When the right wing co-opts identity politics

Hello from our normal, boring lives! 

Tammy returns from her reporting trip out West, and Jay is back at work after taking half his parental leave. It’s just us this week, talking through [3:20] the political disaster that has unfolded around the derailment and chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio. Plus, [28:25] a new Intercept interview with D.E.I. consultant Tema Okun, about her viral paper “White Supremacy Culture.”

In this episode, we ask: 

Have we learned anything since the 2016 election about the risk of ignoring working-class communities? 

How should the Democrats have responded to the derailment? 

Why are people so obsessed with the term “white supremacy”? What anxieties does it mask? 

Are diversity trainings really necessary? 

For more, see: 

* Our recent episode with train conductor Nick Wurst

* Field trips to East Palestine, Ohio, by Senator J.D. Vance and Trump

* Tema Okun’s interview with Ryan Grimm of The Intercept

* Okun’s original paper, plus the updated website

For our first-ever TTSG Movie Club, happening March 10th at 8pm ET / 5pm PST, we’ll be watching "Better Luck Tomorrow"! Join the TTSG Discord to attend the viewing. You can subscribe on Patreon or Substack. 

Thanks for listening! As always, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and get in touch via email at [email protected]. 

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