American Contradiction: Revolution and Revenge (with Paul Starr)

About this episode

Paul Starr discusses his book on American identity and the contradictions in the nation's history.

In this conversation with Greg Olear, Paul Starr discusses his book “American Contradiction: Revolution and Revenge from the 1950s to Now,” exploring the complex themes of American identity, the contradictions inherent in the nation’s history, and the evolution of political dynamics over the decades. He delves into the impact of 1950s nostalgia, the rise of identity politics, the decline of labor movements, and the role of the Supreme Court in shaping contemporary democracy. The discussion highlights the challenges facing the United States as it grapples with its past and seeks a path forward amidst political turmoil.

People in this episode

Host: Greg Olear

Guest: Paul Starr

Topics covered

• American identity
• political dynamics
• identity politics
• labor movements
• Supreme Court
• political turmoil

Keywords

• American Contradiction
• politics
• identity
• labor movements
• Supreme Court
• 1950s nostalgia

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: American Contradiction: Revolution and Revenge from the 1950s to Now

More episodes of Prevail with Greg Olear

• An Empire Problem: On the Ground in Southern Lebanon (with Courtney Bonneau) · May 5, 2026 · 52 min
• The Economy of Secrets (with Brooke Harrington) · April 10, 2026 · 57 min
• Golden Ticket: The Hidden Life of Roald Dahl · February 27, 2026 · 55 min
• The Ultimate Transgression: Offshores, Kompromat Culture & the Competitive Depravity Olympics (with Brooke Harrington) · December 12, 2025 · 1h 19m
• The German Spies at Pearl Harbor? Those Were My Grandparents (with Chris­tine Kuehn & Mark Schiponi) · November 30, 2025 · 1h 4m
• United States of Florida: The Secret History of the Evil, Racist, Homophobic Johns Committee (with Robert W. Fieseler) · September 23, 2025 · 1h 9m