Podcast / American Prestige / May 13, 2025

White American Liberals, Part 2

On this episode of American Prestige, Kevin Schultz returns to continue discussing his new book.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

White American Liberals, Pt 2 w/ Kevin Schultz | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Kevin Schultz, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois-Chicago, returns to the program to continue the discussion of his new book⁠ ⁠Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History⁠. In this second part of the discussion, Danny, Derek, and Kevin get into the origins and power of the "radical chic" and "limousine liberal" criticisms, the concept of "positive polarization" as championed by figures like Spiro Agnew, the perceived abandonment of the white working class by the Democratic Party, the role of Nixon in this political shift, the influence of Phyllis Schlafly and George Wallace, George McGovern and the "acid, amnesty, and abortion" label, Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s attempt to redefine liberalism, the transition of some Cold War liberals to neoconservatism, the Democratic Party's embrace of neoliberalism and the rise of "Atari Democrats," the cultural phenomenon of "owning the libs," the association of the professional managerial class with contemporary liberalism, and potential new political vocabularies beyond the "liberal" label, and more.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

American politician and diplomat Daniel Patrick Moynihan delivers a speech, United States, circa 1980.

(The News World / FPG / Archive Photos / Getty Images)

On this episode of American Prestige, Kevin Schultz, chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois-Chicago, returns to the program to continue the discussion of his new book, Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History. In this second part of the discussion, we get into the origins and power of the “radical chic” and “limousine liberal” criticisms, the concept of “positive polarization” as championed by figures like Spiro Agnew, the perceived abandonment of the white working class by the Democratic Party, the role of Nixon in this political shift, the influence of Phyllis Schlafly and George Wallace, George McGovern and the “acid, amnesty, and abortion” label, Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s attempt to redefine liberalism, the transition of some Cold War liberals to neoconservatism, the Democratic Party’s embrace of neoliberalism and the rise of “Atari Democrats,” the cultural phenomenon of “owning the libs,” the association of the professional managerial class with contemporary liberalism, and potential new political vocabularies beyond the “liberal” label, and more.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Imperialist Realism w/ Danny Bessner / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Derek welcomes back to the show his very own co-host, Danny Bessner, to talk about his new book, Imperialist Realism: Politics and Culture at the End of the American Century, and how we see imperialist realism in American foreign policy and popular culture. They talk about the concept’s inspiration from the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the end of mass politics, the decline of grand ideology in U.S. foreign policy, the core features of imperialist realism, the Protestant missionary roots of American foreign policy, imperialist realism in pop culture, and a democratic socialist alternative to current U.S. foreign policy.

Order your copy of the book now

Read the new piece from Danny’s Imperialist Realism Substack, “Empire of Grunge.”

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

More from The Nation

Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Miami Heat on October 15, 2021, in Miami, Florida.

Anti-Trans Bigots Try to Divide/Destroy WNBA Anti-Trans Bigots Try to Divide/Destroy WNBA

Frankie de la Cretaz joins Edge of Sports to talk about what’s happening in the WNBA right now.

Chud of the Rings—With Bret Devereaux

Chud of the Rings—With Bret Devereaux Chud of the Rings—With Bret Devereaux

Historian Bret Devereaux joins Fighting Fascism to examine how the far right distorts history, Western civilization, and Tolkien—and how those narratives can be challenged.

Tobias Lutke, cofounder and chief executive officer of Shopify, speaks during the Toronto Tech Week 2026.

Shopify’s Leaders Are Pushing Right-Wing Politics in Canada—With Rachel Gilmore Shopify’s Leaders Are Pushing Right-Wing Politics in Canada—With Rachel Gilmore

Paris Marx talks to Rachel Gilmore about how Canadian tech companies like Shopify are pushing terrible right-wing policy ideas while influencing Mark Carney’s agenda.

Paris Marx

Democratic candidate for US Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters at an election-night rally on August 4, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

How Abdul El-Sayed Can Win Michigan, Plus an Election Protection Test Case How Abdul El-Sayed Can Win Michigan, Plus an Election Protection Test Case

The Michigan Democratic Senate primary provided a test of the power of AIPAC and big money. John Nichols has our analysis.

Jon Wiener

The sun sets behind American flags on July 27, 2026, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Imperialist Realism—With Danny Bessner Imperialist Realism—With Danny Bessner

Danny Bessner joins Derek to discuss his new book, "Imperialist Realism", and how American empire shapes both US foreign policy and popular culture.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

Robert F Kennedy Jr. speaks during an “Eat Real Food” rally in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Is Animal Welfare the Next MAHA? With Astra Taylor Is Animal Welfare the Next MAHA? With Astra Taylor

Astra Taylor joins Fighting Fascism to discuss the right’s growing interest in animal welfare, the politics of animal rights, and what the left risks overlooking.

x