Gold Goats 'n Guns Podcast

Episode #232 -- Susan Kokinda and Trump's War for the American System

22 snips
Sep 26, 2025
Veteran political activist Susan Kokinda, known for her work with Promethean Action, joins for a thought-provoking discussion. They dive deep into Trump's UN speech, highlighting his criticisms of globalist environmentalism. Susan connects the 2008 financial crisis to the erosion of middle-class prospects, and argues for a revival of the Hamiltonian 'American System' tied to productive labor. The conversation also touches on Trump's policies, including tariffs and his outreach to Michigan's auto workers, emphasizing a shift towards a producer-focused Republican Party.
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ANECDOTE

Brunelleschi's Dome Teaches Civic Confidence

  • Susan recounts Brunelleschi teaching new building techniques to Florentine workers to finish the dome.
  • She uses the story to show how inspiring projects transmit confidence and capability to a populace.
INSIGHT

Optimism Through Big Projects

  • Trump’s Davos and UN rhetoric revived a vision of national pride and technological optimism.
  • Susan says inspiring public projects (Brunelleschi, Apollo) undermines oligarchic control.
INSIGHT

2008 Broke The Middle-Class Ladder

  • 2008 marked a structural end to middle-class stability, shrinking paths to homeownership and steady jobs.
  • Kokinda links generational decline to deliberate policy and elite pacification tactics.
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