Thomas Frank on Anti-Populism, Plus Biden's Most-Stoned Moment Ever | Useful Idiots

[@dalereynolds7638]

After John Lewis stated that he had never seen Bernie in a civil rights march (as a photo was portrayed of Bernie right behind him in such a march), somebody said Representative Lewis had had a senior moment. I said, no, I think John Lewis had a DNC moment.

[@jocksharerock7318]

Dale Reynolds A Selma moment is what you and many of the left need to get you all thinking straight. This DNC thing gets old

[@dalereynolds7638]

@@jocksharerock7318 The "DNC thing" and Clinton's abuse of Lewis on behalf of the DNC is not even new. You will be hearing it again, because it is there. At this Selma moment, Bernie was right behind Lewis. Or at one of the marches, at least. I have been an advocate of civil rights since I was a small child. We who have been are on the left. You don't sound as if you belong with us.

[@jocksharerock7318]

Dale Reynolds Your post has no focus. Not sure what you’re trying to say about Bernie and Selma. Bernie was there at the march on Washington, not Selma. Clinton was obviously trying to elevate John Lewis and non-violence over Stokely Carmichael’s fiery, not so “turn the other cheek” approach. No big deal

[@dalereynolds7638]

@@jocksharerock7318 Selma was suggested by someone else. I was in reply. Read back, if you care to get this detail right. Clinton may have had in mind what you say, but Clinton also suggested Lewis straightened out those Democrats who were straying too far in the liberal direction. Watch the video of Clinton at the funeral. By implication, Bernie is the target for the wrath of Clinton. Enough focus for you?

[@jocksharerock7318]

Dale Reynolds I was just clarifying that it was Washington, not Selma. I don’t think Bernie and John Lewis were at any other event in the 60s besides that. I’m in agreement that the Clinton’s treatment of Bernie is shameful. F**K them

[@kbkatherineb3944]

Thomas Frank is a treasure house of information. Thank you for inviting him and letting him talk!

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Excellent interview. I only wish he hadn't slipped into the same error as do many of his colleagues on the left in referring to elite (or expert) 'failures.' When elite actions have harmful effects on society at large, it only makes it harder to delegitimate them when we all go along in assuming that they ipso facto could only have been the results of 'mistakes' and 'failures'. It only further enables those elites by reinforcing the unwarranted assumption that they truly are intending to benefit the mass of the people with their actions--they just sometimes 'fail.' Of the examples he gave, the only one that I would consider to be an actual 'failure' from the perspective of elites was Hillary's loss in the 2016 elections. As for the others--Vietnam, Iraq, the 2008 financial crisis, the opioid crisis--in all of them, interests that pushed for those policies wound up making out like bandits, while the rest of society suffered. In other words, NOT 'failures.' (And those are just a few such examples.)

[@dashx1103]

@@ronmackinnon9374 I get what you are saying, Ron, and l largely agree. But there is a deeper cut there too when it comes to "experts." Part of the pathology of modern neoliberalism is reliance on "experts" across the board, not all of whom act with bad intent. It pervades all aspects of politics and governance -- federal, state, local. It is the technocratic nightmare John Ralston Saul warned about back in the 90s -- most notably in "Voltaire's Bastards" and the brilliant Massey lecture series "Unconscious Civilization." In many cases, we are talking about well-intended individuals who are simply cogs in a machine. In many ways it is simply a bureaucracy of failure. It persists, of course -- back to your point -- because it fundamentally serves the elites.

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

Thomas Frank is my favourite populist Political analyst.

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

Yes, yes, yes... I was missing him on you tube for quite a while.

[@AWildBard]

Mine too I keep watching him speak on KZbin and listen on podcasts. Haven't yet bought a book, though.

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

Gregory Wonderwheel :he is fun. i remember him suggesting that Hillary could’ve demolished Trump in ‘Bible Bowl’…!! 🤣

[@bryanbergman4241]

Yes

[@SteveM-gj2vy]

Then why does he keep losing ?

[@marionreynolds7080]

I keep reminding myself of the indomitable Chris Hedges’ exhortation. We, the people, must ensure that the political classes are terrified of us.

[@Kidsinamerica]

.....and you wonder why many Leftists say the Second Amendment is the most-important Civil Right we have....

[@lumpialogic1706]

thanks matt for going out of your way to keep the show going! much appreciated!

[@fredfredrickson5436]

Frank's discourse was incredible. Kudos to Rolling Stone.

