This week’s episode of Krystal Kyle & Friends, which brought us into conversation with the journalist and author John Nichols, turns to the history of American progressivism in order to understand how the left can analyze its opportunities in a Biden presidency and strategize to build institutional power. Nichols, whose book The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party we strongly recommend, brings up the lessons of the FDR era to show how the American government (no matter what Biden tells you) is capable of making big moves for public welfare. But he also dwells in the present moment to find the takeaways of Biden’s first months in office, to consider the survival of the Reagan era in today’s political landscape, and to offer some essential advice to leftists in power, which we hope they’ll run with.
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How is the argument for a strengthened, involved government and the practicality of leftist demands playing out in the early days of Biden’s term? Nichols spells it out for us. Thanks to grassroots organizers across the country, Biden is evidently feeling the pressure to go beyond performative gestures and provide the nation with material support. Executive orders to protect DACA and to rejoin the Paris climate accords are essential steps. But, we believe, there’s a long way to go. With record numbers of children in ICE custody, a monthlong water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and more evictions looming as the federal moratorium is set to expire in weeks, anything less than bold progressive action won’t cut it. Join us and John for a conversation about what comes next.
Episode 11 Audio: John Nichols