For more than a decade, America has been in the throes of a populist ascendancy that shows no signs of slowing down. Americans, the nation’s tastemakers insist, just can’t get enough populism!
The populist Republicans insist that the GOP isn’t populist enough, that real populism hasn’t been tried, and that the only cure for the ills of populism is more populism. And yet, according to the equally populist left, the avatar of right-wing populism, Donald Trump, falls short of his own populist ideals. Only those with unalloyed faith in governmental power and a willingness to use the state to engineer social outcomes can meet the moment, and that can only describe populist progressives. Populist revolts are popping up all over, because that’s the name of the game now. If you aren’t catering to and reinforcing the public’s anxiety, you will be crushed by it.
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