[@faithe54]

When you are passionate about a topic it's often contagious. I want to buy his book for my best friend's bday. She only reads political and historical non-fiction . She'll find it fascinating, I'm sure.

[@rrpearsall]

Kudos to Rolling Stone for UI Matt and Katy.. RS kinda sucks otherwise..

[@pammiddaugh9864]

I love listening to Thomas Frank. Great interview - I’m buying the book today!

[@craighealy6268]

Excellent decision

[@lillygrayson2097]

IDIOT!!!!

[@cheesandwichfactory]

@@lillygrayson2097 you seem like a lovely human

[@dalereynolds7638]

Delightful to have Thomas Frank talking with you two. Star Show.

[@billgordon4423]

Thomas Frank is a great author, I especially loved Listen Liberal. Bought copies for my folks too, but sadly, they couldn't listen to criticism of Clinton and they practically worshipped Obama.

[@Eastbayrob]

I tried to get my mom to listen to it but sadly she never did.

[@Userick10]

Same here. Friends and family members shut down at any criticism of the Clintons. * sigh *

[@survivormary1126]

My mother as well a staunch Hitlary supporter, brainwashed by Media :(

[@TedApelt]

They need to understand that they are just as bad as Trump supporters who practically worship him.

[@amoeboidtendencies5137]

I didn't even try sharing Listen, Liberal with family or relatives. I sadly knew it would have been a purely futile effort to get that level of honesty and self-awareness out of mainline Dems who also thought Obama walked on water.

[@deanthompson1156]

Matt, The ultimate team player. Great show, as always.

[@jim_tessier]

The Bidenism you missed was "come on man."

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

That's my favorite Bidenism. It's the tell that he's lying and searching for a diversion.

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

James Tessier :…i can imagine him saying that at press conferences. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@IndieGinge]

Totally stealing this, but that needs to be his campaign slogan. It encapsulates his position with relation to Trump, "Make America great again!" "C'mon man, let's just go back to normal." Which is a terrible idea but that's literally what he's selling.

[@bliss4383]

@@IndieGinge So you like having a Psychopath for a President, a Wannabe Hitler? Come on, man. You know nothing about Mental Disorders, nor of Trump’s past. He makes Richard Nixon look like a choirboy.

[@marktunno639]

That must be #1 , or is it #2

[@jamesyoo67]

This is one of the best episodes you have ever put out, thank you. It's very telling that liberal elites / media treat Thomas Frank as a persona non grata, and I am happy that I got to listen to him in long form. Thank you to Matt and Katie, once again.

[@JordanAF808]

My favorite historian! Thomas Frank!

[@ejtierney6607]

MATT WRITES THE PERFECT EPITAPH FOR CLINTON: "HE WAS ALWAYS A RAGEFUL DUDE"

[@zizikitty]

I can see his smugness for sure. I always felt he was posturing some kind of cowboy image.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Rhodes scholar meets used car salesman.

[@Bluebelle51]

Matt said that he hid it well, and I never thought he even tried to hide it. I even voted for him once ( after 8 years of Reagan and 4 years of Bush, I just wanted to end that era, boy was that stupid)

[@swhaster]

I remember when Bill Clinton went on a rant on Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman because she simply asked some perfectly legitimate questions. He then banned her from the Whitehouse even though he was the one who called Amy Goodman! His responses to Amy's questions were either straight up lies or party line neoliberal b.s. The man is a total greasy liar who can't keep it in his pants. Ugh! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGbQen6Qj9eBpdE&lc=z23tcxc4ivmsdhrdkacdp43bwp2n0h4gi2zygqauygtw03c010c.1596893954589840

[@donettatrump2025]

@@swhaster when you think of Arkansas... Don't you think of a progressive State and a world class system of Justice? No corruption, no racism and no indeeding.

[@richardruss7481]

Wait, Boeing and Lockhead advertise on MSNBC because they want to sell airplanes and missiles to the audience? No, the writers and the actors playing news casters might worry about ratings, but all the producers worry about is not offending Boeing and Lockhead.

[@realest_JoJo]

The best part of every Useful Idiots podcast is Matt Taibbi's hysterical laughing at various things xD

[@cloudyskiesnow]

I love how they find the craziest stories to talk about before the interview segment.

[@robertallen5422]

"Who's going to step up and put Mitch McConnell stickers on skunks?"

