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Notes from America with Kai Wright

Episode 1: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?

Notes from America with Kai Wright

WNYC Studios

News Commentary, Politics, History, News

4.41.5K Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2016

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For many voters, this election is not simply about deciding the next President of the United States, or even setting the landscape of national politics. Instead, it serves as a referendum on what it means to be innately American. Join WNYC Studios and The Nation as we travel to East Long Island to embark on a new journey beyond the constant churn of daily headlines. There we will begin the journey documenting not only what Americans are thinking, but what events transpired that brought them to their current state of mind. First we meet Patty, a one-time Obama supporter who now can be found protesting on highway overpasses, and skeptical of the president for whom she once voted. Patty had high hopes for the Obama Presidency; she thought he could heal a nation still grappling with its racial history. Instead, she says he's only made those divisions worse. Patty's dealt with her own hardships over the past decade as well: She was forced to sell her dream home after a divorce, her son battled addiction to prescription drugs, and she had her hours cut at her job. In short, Patty thinks the country is changing, and not for the better, and she thinks that Donald Drumpf is uniquely qualified to turn the tide. In time, we turn our attention to Leni, a woman attempting to keep her family from unraveling, as her fiancé fights deportation. 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

Today, Long Island is America's new major market with the highest spendable income to household in the nation.

0:10.0

Late 50s, early 60s, we're out here and it was a nice place to grow up.

0:18.0

It was great. You felt a real sense of community.

0:23.0

My neighborhood growing up, when everybody knew everybody.

0:27.0

I don't really know my neighbors.

0:30.0

I just worry about the younger people because what have they got to look forward to any kids nowadays?

0:38.0

The American dream is dead.

0:42.0

Some of you are frustrated, even furious, and you know what? You're right.

0:48.0

We are going to build a great border wall to stop illegal immigration.

1:01.0

Any immigrants from South America of Central America, what's going to happen?

1:05.0

You always going to need the immigrants.

1:08.0

But you cannot try to shove it down people's throats.

1:13.0

We're a country of immigrants and that's why America is so great and that's why Trump's

1:18.6

going to make it great again.

1:20.0

God bless the United States of anxiety anxiety anxiety anxiety anxiety anxiety anxiety

1:27.0

anxiety anxiety anxiety anxiety.

1:30.0

I'm Ky right and welcome to the United States of Anxiety, a podcast produced by

1:37.6

WNYC studios and the Nation magazine.

1:41.1

Long before Donald Trump's remarkable revolution in the Republican Party, before

1:44.8

build that wall became a stadium chant, or for that matter, before most Americans had ever

1:49.3

heard of a Democratic socialist. Before all of that, an odd scene started playing out on

1:55.1

highways across the country. In San Diego, Dallas, Minnesota, and on Long

...

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