The problem with celebrity politicians
About this episode
Megan McArdle discusses the impact of celebrity candidates on modern elections and the need for a return to traditional politics for stability.
Host Megan McArdle explores the rise of the celebrity candidate, from Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger to Trump himself. She explains how parasocial relationships shape modern elections, and why Trump’s success depended on a unique mix of media savviness, outsider status, timing and luck that may be impossible to replicate. And she argues that if America wants a more stable political future, it will need to return to a more normal kind of politics.
More episodes of Reasonably Optimistic
- Gen Zers don’t cook. It’s costing them.
- Do aliens exist? I asked an astrophysicist.
- How weddings got so expensive
- Why $1 million doesn’t feel rich for Gen Z
- Why everyone is talking about peptides
- What’s going on with Ebola and hantavirus?
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Reasonably Optimistic podcast page.