[@chrisbuck7520]

You mean Turtles 🐢

[@austintrousdale2397]

Chris Buck The carapace of a box turtle, a species native to McConnell’s state, would seem especially suited for such a sticker. Not that I’m endorsing either notion (taking advantage of the poor animal or voting Mitch).

[@jeffbisscrx]

Leave skunks out of this. Put the stickers on Deplorables.

[@jeffbisscrx]

@Andrew Bennett the Deplorables are not populists, they are libertarian extremists, Trump-cultists, anti-progressives, white supremacists, America-Firsters, etc but not populists.

[@gertrudewest4535]

It's not meritocracy....it's classism. I have encountered this constantly in my line of work. They can't even do the basics...

[@barbarasmith6005]

"The Best and the Brightest" usually turn out, as a group, to be the worst and the dumbest. McNamara screwed up Vietnam, (by not realizing that the Vietnamese wanted independence from imperial powers), the Clintons screwed up the American economy with their trade deals and financial deregulation. Spare us all from any more meritocrats.

[@KJF-ny]

Don't forget the "C'mon man" his typical response to a pressing question from an interviewer that's a PoC.

[@marcosmith2501]

Oh, c'mon mon.

[@KJF-ny]

@@marcosmith2501 C'mon maaaaaan. I'm hip. I speak jive.

[@daysjours]

Make a regular spot on the show for the legendary Thomas Frank.

[@hopespringseternal8069]

Bernie has aged a hell of a lot better than Clinton...sheeesh 🤯

[@jde6561]

I think it's because Bernie has a soul that is bright

[@hopespringseternal8069]

@@jde6561 And he truly cares about people's well being 🤩

[@austintrousdale2397]

Bernie has always been an old guy, whoops, old soul.

[@hopespringseternal8069]

@@austintrousdale2397 😊

[@ksuny]

This presidential election is a tragic-comedy

[@rvanzo925]

Nah, I’m voting for Trump with Gusto.

[@mothsforeyes]

@Mark Johhson Either way I think we're watching the collapse of an Empire.

[@hugomaritz692]

Speaking as a foreigner it's utterly fantastic. You guys sure know how to put on a show.

[@deewonders6959]

Hugo Maritz A real bad reality sitcom.. I am embarrassed to be an American right now. 🤦‍♀️

[@invanorm]

Hugo Maritz True but the mistakes they make over there will inevitably come to effect the rest of us. It’s not going to end well when you have such inept buffoons running a collapsing empire. I’m in Australia and it’s kind of unnerving.

[@RitaMarieWeiss]

I've been so disappointed w/Rachel Maddow since she left AirAmericaRadio and started "earning" $10 million at MSNBC .. one loses one's soul and perspective at that amount of money

[@JohannVII]

I think the bigger problem was selling out to the CIA. I have no idea if she's a literal asset, but she's been uncritically pushing their propaganda for years, even in defiance of evidence that completely discredits the stories.

[@fishinghuntingfool]

Try 30 million

[@Guitarpima]

It seems to me that people are more aware of what our government is doing. In a sense, Trump did drain the swamp. He made it possible for everyone to recognize what a sham our government is. We need a second party in the United States.

[@ZedNebuloid]

Yes, he drained it and filled it with bigger creatures, right in front on our eyes.

[@FrankieDyon]

Yes please a second party would be nice.

[@richardsawicki8521]

You didn't mention the attempted military coup against FDR by the Duponts and their collaborators as related in Gen. Smedley Butler's classic work "War Is A Racket"

[@kingoftheseamusic]

FDR was poisoned.

[@richardsawicki8521]

@@kingoftheseamusic I've heard people say that but am unaware of any convincing proof of it

[@TheAdamisgay]

@@richardsawicki8521 He was poisoned by doodoo water when he was a child

[@richardsawicki8521]

@@TheAdamisgay Who do the doodoo? Water you talking about?

[@TheAdamisgay]

@@richardsawicki8521 Polio is often caused by water supply contaminated with feces

[@1monki]

Great discussion with Thomas Frank. Always very informative with the history that tends to get left out.

[@JoshuaWillis89]

On those lines, you should also know that William Jennings Bryan was an anti-science religious crackpot, who pioneered the anti-evolution movement, strongly supported Prohibition, and protected the KKK from official condemnation by the Democratic Party. He was a very mixed figure, not the altruist hero that Thomas Frank portrays.

