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Notes from America with Kai Wright

Call-In Special: Culture Shock

Notes from America with Kai Wright

WNYC Studios

News Commentary, Politics, History, News

4.41.5K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2016

⏱️ 59 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 2008, Republican presidential candidate John McCain dubbed then-Senator Obama the "biggest celebrity in the world" in a scathing campaign commercial. But after this most recent election, it seemed like America had moved beyond mere fame and instead was on the path to elect which candidate would serve best as Entertainer-in-Chief.This notion of campaigning for the Political People's Choice Award pulls to the very strings of American society today. Throughout The United States of Anxiety, we saw that in many communities, shifting demographics and economic realities caused residents--old and new--to question if they had now become embattled in the middle of a culture clash. WNYC's Ilya Marritz is joined by drag performer Lady Bunny and author Jeff Chang, as he fields calls from individuals to find out how they are utilizing culture during the post-election season. And after calls for self-reflection from protesters and actors' during Vice President-elect Mike Pence's visit to the hit Broadway show 'Hamilton' recently, we examine elements in the cultural zeitgeist be deployed to express politically-based emotions and what effects that films, books, music and other cultural touchstones have on us following this election. Plus, while Hillary Clinton had 'Fight Song' and President-elect Donald Trump played 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' blasting on the campaign trail, we look to find a unifying anthem for the country and maybe even the world for the Trump Administration. About the show: In a Presidential election cycle big on negativity and short on discussion of issues, anxiety is proving to be a dominant theme -- over the economy, national security, and indeed, what it means to be an American in the 21st century. This podcast brings the voices of people trying to hold on to their piece of the American Dream and others who are looking to build one. The United States of Anxiety gives you an wide-open window into the polarizing economic, social and political ideas that have people on the edge of their seats during this unprecedented election cycle. The United States of Anxiety is hosted by Kai Wright and produced by WNYC Studios & The Nation. Listen to more shows from WNYC Studios: http://wny.cc/yzc4304odXpListen to more shows from The Nation: http://apple.co/1V85l3I WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics, Radiolab, Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin and many more.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a special post-election live call-in episode of the United States of Anxiety,

0:13.6

WNYC's election series that documents the experiences and

0:16.9

perspectives that informed voters and the choice for president. I'm

0:20.1

Millie merits from the WNYC newsroom.

0:22.7

It was a busy weekend for Donald Trump.

0:24.9

The President-elect settled a years-old fraud case against Trump University

0:28.7

for the sum of $25 million.

0:30.9

He spent the weekend at his golf club in Northern New Jersey interviewing cabinet candidates.

0:35.4

All the while questions swirled around the blurring line between Trump's political career

0:39.9

and his businesses.

0:41.4

But it was Vice President-elect Mike Pence's visit to a Broadway

0:44.5

theater that really captivated social media and cable news this weekend.

0:50.2

Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton and American Music.

0:55.8

We really do.

0:57.0

We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us.

1:05.0

Our friends and children, our parents or defend us and uphold and uphold our inalienable rights, but we truly hope that this show has

1:16.2

inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us.

1:26.0

Actor Brandon Victor Dixon, aka Aaron Burr.

1:30.0

Trump of course wasted no time in shooting back on Twitter.

1:33.0

Quote, the theater must always be a safe and special place.

1:36.2

The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night

1:38.4

to a very good man, Mike Pence, apologize, exclamation mark. This hour, we're going to talk about art and culture in

...

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