The Family Unit in a Divided Era

Radio Atlantic

The Atlantic

Politics, News, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 23 March 2018

⏱️ 47 minutes

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Summary

The family is where the forces that are driving Americans farther apart—political polarization, generational divides, class stratification, Facebook fights—literally hit home. Economic, ideological, and technological shifts pose uncertain consequences for what Daniel Patrick Moynihan called “the basic social unit of American life.” And not even a burgeoning industry of experts can tell parents what to do. “Parents are now more anxious than ever about their children,” writes Paula Fass in The Atlantic, “while disputes about how to raise children the ‘right’ way to meet a darkening future are a commonplace of child-rearing advice.” On March 20, The Atlantic launched a new section on the family—looking not just at America, but around the world; focusing not just on today, but on yesterday and tomorrow. In this episode, two of the editors steering this coverage, Rebecca Rosen and Adrienne LaFrance, join our hosts to explore how families are faring amid massive change. Links -“Millennials: The Mobile and the Stuck” (Derek Thompson, August 24, 2016) - “The Perils of 'Sharenting'” (Adrienne LaFrance, October 6, 2016) - “It's Hard to Go to Church” (Emma Green, August 23, 2016) - “The Graying of Rural America” (Alana Semuels, June 2016) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	In the not so United States of 2018, the last bastion of unity might be the most important unit in any society, the family.
0:08.0	But families aren't immune from the many forces pulling Americans apart.
0:12.0	How is the American family changing? from the many forces pulling Americans apart.
0:12.6	How is the American family changing?
0:15.2	And how will those changes affect the nation?
0:17.8	This is Radio Atlantic. Hi, I'm Matt Thompson, executive editor of The Atlantic, and over there in New York is my esteemed co-host, Alex Wagner.
0:42.0	Hello.
0:43.0	Hi Matt, it's so great to hear your voice.
0:46.0	And it's always so great to hear yours.
0:48.0	I'm like you're a hype man.
0:50.0	If only you could introduce me every time I spoke.
0:53.3	You know what?
0:54.3	People would be really enthusiastic to hear what I had to say.
0:56.4	I would be very happy with that job.
0:59.7	We are also joined today by Adrian La France here in DC editor of the Atlantic.com
1:05.8	Adrian welcome back thank you for having me Adrian Benvenuto and we are also welcoming today Becca Rosen for the first time at the radio Atlantic table.
1:18.7	Becca, senior editor at the Atlantic, editor of our new family section.
1:25.0	Welcome. Whoa, Becca, congratulations.
1:29.0	Thank you.
1:30.0	Thanks for having me on.
1:31.0	It's a family section that was supposed to be me announcing it's a boy it's a girl it's a family section
1:38.5	My baby's finally here
	...

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