Roy Cooper and Noam Scheiber: We Gotta Rein Trump In
Summary
Host Tim Miller discusses Elon Musk’s Starlink restrictions hampering Ukraine and the wrongful internment of the Prof family in Dilley. Guest Noam Scheiber explores his book *Mutiny*, analyzing how college-educated workers are radicalizing left due to economic stagnation and "underdogism." They examine the tensions between this group and traditional working-class voters, noting that while economic views have converged, cultural divides remain. The episode concludes with an interview with Roy Cooper on his unexpectedly strong Senate race in North Carolina.
Topics discussed
Intro: North Carolina Senate race and Roy Cooper
J.D. Vance, James Talarico, and Katie Zacharias press conference
Elon Musk, Starlink restrictions, and Ukraine war impact
Call to action: Free Profs Family website for interned professors
Guest intro: Noam Scheiber and his book 'Mutiny'
The gap between college expectations and economic reality
Defining the college-educated working class and its subgroups
Professional class motivations and the 'conceit' of the book
Legitimacy of professional labor struggles vs. cultural eye-rolling
Political shift of college-educated voters since 2004
Biden administration responsiveness to college-educated concerns
Loss of clear adversaries and the rise of institutional suspicion
Biden's contradictions and the Starbucks unionization struggle
Sponsor break: Ramp expense management
Populist left empathy and dismissal of other underdogs
Economic convergence between college and non-college voters
Cultural distance and class identity in union negotiations
AOC, Amazon, and the UAW coalition of grad students and workers
Projecting a democratic agenda and Biden's policy failures
Student loan forgiveness and the traditional working class
Green energy, jobs, and the incoherence of Biden's priorities
Sponsor break: Noble travel luggage
Traditional working class as future swing voters
Defining class: current status vs. downward mobility
Political resonance of class narratives in the current moment
The left's winning narrative in the midterms
How the right wins despite economic convergence
Trump's economic narrative vs. Democratic incoherence
Cost of living, gas prices, and political focus
Trump's impact on the housing market and affordability
Housing unattainability and age of first homeownership
Democratic primaries as a warm-up for 2028
Future Democratic candidates and AOC's potential role
DSA-adjacent candidates and the 2028-2032 landscape
Guest outro: Noam Scheiber and 'Mutiny'
Roy Cooper on Trump's Ukraine deal and energy infrastructure
Bipartisan pushback needed on Russia and Ukraine policy
Legislative pressure on Russia and the need for checks
Potential Republican cooperation in a Democratic majority
Checks and balances against an uncooperative president
Priorities: Iran, tariffs, and cost of living legislation
Stock ownership and conflict of interest for officials
Enforcing stock sales and applying rules to the executive
Need for leaders willing to step up in North Carolina
Chaos in Washington and the need for focused governance
Importance of flipping North Carolina and swing districts
Realistic expectations for a Democratic majority and vetoes
Gridlock risks and the need to fix Washington
Polling accuracy and the history of North Carolina races
Call to action: Support Roy Cooper and swing race candidates
Discussion on party strategy and economic populism models
Common issues that unite voters across the spectrum
Focusing on clean air, water, and government effectiveness
Challenges of governing in Washington vs. state level
Advice to voters: Support candidates, don't fix the party
Finding common issues for 2026 and 2028 elections
Positions on border security and internal immigration enforcement
Legislative pushback on executive overreach in immigration
Carolina football, basketball, and the transfer portal
LSU, Jeff Landry, and the Senate calendar
Live event in North Carolina and Charlotte Hornets tips
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