Zooming In at The UnPopulist

Jason Mangone, executive director of More In Common, studies political attitudes and polarization. He discusses psychographic segmentation versus demographics. They profile four distinct groups within the 2024 Trump coalition. Conversation covers MAGA hardliners, mainline Republicans, anti-woke conservatives, and the reluctant right. They explore immigration views, authenticity of Trump’s appeal, perception gaps, and ways to reduce misperceptions.

Toby Buckle, host of the Political Philosophy Podcast and UnPopulist contributor, critiques reactionary visions of masculinity. He dissects the media script of aggressive manhood, the adolescent nostalgia behind it, and the politics of resentment. They contrast these myths with how many men actually live and sketch a liberal, pluralistic alternative that offers richer options for flourishing.

A wide-ranging chat traces recurring crises in capitalism from industrial times to the AI era. They examine how technological change, financial shocks, and state interventions reshape markets. The conversation spotlights digital fragmentation, AI’s labor risks, and the political realignments that turned economic anger into populist power.

Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and Atlantic columnist, discusses Trump-era foreign policy and the rise of global authoritarians. They cover lack of coherent strategy, MAGA’s domination and rule-breaking mindset, spheres-of-influence thinking and transactional diplomacy, personal financial motives shaping policy, threats to alliances and economic fallout, and possible middle-power responses.

Francis Fukuyama, political theorist focused on state capacity and bureaucracy, and Tyler Cowen, economist and commentator on markets and innovation, spar over whether America’s governing machinery is up to the task. They debate state capacity, regulation and implementation, private-sector versus public successes, lessons from Denmark, and risks of autonomous bureaucracy. Fast-paced, contrarian, and wide-ranging.

David J. Bier, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, sheds light on the alarming trends in U.S. immigration enforcement under Trump's second term. The conversation reveals how indiscriminate raids are now the norm, affecting both documented and undocumented individuals. Bier discusses the massive funding increases allowing for these actions and the cruel strategies used as messaging. He highlights the dangers of mass arrests without due process and calls attention to the tragic consequences, emphasizing that the worst is yet to come as policies become increasingly severe.

America’s religious landscape has always been complicated, but something striking is happening inside conservative Christianity today. A movement that once spoke the language of scripture and personal faith is now increasingly shaped by grievance, politics, and an embattled sense of cultural siege.To explore how we got here—and what this shift means for both Christianity and American liberalism—senior editor at The UnPopulist Berny Belvedere sits down with Tyler Huckabee of Sojourners to trace the long arc from the pilgrims to the rise of MAGA Christianity. They examine how persecution narratives, culture-war identity, and a growing rejection of liberal norms have reshaped much of the modern evangelical imagination, and look to whether a more open, justice-oriented expression of Christian faith can still thrive.We hope you enjoy.***Thanks for checking out The UnPopulist! Subscribe for free to support our project.Follow us on Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.© The UnPopulist, 2025 Get full access to The UnPopulist at www.theunpopulist.net/subscribe

Shikha Dalmia, a public commentator focused on democratic integrity, and Andy Craig, editor of the Reconstruction Agenda project, dive into the crucial need for America to rebuild after Trump's presidency. They discuss how civic resistance and historical reforms can guide future efforts. The conversation touches on the risks of executive overreach, the importance of accountability, and the need for bipartisan reforms to prevent future authoritarianism. They also highlight the push for a comprehensive reconstruction plan ready for when political chances arise.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Sarah McLaughlin, a senior scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, explores the insidious influence of authoritarian regimes, especially China, on American universities. She reveals how financial ties and the presence of international students can lead to censorship and self-censorship within academic institutions. McLaughlin also addresses why many universities choose silence over standing up against these pressures, and she advocates for a more courageous approach to protect free expression on campuses.

In this engaging discussion, journalist Jason Wilson, who covered the National Conservatism conference for The Guardian, dives into the transformation of the MAGA movement from a Republican insurgency to a dominant force. He explains the ultra-nationalist shift highlighted at NatCon 5 and explores the coalition of Trump loyalists, ideologues, and Christian nationalists. Wilson also critiques the rhetoric of figures like Senator Schmitt while examining conspiratorial narratives shaping the policing landscape, revealing how race and authenticity intertwine in today's politics.