[@scottlewington8439]

Brilliant interview again. I love Thomas Frank. Everything he said has led to logic of forming a new Left Party.

[@ZedNebuloid]

Thomas Frank advocated for voting for Clinton in 2016 and I would suspect he would do the same for Biden. As much as I want a new party logic also shows its more rigged to start a new party rather than taking over the Democratic Party... As impossible as that seems. I still vote Green to protest because I don't live in a swing state but it's still important to primary corporate Democrats as hard as possible.

[@nashyteeth91]

Thomas Frank is a great guest. Thanks for having him on! Can't wait to read his new book!

[@Eastbayrob]

I just finished it was great.

[@bellabellalu8776]

I love it when Matt cracks up.

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

Matt - you look so handsome without hat. Thank you for discussion with Thomas Frank. BTW - Bill Clinton is the only political figure that I donated money to. Couple weeks after that, he invaded Serbia. That taught me not to send money to any politician.

[@dannydasilva1240]

This was the best episode yet.

[@iseemtobeaverb8249]

It is a dangerous conceit to assume that (a) Trump will lose and (b) the next Trump is going to be less extreme in their bigotry. Also: name me a President since 1980 who didn’t turn out to be a militant sociopath. Go ahead, prove it and change my mind.

[@craighealy6268]

Sociopathy is a required characteristic of any presidential candidate. And good point regarding the fatal conceit. With all of this negative Trump talk I sense that those who are tired of the endless failures of specialists will reelect the man.

[@orlock20]

Trump tried to get troops out of Afghanistan, Syria and Germany and congress said no.

[@Frannie12]

Bernie had that kind of movement in 2020; corporate media helped crush it.

[@Etatdesiege1979]

Lord! Leave something for the people who voted for Biden!

[@Etatdesiege1979]

Jane Elliot, Jr. Sure. Nobody. 😄

[@fishinghuntingfool]

@@Etatdesiege1979 Trump gave us,oh! My god Biden another disappointing 4yrs were the working class people get crushed! Because they cannot unite,to stop that corrupt one party system that were stuck with! Join the WE THE PROGRESSIVE PEOPLES PARTY!

[@therevolutionwill23]

They were pissed at Thomas Frank for doing good analysis.

[@popcornisfromcorn]

who was pissed??

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

@Don P I'll give you Tracy but not Greenwald or Taibi as a closeted conservative.

[@therevolutionwill23]

@@popcornisfromcorn The Dems who didnt like Listen Liberal.

[@invanorm]

Don P You are completely out to lunch with this hot take of yours. Ideological possessed and unable to comprehend the full complexity of the world we live in or the people in it.

[@osteensen]

Don P You just did a record amount of bad takes in small spaces. Grow up.

[@mottahead6464]

Bill Clinton is 73 years old yet looks and sounds like a 99 year old.

[@ruthroberts1360]

He sounded drunk.

[@darrelldunn4618]

@@ruthroberts1360 If you were married to Hillary you would be drunk also.

[@barquerojuancarlos7253]

@@darrelldunn4618 ... or worse, suicidal

[@rvanzo925]

If I was married to Hillary i would look even older of all the drinking and the fact you can’t sleep because she may kill you on your sleep.

[@johnkayoss5422]

When his brother was busted for buying a lot of cocaine, he said it was for Bill, who had a "nose like a vacuum." Long term coke use ages you rapidly.

[@lilly5758]

Didn't realize Matt was living in my home state of NJ. My parents just got power back after 3 days

[@craighealy6268]

Yes. Jersey City. We were lucky and only lost internet overnight after a handful of brown outs during the storm. "NJ is broken" is a good way to put it.

[@rickwigington2771]

Don't forget Jon Voight and James Woods as pro-Trump "celebrities."

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Why do you put celebrities in quotes. They are both legit celebrities.

[@jm-ny3pn]

And the great thespian, Scott Baio.

[@dirtCommie]

Again same person. Never in the same movie :)

[@1tsrhodes]

@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 Can't wait for Videodrome 5: The College Years

[@rikcoach1]

Rick Wigington: Can I please forget Jon Voight and James Woods?

[@johnkayoss5422]

"By the way, as I joke with him, you know..." Biden admits to joking with Trump behind the scenes here, and noone seems to have caught that bit.

[@twatts1523]

What a cool guest! Y’all had great synergy. Excellent discussion, thanks!

