Hey there listeners, Galen here.

We recorded the interview you're about to hear with historian Nicole Hammer back in September

before the election.

But since we're off this week, we thought this would be a good time to air it.

The interview is about the post-Ragan GOP, and Hammer's assessment of how the party changed

in the 90s can help us to assess the dynamics of the party now, as Republicans take control

of the House and begin the 2024 primaries.

In any case, I hope everyone's having a nice Thanksgiving week.

We will be back next week.

Here it is.

Hello and welcome to the 538 Politics Podcast.

I'm Galen Drick.

In the popular understanding of American history, Ronald Reagan marks the beginning of a new

era for the Republican Party and American politics.

His presidency and his coalition served as a blueprint for subsequent Republican politicians

and even helped inspire attack to the center amongst Democrats like Bill Clinton and the

new Democrats.

But in her new book, historian Nicole Hammer argues that Reagan's presidency is better understood

as the end of something.

According to Hammer, Reagan's optimism and flexibility rooted in Cold War politics

faded along with the Cold War and that the post-Ragan GOP is better understood through

figures like Papu Cannon, New Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh.

...