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Notes from America with Kai Wright

Call-In Special: Pass the Politics

Notes from America with Kai Wright

WNYC Studios

News Commentary, Politics, History, News

4.41.5K Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2016

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Whether you prefer dark meat, white meat, Tofurky or just mashed potatoes, most Americans can agree that the 2016 presidential election was contentious. With neither candidate managing to garner 50-percent of the vote and in a world of charged media outlets, families coming together for Thanksgiving Dinner face the likely prospect of heated political conversation landing on their holiday platters. And, as The United States of Anxiety found, the caustic nature of politics not only wears away one's patience but also one's health. So to ensure that the hardest thing you will be between this holiday season is a poorly baked dinner roll, WNYC's Brian Lehrer takes counsel from humorist Henry Alford and Emory philosophy professor George Yancy, PhD, on how to avoid the pitfalls of cross-party dinner conversation. Plus across the hour, Brian will be joined by Mary Harris of WNYC Studios's Only Human podcast to provide insights on how to actually listen to those who may have divergent views. 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 the United States of Anxiety, Call in Special. I'm Brian Laird, good evening everyone.

0:17.0

Tonight's edition is called I'll give you that.

0:20.0

Strategies for Thanksgiving dinner.

0:24.0

And the premise is, we know that if you celebrate Thanksgiving with a politically mixed family,

0:29.0

next Thursday could be tougher to get through than an overcooked turkey.

0:34.7

And we know that this is no joke.

0:36.7

This is not like putting up with your cranky uncle or whiny kids in a normal year.

0:42.3

For much of Blue America, especially for many women and Muslims and people of color,

0:47.0

this is about fear and grief and betrayal, about suspicion of bigotry and white nationalism. and states his admiration for the authoritarian strength of leaders like Putin and Saddam Hussein,

1:06.0

even if not for their atrocities per se.

1:09.1

And for so many women, it's about the horrifying notion that a man is now president-elect who boasts

1:15.2

about using the power of his celebrity to commit multiple sexual assaults and

1:19.9

maybe equally horrifying how too few other voters found that discussion. and maybe you're feeling some

1:23.0

other voters found that disqualifying.

1:26.0

Now, if you voted for Trump,

1:29.0

maybe you're feeling some glee

1:31.0

that the free trade elites have been taken down from their masters of the

1:34.2

universe mountain. Maybe to stop shipping away manufacturing jobs just to make an

1:39.1

extra buck. Maybe you feel we're getting off the mat to protect this country from terrorism without romanticized blinders about refugees.

1:48.5

Maybe it's about race and gender, but in a way that has left you feeling like you're assumed to be racist or sexist

1:55.3

if you have politically incorrect opinions on crime or immigration or the burden of proof

2:00.7

and sexual assault allegations.

...

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