Ep. 720 - Backing Away Slowly

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Bernie Sanders re-entering the 2020 race, arguing his candidacy could reshape the Democratic field and force rivals leftward. It also critiques Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Amy Klobuchar for vulnerabilities and inconsistencies, then pivots to a broader denunciation of media bias, using Jussie Smollett coverage and CBS reporter Lara Logan’s remarks as examples.

Main Topics: Bernie Sanders re-enters the 2020 race (Priority: 5/5): Sanders’ campaign launch is framed as both politically consequential and ideologically extreme, with the host arguing Sanders is a genuine socialist who can crowd out other Democrats and raise significant money. Sanders’ path through the Democratic primary (Priority: 5/5): The discussion suggests Sanders can win by consolidating the left, appealing to younger voters, and benefiting from vote-splitting among moderates like Harris, Booker, Klobuchar, and Warren. Kamala Harris’s campaign vulnerabilities (Priority: 4/5): Harris is portrayed as struggling to balance left-wing rhetoric with a more moderate self-image, while her prosecutorial record and her response to the Jussie Smollett case are used to question her credibility. Cory Booker and the Jussie Smollett controversy (Priority: 4/5): Booker’s and Harris’s initial reaction to Smollett’s allegations is criticized as politically motivated overreach, with the host arguing the media and Democrats rushed to validate a false narrative. Amy Klobuchar’s moderation and labor allegations (Priority: 3/5): Klobuchar is presented as a moderate attempting to shift left on guns and as politically weakened by reports she mistreated staff, with her defensive response highlighted as evidence of her temper. Media bias and the collapse of objectivity (Priority: 5/5): The show argues major news organizations openly lean left and routinely present opinion as fact, citing Lara Logan, Jill Abramson, and Jonathan Capehart as evidence of institutional bias. Broader cultural and civic decline (Priority: 3/5): The episode closes by warning that weak civic knowledge, ideological polarization, and inconsistent media standards undermine shared facts and democratic norms.

Key Arguments: Sanders is more authentic to the Democratic left than rivals and will pull the party further toward socialism. His age and ideology are liabilities, but his fundraising, name recognition, and appeal to white working-class voters make him dangerous in both primaries and the general election. Kamala Harris’s attempt to present herself as a pragmatic reformer conflicts with her recent embrace of left-wing slogans and her prosecutorial past. Cory Booker and Harris amplified the Jussie Smollett story before the facts were known, showing how racial politics can distort judgment. Amy Klobuchar’s centrist image is weakened by her embrace of more aggressive gun restrictions and allegations about mistreating staff. The media’s self-image as objective is false; many mainstream outlets are openly staffed and led by Democrats who shape coverage through a partisan lens. When facts are treated as just another form of power, public discourse loses shared standards and becomes a contest for dominance rather than truth.

Data Points: Bernie Sanders age: 77 - Referenced repeatedly as evidence of his age and fragility in the 2020 race. 2016 Democratic primary result: Runner-up - Sanders is described as the 2016 Democratic primary runner-up. Medicare for All support after cost details: 27% - Host cites polling that support drops when people are told taxes rise and private insurance is abolished. Bernie Sanders fundraising speed: $1 million in 3.5 hours - Used to argue his campaign is highly monetizable and unusually effective. Black voters under 30: Narrowly won in 2016 - Politico exit polling is cited to show Sanders’ limited but real appeal among younger Black voters. States Sanders could target: Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Montana - Discussed as a potential nontraditional electoral map for Sanders. Media registration claim: 85% of journalists registered Democrats - Laura Logan is quoted saying the media is overwhelmingly liberal. Prison spending vs school spending: $71 billion vs $534 billion - Used to rebut Kamala Harris’s claim that the U.S. prioritizes prisons over education. State where majority passed citizenship test: Vermont only - A cited citizenship-test study claims Vermont was the only state where a majority passed. People who knew Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence: 70% - Part of the citizenship knowledge survey. People who knew FDR was president during World War II: 70% - Part of the citizenship knowledge survey. People who knew Woodrow Wilson was president during World War I: 43% - Part of the citizenship knowledge survey. People who could name three original states: Fewer than 33% - Used to illustrate weak civic knowledge. People who incorrectly thought the Constitution was written in 1776: More than 60% - Used to show basic historical confusion. People who incorrectly thought Benjamin Franklin invented the light bulb: Nearly 40% - Used as another example of poor civic literacy.

Pivotal Quotes: "Real change never takes place from the top on down, but always from the bottom on up." — Bernie Sanders: Quoted from Sanders’ 2020 campaign video; the host mocked it as inconsistent with Sanders’ centralizing politics. "Our campaign is about redoubling our efforts to end racism, sexism, homophobia, religious bigotry, and all forms of discrimination." — Bernie Sanders: From Sanders’ public announcement of his presidential run, used to frame his campaign rhetoric. "We've abandoned our pretense, or at least the effort, to be objective today." — Lara Logan: CBS reporter Lara Logan’s remarks on media bias during an interview discussed in the segment.

Implications: The episode suggests Sanders could dominate a fragmented Democratic primary while media institutions continue normalizing partisan framing. It warns that weakened factual standards and overt ideological bias could further polarize politics and erode trust in journalism and public discourse.