Listen, Liberal

In this episode, we cover a popular book from a few years back about the transformation of the modern Democratic Party from a party of the working class to one of the professional class. It’s called Listen, Liberal, and its author is Thomas Frank, a progressive journalist we’ve discussed previously on the podcast in our episodes on the paranoid style and the pessimistic style in American politics. Both of us (Aidan and Conor) read this book during college, and it had a significant impact on how we viewed the Democratic party. We now revisit it with fresh eyes and more knowledge. Show Notes CBS quoting Obama in 2013: “Income inequality ‘the defining challenge of our time’” Death of the Liberal Class, by Chris Hedges 2019 Dissent piece on the origins of the term “professional-managerial class” Original 1977 essay by the Ehrenreichs where they coined the term “professional-managerial class” Wikipedia entry on the McGovern-Fraser Commission New Republic piece “What Democrats Still Don’t Get About George McGovern” Changing Sources of Power, by Frederick Dutton Walter Mondale the deficit hawk Interesting data showing significant support for progressives among tech workers John Halle’s review of Listen, Liberal Beverly Gage’s review of Listen, Liberal Useful piece from the Nation: “The Past and Future of the Left in the Democratic Party” Joe Biden calling Obama “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” Chris Hedges on Intercepted in 2018: “That whole ‘Law and Order’ issue was seized by Biden and Clinton as they transformed the Democratic Party into the Republican Party and pushed the Republican Party so far to the right it became insane.” Ryan Cooper on Tim Walz’s record Tim Walz: “Right now, Minnesota is showing the country you don't win elections to bank political capital – you win elections to burn political capital and improve lives.” Credits The podcast’s theme music was made by our youngest brother Tate. Cover art by Arthur Santoro. Get full access to The History Onion at historyonion.substack.com/subscribe