How populists turn distrust into power

Podcast: Reasonably Optimistic (LS 43 · TOP 1% what is this?)Episode: How populists turn distrust into powerPub date: 2026-07-08Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationPopulist candidates have a way of making politics feel simple. They tell voters that the problem is obvious, the villains are known and the solution is to break through corrupt institutions standing in the way. That message can be emotionally powerful, but what happens after populists win? Why do they so often win the crowd but lose the plot?Host Megan McArdle is joined by Richard Hanania, a political scientist and writer whose ideological journey has taken many turns. His new book, "Kakistocracy," argues that populism tends to produce worse leaders, weaker institutions, more corruption and a politics driven by resentment and conspiratorial thinking. They discuss why populism is so appealing and whether liberal democracy can rebuild trust.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Washington Post, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.