It Could Happen Here Weekly 245
Summary
Hosts Mia Wong and Robert Evans analyze unprecedented protests in India that forced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET exam leak scandal. They discuss the rise of the satirical "Cockroach Janta Party," the BJP’s fascist roots, and how youth unemployment and caste issues fueled this student-worker coalition. The episode concludes with a report on the Center for New Liberalism’s summit, positioning it as a centrist counterweight to the DSA.
Topics discussed
Introduction and podcast branding
India's democracy, BJP power, and NEET exam scandal
Education reform protests and social media's role
Historical context of Indian politics and student movements
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New Democrat Coalition and Center for New Liberalism
Neoliberal strategy vs. DSA and working class voters
Critique of technocratic liberalism and 'brightness loops'
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Liberalism's decline and the populist doom loop
Technocratic limitations and the 'America Rocks' narrative
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Ken Paxton, Texas politics, and billionaire influence
White House updates, Iran war strategy, and oil reserves
Twitter revenue, AI slop, and Flock camera thefts
Deportation policies, asylum cases, and immigrant rights
RFK Jr., vaccine mandates, and corporate tariff refunds
Wisconsin election results and socialist campaign strategies
Trump's secret flight and Air Force One decoy tactics
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