About this episode

The episode discusses the disconnect between Democrats and working-class voters, exploring class politics and the impact of economic issues on political alignment.

Why have Democrats recently struggled to connect with working-class and rural voters – and what would it take to change that? Akilah Hughes talks with journalist John Russell about class politics in America, the rise of Trump, and the missed opportunities that reshaped the political landscape. Drawing on his reporting in Appalachia and across the country, Russell explains how economic frustration gets redirected into culture war battles, and why a focus on material issues could still unite voters across deep divides. They discuss: The Democratic Party's shift away from working class messaging. How Trump capitalized on that gap The real story behind “redneck” and labor history in Appalachia Why economic issues still resonate across political lines And whether change will come from within the system—or outside it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Akilah Hughes

Guest: John Russell

Topics covered

• class politics
• working-class voters
• Democratic Party
• Trump
• economic issues
• cultural battles

Keywords

• class solidarity
• working-class
• political landscape
• economic frustration
• cultural wars
• Trump
• Appalachia
• Democratic messaging

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Democratic Party

Places: Appalachia

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