[@anandprahlad699]

Katie's hair is on point; must be that coconut oil! 😎 Also, appreciate Matt driving 3 hours to not miss his hosting duties. 👍

[@liberalmike27]

I have this theory she moved home to her mom's/parent's house and she's been bugging her. "Katie, all they can see is your head, you need to do something with that hair!" But yeah, it looks good lately.

[@jordanallen3078]

Looks like she has sea salt spray in her hair in this ep. Beach hair! Love it. 😄

[@zizikitty]

She's a goddess.

[@jm-ny3pn]

I laughed out loud and convulsed on the street when Matt and Katie were discussing Biden's latest interview. 😁 I'm so mad about that foggy mess of a man we got representing us this time, but this was hard to not laugh at. I gave in and it was worth it. 😋

[@ZedNebuloid]

Representing us? Maybe if you are a warmonger or Wallstreet executive. :)

[@jm-ny3pn]

@@ZedNebuloidWell he's the last liar standing from the primaries. Unless you're not voting for him.

[@vs71597]

Katie’s hair is perfect!!! So voluminous!

[@LowescC]

gee, Tom- you kind of hit the nail right on the head...( there is no party for "us" )

[@craighealy6268]

#unity2020

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Yeah, like typical 'progressive alternative media' on this point, complaining about the Democrats while continuing to act as though the Green Party isn't still out there, now as before, with a platform squarely within the populist tradition, appealing to the disenfranchised to help build the party they SAY they want...only to be ignored once again by too many. As if the kind of party the people need could ever grow while so many who say they want one just wait around, without actually having to join with others who've already made a start, and working for it with them, independent of corporate-funded phonies. Which calls into question the seriousness of such commentators and their audiences. Do they really want to help build the party that we the people need? Or do they just want to go on complaining endlessly about why a corporate party won't serve the people's interests, being, to the contrary, more concerned with blocking the left than beating the right? Even so, a great interview on the whole.

[@JordanAF808]

1:12:20 Those who know their history, know that what's happening now isn't anything new.

[@brainsareus]

Chris Hedges has written plenty on anti-populism, perhaps, not in a direct focused manner.

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

Was someone saying differently?

[@kibakiba1863]

@@GregoryWonderwheel Thomas said something to the effect, that it hasn't been covered much

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

@@kibakiba1863 Yes, and as you say, even Hedges hasn't written directly on the subject. Thomas is correct that anti-populism has not been covered much, compared, for instance, with anti-socialism. But, yes, Hedges is one of the few who even acknowledge it.

[@AndrewFriedberg]

"This burning apartment symbolizes my burning love for you"

[@danalexander2149]

The intra-family fight isn’t over, Slick Willy. It’s only just begun.

[@billgordon4423]

Nope. No more fighting because my dad passed last year and my mom is finally on our side. The Left Is The Best! Cheers Dan

[@IcarusLime]

The fact that Bill thinks this fight is over is hilarious. 😂 The older demographics are dying and younger demographics lean overwhelmingly progressive. The neoliberals have a rough fucking future ahead of them.

[@dashx1103]

I wish that was true, but I think an opportunity slipped by the boards. I think Biden/Rice (or whomever is VP) will reconsolidate power in corporatist wing, I think some superficial reforms will happen, I think many recently elected progressives will be corrupted (or at least absorbed), and we'll lose lots and lots of ground.

[@danalexander2149]

michael nola - Biden night out-score Clinton, but I would bet money that Trump, in spite of all the insane shit he queefs out of his face on the daily, still edges out them both in terms of the very low cognitive bar. It looks like we don’t have any other choice than to flip a coin and vote for whichever corporate-loving rapist with dementia fate determines. At least, that’s what CNN/MSNBC/FOX has indoctrinated me to repeat to others.

[@Omnifarious0]

1:28:00 - around in here he's describing the creation of Jordan Hall's "blue church". Interesting! That's where it came from, and it ruled up until 2016. Obama _almost_ challenged it, but failed.

[@leoantonio]

Thx for un-cancelling “Listen, Liberal” in that moment, Katie.

[@JordanAF808]

This was the most Useful Idiots podcast ever! 👏👏👏

[@rikcoach1]

Actually somebody should put “Only you can prevent forest fires” stickers on bears. I mean, come on, right?

[@dunkelmonkey]

Five star comment, sir!

[@ericbray4286]

Thomas Frank is like the high school history teacher we all loved and needed and who stays relevant long after you leave school.

[@richardlindquist5936]

I thought Listen Liberal was great. he nailed it. -Just starting the People, No Great interview and discussion. thanks!

[@Etatdesiege1979]

Lovely when talking heads in the media talk about History. Warms my heart and makes me believe that for once in a lifetime there’s a window where historians will be appreciated in the larger society.

[@dirtCommie]

"That was a masterpiece, I'm going to vote for him (Joe Biden)" Matt Taibbi 2020

[@marionreynolds7080]

Thomas is absolutely right - it is and has always been about class.

[@henrywest7217]

Fantastic show! As per usual.

[@JohnnyRoseofVersailles]

when people ask me how are you, I'm gonna say "I'm not in a good way," Thank you Matt

[@nunyabeeswax8485]

Pete Hamill's passing needs to be noted.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Perhaps this was taped before his death was reported.

[@EricTitterud]

it is so jarring to go from listening to the tenor of conversation between Matt and Katie to the well spoken, smooth, professional presentational speaking style of Frank. I wish more people int he podcast world would make the effort Frank does to provide a listenable discourse that is accommodating to the ears.

[@jopestv1063]

23:48 - "My physical and mental filth." 2020 presidential race = Dumb vs Dumber

[@dougcummings6000]

Excellent!

[@SargonBighorn]

I support Intellectual Diversity. Thank you for being Diverse in the Intellectual arena.

[@Marxist2]

Thomas Frank is a treasure!

[@hopespringseternal8069]

It's refreshing to hear Thomas Frank say "for me everything is about class". That's the square I have landed on in the past few years.....but now, as this amazing conversation comes to an end, I feel just as despondant as when it began. I do not have much hope for the future of democracy in the US.

[@ZedNebuloid]

You could always watch some George Carlin if it becomes too painful and you want to laugh it at all.

[@hopespringseternal8069]

@@ZedNebuloid What a great idea! He was so prescient...he would have an infinite amount of material to work with were he alive today ! I remember him being arrested at Summerfest in my hometown of Milwaukee in 1972 for breaking the state's obscenity laws 🤠🥳

[@ZedNebuloid]

@@hopespringseternal8069 Sounds like George, lol. "When you are born in this world you're given a ticket to the freak show, when you're born in America you're given a front row seat." - George Carlin Also this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIuqoGmjjM-ears

[@hopespringseternal8069]

@@ZedNebuloid All he did was recite "The Seven Words You Can't Say on TV " 🤪

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

Bernie had a beer at some function, and they went on to ridicule him by speculating as to what his inaugural ball would possibly be like-as though Bernie Sanders hadn’t been a Senator for decades, and had never worn a tuxedo or experienced fine dining. (and that was earlier this year.)

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

‘ The Opinion Cartel’…perfection.

[@joannahampton3808]

That was a real treat!

[@marionreynolds7080]

What Matt and Thomas have identified about the democrats exactly mirrors the current British Labour Party and the trajectory here has exactly the same historical context.

[@evanwilliams4532]

Matt is a real gem

[@jmcq931]

Nobody mentioned Tom Watson: Agrarian Rebel by C Van Woodward! Or Huey Long!

[@JordanAF808]

1:15:25 sound familiar... There's a reason F.D.R. was elected 4 times! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_inauguration_of_Franklin_D._Roosevelt

[@PeaceIsBetter]

He's upset because "Sex Island" is closed.

[@jordanallen3078]

rape & murder island*

[@alikazerani]

What?

[@ronmackinnon9374]

@@alikazerani He's referring to Bill Clinton, in regards to Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile island.

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

Satire my friend.

[@alikazerani]

@@ronmackinnon9374 Okay, grand. Thanks. I figured, but just saying "he" under a two-hour video... I thought at first somebody was accusing Thomas Frank of something.

[@caracasaltavista]

Great content

[@StephenAntKneeBk5]

Good interview. Tom Frank's a great guy. If you break out the interview perhaps the editor can insert some of the hilarious visuals mentioned.

[@Larkinchance]

“Corporations co-opting movements” When shopping in the supermarket and the debit interface requests money for charity, why should I burnish their corporate image by contributing in this way? They are capturing my beneficence for their own benefit.. Tommy Frank you are so brilliant!

[@Solaris501]

“Status anxiety” should be used these days.

[@ZedNebuloid]

Don't give big pharm any ideas.

