Aug 20, 2026 · 54 min
Primary races expose fractures in both parties’ futures
Is the Resistance Era of Democratic Politics Finally Over?
The episode connects uncertain electoral signals to deeper disputes over Democratic ideology, Republican foreign policy, and the forces driving political extremism.
- 1Local races reveal candidate appeal and economic conditions more reliably than sweeping national ideological narratives.
- 2Democrats are still debating whether popular economic policies can be separated from authoritarian socialist histories.
- 3Trump-era foreign policy carries strategic, economic, and social costs that extend from military readiness to young men’s radicalization.
Don't miss
Susan Glasser and Jessica Tarlov connect foreign-policy choices to consumer prices, military readiness, and the social conditions behind young men’s extremism.
The brief
Susan Glasser joins Jessica Tarlov to examine what recent primaries can—and cannot—say about American politics, with local conditions often outweighing national labels.
Their discussion tests the appeal of DSA-aligned candidates and popular economic policies against the authoritarian histories of Fidel Castro and state socialism.
The Republican Party’s future looks less like a settled doctrine than a personalized America First approach, with foreign policy disputes shaping its next Senate conference.
Iran and Ukraine expose gaps between military spending, readiness, alliances, and industrial adaptation, while foreign-policy choices reach consumers through prices and economic strain.
The conversation closes on technology, social disconnection, and algorithmic systems that can intensify far-right extremism among young men before Washington responds effectively.
Featuring
Susan Glasser
Lindsey Graham
Mitch McConnell
North KoreaBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.