The Realignment

Jonathan Blitzer, author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis, discusses the Central American origins of the border crisis, the state of the asylum system, and why administrations have struggled to address the issue. The podcast also explores changing migration patterns, historical context of asylum policies, the impact of bussing asylum seekers, the challenges of shutting down the border, and the global impact of immigration issues.

Nicholas Dirks, former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, discusses the challenges and criticisms facing higher education, including free speech, rising costs, and administrative bloat. They explore the role of universities in providing education and access, rethinking credentials, and the debate over the SAT in college admissions. They also touch on the challenges faced by UC Berkeley and the concept of safety in universities.

Saagar and Marshall discuss the GOP Primary in South Carolina, mass layoffs in the media industry, the Texas border standoff, and answer audience questions.

Noah Smith, author of the Noahpinion Substack, discusses the Biden vs. Trump contest, challenges facing the U.S.-led alliance system, America's defense industrial base, the future of warfare, and how to accomplish industrial policy aims. They also explore Trump's impact on institutions and international alliances, dynamics within the Democratic Party, challenges in implementing industrial policy, the importance of persistence, the intersection of tech and policy, and the concept of world domination.

Benjamin Herold, education reporter and author of Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America's Suburbs, joins The Realignment. The rise and fall of suburbia, similarities between middle-class suburbs and Ponzi scheme, debates over race and the liberal status quo, the role of school choice, and the state of the American dream are discussed.

Nick Romeo, author of 'The Alternative', discusses the outdated dogmas of modern economists, the battle within academia over economics teaching, the psychological and sociological effects of a jobs guarantee program, cultural influences on economic approaches, the decline of influence in economics, and the importance of relevancy in addressing unsolved problems.

Tina Nguyen, national correspondent for Puck and author of The MAGA Diaries, discusses the evolution of the conservative movement post-Obama, the state of digital media, and why alternate Republican alternatives struggle to take over the MAGA mantle. They delve into Turning Point USA's influence on Gen Z conservatives and the challenges and shifts in conservative journalism. The discussion also explores the future of MAGA beyond Trump and the evolution of video content on social media platforms.

Subscribe to The Realignment to access the full version of this episode and support the show: https://realignment.supercast.com/In 2024's first edition of The Realignment's Recap and Ask Me Anything, Marshall and Saagar discuss their 2024 reading goals, the aftermath of the airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, Taiwan's elections, the start of the 2024 GOP presidential campaign, November election predictions, and audience Q&A.

Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation and co-author of Venture Meets Mission, discusses collaboration between business, government, and society to solve societal challenges. They explore mission-driven politics, rebuilding trust through ecosystem collaboration, and the generational opportunities of technology and policy. Additionally, they cover societal perception of career choices, connecting students with mission-oriented opportunities, and building resilience in areas like national security and climate change.

Joshua Green, Bloomberg National Correspondent and author of The Rebels, discusses left populism through AOC, Bernie, and Warren. Topics include Biden's surprising turn toward progressivism, contrasting responses to the financial crisis and COVID-19, weaknesses of Bernie Sanders, the decrease in focus on Wall Street, and the relevance of populism in politics.