[@brendancostello9777]

Parents!!! "What's for dinner?" -- Leftovers. "What were they before they were leftovers?" -- They were leftovers to be.

[@arobotarmy9878]

The fight’s not over. Clyburn ended nothing. Clinton gaslighting never ends.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

The guy who, even as a university student in 1969, said that he needed, '...to maintain my political viability within the system.' That's what Bill's always been about.

[@austintrousdale2397]

Ron MacKinnon Clinton was planning his own presidential campaign in the womb. And once he was re-elected, he planned out Hillary’s.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

@@austintrousdale2397 'Nothing but an appetite' is how Jesse Jackson once described him.

[@Syncopator]

It occurred to me that the politicians who voted for the Presidential term limits no doubt did it so that an FDR wouldn't happen again-- but they virtually guaranteed by doing that, that FDR would forevermore be considered the greatest President ever-- after all, who else was re-elected 3 times and served for so many years?

[@edgommon1242]

sounds exactly like the brexit and anti Corbyn smears/propoganda

[@jvladcliff4083]

This was so great but now I feel like we are up against an insurmountable enemy.

[@glen6945]

IS THE TRUMP AND BIDIN DEBATE COMING FROM THE OLD AGE HOME

[@ZedNebuloid]

If only the winner got pudding instead of running the world.

[@BruceLeedar]

I was just thinking I haven't seen Thomas Frank on the KZbin for quite some time, and here he is with a new book tour.

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

That was a fascinating comparison, the end of ‘ The Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘Easy Rider’ ...horrifying, but interesting nonetheless.

[@deanrao4805]

I'm glad my vote in national and statewide elections is meaningless. Not that anybody's non-pecuniary vote has any effect on government. But in my state it's always a done deal well before election day. So I'm relieved of responsibility whatever the outcome. As some bumper stickers say: Don't blame me. I voted for [anybody else]. I turn in a ballot pro forma but I'm free to write-in. Write-ins are probably not counted. I'll be chagrined if I find I've been elected to something.

[@beastygeorge]

I love you guys! 🔥🔥🔥❤️🔥🔥🔥

[@capecyn]

This is an amazing convo. Thank you Matt, Katie and Tom!!

[@ronray9957]

a story that won't boost ratings ("not necessarily political"): Yemen another: factory farming

[@ronmackinnon9374]

I would make a distinction between 'political' and 'partisan.' Both those topics are political (especially Yemen, since the role of Washington is more explicit), but not really partisan; which, as Matt says, is a disincentive to covering them.

[@jayboegs6268]

Amazing show. Thanks!

[@peetky8645]

the trump 2020 flag on the speedboat at the spaceX splashdown was epic.

[@oo88oo]

What?

[@CarlyonProduction]

I noticed the same phenomena over here in the U.K. there used to be people on the TV shows that had regional accents and sounded like working class people. Now there are basically no regional accents on big TV programs. They have been phased out.

[@judithwyer389]

Remember the Yuppies and the move from the Jerry Rubin's Yippies to the Yuppies and their allegiance to Democratic Party Presidential candidate Gary Hart in the 80s? That was a singular moment in the transformation being discussed.

[@behr121002]

Excellent interview Katie and Matt! Thanks for hosting one of my heroes, Thomas Frank! I will be getting his new book.

[@thirtyworld]

What I needed today was Katie Halper saying, "Unless the bear were dead."

[@ronmackinnon9374]

A Biden sticker on a bearskin rug.

[@crystalc1030]

Great show - thanks for making the drive, Matt! Thomas Frank is a fave. Can't wait to check out the other illustrations on his website.

[@danthemansmail]

This country is doomed.

[@stevenhines5550]

This country is already over.

[@joea5121]

It’s just the end of the empire. It will be alright

[@stevenhines5550]

@@joea5121 define "alright"

[@jerihurd]

I literally JUST started reading his book yesterday. Great interview.. It would be really interesting to have a conversation between Frank and isabel Wilkerson, who just published a book on Caste.

[@craighealy6268]

I couldn't put frank's book down after reading Matt's review. I'll look into caste. Thanks!

[@haitianhillbilly2792]

Is "Campaign stickers on live bears" a possible new metric for measuring voter enthusiasm?

[@MonkeyBall2453]

I have it on good authority that Taibbi is hole up in the Gravity Inn Motel in Waymart, PA.

[@arthurdent8388]

Yes, it does look like a hotel room...