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The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Why American Democracy is in Danger, with Michael Beschloss

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

Politics, Obama, News, Wnyc, Washington, Barack, President, Lizza, Wickenden

4.2 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 November 2024

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Washington Roundtable discusses the 2024 election with the historian Michael Beschloss, before a live audience at The New Yorker Festival, on October 26th. He calls this election a “turning point” as monumental as the election of 1860—on the eve of the Civil War—and that of 1940, when the U.S. was deciding whether to adopt or fight Fascism. “I think Donald Trump meets most of the parts of the definition of the word fascist,” Beschloss says. “You go through all of American history, and you cannot find another major party nominee who has promised to be dictator for a day, which we all know will not be only for a day.” But, if Trump does return to the White House, he adds, there is still hope that the rule of law, public protest, and the presence of state capitals free of federal domination will allow the U.S. to resist autocracy.



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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, it's Evan Osnos, co-host of the political scene podcast at The New Yorker.

0:05.1

Today we've got something a little different for you.

0:07.5

Every year, The New Yorker puts on a festival where writers get to sit down with all kinds of people,

0:12.5

politicians, artists, authors.

0:15.3

This past weekend, my co-hosts, Jane and Susan and I got to talk to presidential historian

0:20.4

Michael Beschloss in front of a

0:22.5

live studio audience. It's a critical moment, just a few days before the presidential election,

0:27.6

and we wanted to share that conversation with you here in the feet. We hope you'll enjoy it as

0:32.1

much as we did. Welcome to the political scene, a weekly discussion about the big questions in American politics.

0:43.4

I'm Evan Osnos, and I'm joined by my colleagues, Susan Glasser, and Jane Mayer.

0:48.4

Good morning, Susan, and good morning, Jane.

0:50.7

Hey there, welcome.

0:52.1

Hi, Evan.

0:53.3

Well, here we are at the New Yorker Festival. We're up north in the

0:56.8

big city recording on Saturday, October 26th, and we are thrilled to be doing this in front of a live

1:04.9

audience at Webster Hall. It's an extraordinary moment for a conversation about the past and the future of American politics,

1:13.9

because let's face it, it genuinely hangs in the balance with just a few days before the 2024 presidential election.

1:21.6

Now, the three of us are constantly taking stock, trying to take the temperature of what's happening in D.C.

1:31.4

And in a moment, we're going to talk about the past.

1:34.0

But I wonder if you guys can give me a sense of how you're thinking and, let's be honest,

1:42.4

feeling right now just a few days before the big day. Jane, how are you doing?

1:48.7

Sleepless? That's one part of it. Sleepless in New York.

...

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