Air Date 6/6/2025

Today, Trump's administration is doing everything in its power to end the era of educational dominance the US has enjoyed for decades. The simple fact that explains the change is that democracy used to be valued across the political spectrum while todays Republican Party is authoritarian and understands that an educated public is a public that demands democracy while an uneducated public is much easier to manipulate and oppress.

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Full Show Notes

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: How Trump has reshaped the federal workforce - The NPR Politics Podcast - Air Date 5-29-25

KP 2: As Trump cuts funding, researchers look for opportunities outside the U.S. - Soundside - Air Date 4-21-25

KP 3: Anti-Science Mugging on the Right and the Ascent of American Anti-Intellectualism - Citations Needed - Air Date 5-28-25

KP 4: Trump's Dark Age Admin is 'attacking the foundations of empirical knowledge', journalist says - MSNBC Reports - Air Date 5-28-25

KP 5: Trumps Rants about Harvard Get Darker as He Loses a Big One in Court - The Daily Blast - Air Date 5-29-25

KP 6: Prof Jason Stanley Trump is targeting the three pillars of democracy as he follows fascist playbook - The Dean Obeidallah Show - Air Date 6-1-25

KP 7: Worse Than McCarthyism Historian Ellen Schrecker on Trumps War Against Universities & Students - Democracy Now! - Air Date 5-30-25

KP 8: Tanya Clay House on Freedom to Learn, Danaka Katovich on Attacks on Activists - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-2-25

(01:00:04) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On what will fill the gap left by anti-intellectualism

DEEPER DIVES

(01:07:27) SECTION A: ANTI-SCIENCE

(02:27:53) SECTION B: ANTI-HIGHER EDUCATION

(02:56:38) SECTION C: ANTI-PUBLIC GOODS

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: An illustrated image of an arm and hand holding up a protest sign with an image of a brain on it.

Credit: “brain icon mind thinking” via Mohamed_hasan, Pixabay | Pixabay license

Original Air Date: 12-8-2023

Neoliberalism has created a lot of economic suffering and insecurity in addition to weakened social ties over the past few decades. And now, in what may be the most devastating result of the ideology yet, neoliberalism may be leading much of the world toward fascism bolstered by legitimate grievances about economic precarity which are coopted by the false promises of right-wing populism.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Far-right extremism on the rise around the globe - The ReidOut with Joy Reid - Air Day 11-28-23

Ch. 2: How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 11-28-23

Ch. 3: Argentina's Trump? Far-Right Javier Milei Wins Presidency with Echoes of Past Dictatorship - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-21-23

Ch. 4: How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism Part 2 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 11-28-23

Ch. 5: Media Coverage of the Trump Movement is Missing Vital Context - On the Media - Air Date 11-29-23

Ch. 6: 'Democracy on a Knife's Edge' Far-right electoral victories in Argentina, Holland; Trump threatens Insurrection Act - The Bradcast - Air Date 11-28-23

Ch. 7: How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism Part 3 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 11-28-23

Ch. 8: Media Coverage of the Trump Movement is Missing Vital Context Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 11-29-23

Ch. 9: How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism Part 4 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 11-28-23

Air Date: 6–2-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:

• The role of art in political movements and moments under capitalism
• The problems with the Democratic Party that go far beyond Biden
• The Democrats’ gerontocracy that is literally dying and allowing Trump legislation to pass
• Our response to the latest DNC Executive Committee Meeting (held May 29th in Little Rock, AR)

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REFERENCES:

Don’t Expect Art To Save Us - Current Affairs

To Be a Consumer of Culture Means Living in a Hostage Situation - Slate (from 2023)

The Problem Goes Well Beyond Biden - Current Affairs

The Democratic Party Is Literally Dying - The Nation

Inside the Democrats’ Reboot - Time

The DNC Executive Committee Meeting via Progressive Hub

SOLVED! SONG! “Push” - Concepts: Human Intelligence. Song: Artificial Intelligence. Based on SOLVED! Ep. #10: “The Old Guard is Dying” (June 2nd)

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Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

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