Tressie McMillan Cottom on Nostalgia, Belonging, and Why Calling Trump an “Idiot” Misses the Point

She’s back! One of our most requested guests — NYT columnist Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom — returns to The Hometown Holler for a conversation about belonging, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about America. Tressie takes us inside Winston-Salem’s Black Panthers, unpacks the rise of disaster nationalism, and explains the difference between nostalgia and memory — and why that difference matters more than ever. She also breaks down why calling Trump an “idiot” completely misses the point, what the Left gets wrong about understanding his appeal, and what it really takes to build a sense of belonging in modern America. For more Tar Heel deep dives and quick hits, subscribe to follow us on social media:YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thehometownholler?si=f0vFneLZWVVawRBVInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehometownhollerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hometownhollerBlue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/thehometownholler.bsky.socialTwitter/X: https://x.com/hometown_hollerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehometownhollerPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheHometownHoller