Huge thanks to David Griscom, an expert and historian of left politics, for appearing on the show to help us see a future for Blue Texas. David shows us all the ways that our culture’s perception of Texas politics is deeply flawed, both in terms of Texan radical history (a proud tradition) and as far as the current political scene is concerned. We talk about the linkages between the political style and messaging of Beto O’Rourke and James Talarico. Talarico has made massively successive appeals to working-class people via his support of economic populism and extremely well-executed strategies to reach voters on the ground. He has the chance to bring together a genuine coalition that would tie into a proud history of left dissent in Texas politics, which David walked us through.
On the other end, there’s the Republican Party’s alienation of Hispanic and Muslim voters, plus their constant strategy of sowing fear and despair across working- and middle-class communities. While candidates like Talarico can offer a comprehensive vision of a society that works for the working class, candidates like Paxton rely on a strategy of fearmongering and scapegoating. And while mainstream narratives about Texas project the idea that the Texas electorate —especially working-class people — are a MAGA stronghold, David discusses with us in this episode, a long history of left organizing in Texas.
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