mobility." (Not that that isn't true.) Talk about class threatens the rich because it brings attention to the fact that they've been stomping on the poor in all sorts of ways since the dawn of time, and that we HAVE achieved ways (through taxation, horrors!) to alleviate poverty and achieve some measure of social and economic justice. When Trump came on the scene I first thought, oh god, he's stealing Bernie 's thunder, in the sense he was tapping into the same discontent Bernie sensed and that lifted him against Hillary in 2016, but Bernie was too old and the wrong standard bearer for the right cause, which by rights belonged to the left, and tragically Trump harnessed that energy under false pretenses for his own ends, which had nothing to do with what he sold his voters. So here we are: Biden ACTUALLY did something to put a stake in the heart of Reaganist bullshit supply side economics with great success, no one noticed and he got no credit. And now we get the end of the Republic. Caligula appoints his horse to the Senate.

[@7788Sambaboy]

"36:10 "a valid sense of not being seen" - best discussion I have ever had jon have...with anyone!

[@carahowell4260]

I love this. I am a person who is happy with a modest simple life. I don't need a lot of money to be happy. And unfortunately I'm disabled and so I rely on social security which doesn't pay me enough to even pay rent PG car insurance and a phone bill. I just want to be able to take care of my bills and put a little gas in my car.

[@NiklasVonDyrendahl]

You wouldn’t be abel to do that even with a job these days! Inflation has ruined us but the printing of money at supported the wars!

[@dereks8175]

Love so much seeing the class consciousness going on right now. Class intersects race, sex, sexual orientation, age, all of it. To put it crudely, people coalesce around plans to help their wallets. To put it accurately, people desperately want to be renumerated fairly for their work and when time and again their needs are spoken to but not addressed, or not even spoken to, and there is no class or workplace based organizing or collective action, people feel helpless and vote for whoever is not the party currently failing to address the fundamental problems in exploitative late stage capitalism and instead offer tax credits and pell grants. How people end up voting for the authoritarian criminal billionaire bankrolled by the World's richest man is beyond even me though.

[@NiklasVonDyrendahl]

Not just ordinary people like us but even you!! Wow, that says a lot!

[@edjorg]

Sarah is such a clear thinker! And she has such heart. I heard her on an NPR call-in show when she and a man who grew up poor working class in New York found that they had exactly the same experiences in college. There was a language being spoken by other students that they had no basis for understanding, and it was alienating. She said 'Of course, my family owns land', and he replied 'But I'm one block from the nearest hospital'. It brought her to tears that they could so easily connect on so many levels❤

[@21smac30]

It's cool during the TOUGH weeks, heroes like Jon introduce us to new ones.