How The Left Continues To Eat Itself - Cenk Uygur

Does Joe Rogan Believe in Dragons? (0s)

• The credibility of certain individuals, such as the cast of The View, is being questioned, with some people finding them less credible than others who may believe in unconventional things, like dragons (4s).
• The reason for this lack of credibility is attributed to ignorance, rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive, as these individuals are often out of touch with reality (36s).
• The establishment and populist bubbles are so strong that people within them genuinely believe they are right and objective, while those who disagree are seen as not objective and are dismissed (1m18s).
• Despite being well-educated and well-read, individuals within the establishment bubble often lack self-awareness and fail to understand the perspectives of those outside their bubble (2m6s).
• The establishment is built to preserve the status of the top 10%, 1%, and 0.1%, and those within it often fail to understand the needs of the rest of the country, who require more significant change than the 5-10% change offered by politicians like Joe Biden and Barack Obama (2m26s).
• The majority of Americans, 60%, live paycheck to paycheck and require more substantial change, but this is not being addressed by the establishment, which is out of touch with the needs of the general population (3m14s).
• The idea that some individuals, such as the speaker, have abandoned their progressive policies and turned to the right is incorrect, as they have been advocating for the same changes for 20 years (3m41s).
• There are two political spectrums: the Left-Right Spectrum and the populace versus establishment Spectrum, with the latter being the one that is often overlooked (4m11s).
• Historically, the Left was not pro-establishment, but it has become so due to corporate donations and other factors, causing confusion among people (4m35s).
• The pivot towards defending the people with the most money, power, and education seems to be turning the traditional values of the Left upside down (4m54s).
• The traditional values of the Left were based on class lines, specifically working-class values, rather than other factors (5m2s).
• It is possible to bring the Left back to its traditional values, as seen in Bernie Sanders' almost successful presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020 (5m12s).
• Bernie Sanders' losses were largely due to the entire establishment, including politicians and mainstream media, coalescing against him and portraying him in a negative light (5m23s).
• The establishment hates populists, including Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, who are trying to appeal to the people rather than the elite (6m7s).
• If a populist candidate emerges in the Democratic primary, it may be possible to recapture the party and win elections, as the establishment is seen as too fake and phony to win (6m19s).
• The establishment serves the donor class too much and is too elite, which is not what people are interested in (6m32s).

Elon Musk’s Role in Government (6m39s)

• Elon Musk was asked to cut $2 trillion from the budget, but in reality, all discretionary spending is only $1.7 trillion, and the only place with massive savings potential is the Pentagon, which has failed seven straight audits and cannot account for half of its money, over $400 billion (7m11s).
• A suggestion was made to Elon Musk to cut $400 billion from the Pentagon overnight, and he asked for suggestions, which is seen as progress compared to Democratic leaders who have never asked for input (7m35s).
• The left criticized the idea of working with Elon Musk, but it was argued that purity is not more important than victory, and taking a win is necessary, even if it comes from an unexpected source (10m17s).
• A specific suggestion was made to Elon Musk to stop having generals work for defense contractors after they retire, as this creates a massive conflict of interest, and this idea was supported by Donald Trump Jr (8m58s).
• The left is concerned that if Elon Musk and others cut the Pentagon or implement a rule about conflict of interest for generals, they will use it as an excuse to cut other programs like Medicare and Medicaid (11m4s).
• It was argued that if Elon Musk and others do implement positive changes, the left should take the win, and if they do not follow through on their promises, they will be called out (11m43s).
• The importance of being able to speak both the language of the left and the right was emphasized, and the need to understand both camps and find common ground (10m41s).
• The left and the right often misunderstand each other, and the left thinks that everyone on the right is a fraud, but this is not true, and there are valid reasons to think that some people on the right are genuinely trying to make positive changes (10m48s).

How the Left Deals With Dissent (11m54s)

• The left has become increasingly intolerant of dissent from within, with some individuals believing that agreeing with the right even 1% will be abused, leading to unproductive conversations (12m22s).
• Another thesis on the left is that if one's strategy is not at the most extreme maximalist position, it is considered wrong, which can lead to defending extreme positions that may not be widely accepted (12m34s).
• This approach can result in unpopular policies, such as defunding the police or providing free surgery to transgender undocumented immigrants, which may not be supported by the majority of Americans (12m52s).
• The left tends to be overly sensitive to criticism, and individuals may become hurt or defensive when told they are wrong, making it difficult to have constructive debates (13m10s).
• In contrast, the right has more debate and discussion, although it also has its own intolerance for opposing views and certain lifestyles (13m18s).
• The right-wing populist movement may be evolving, with some individuals potentially pushing back against Trump's views, and this shift may first be seen in relation to Israel (14m9s).
• The concept of right-wing populism is complex, and individuals may not identify with all the positions associated with it, just as they may not agree with all the views of the left-wing establishment (14m46s).
• It is possible for individuals to hold unique views that do not fit neatly into pre-existing ideological buckets, and people should be able to pick and choose the positions they agree with without being tied to a specific ideology (15m13s).
• The idea that individuals must agree with a preset ideology is limiting, and people should be free to form their own opinions and beliefs without being constrained by traditional left or right-wing views (15m43s).
• Individuals should not blindly follow their leaders and instead, prove their commitment to freedom by respecting others' freedoms as well (16m10s).
• The left tends to have a puritanical purity nature, making it difficult for people to switch from right to left due to the high bar of 100% agreement with the party line (16m52s).
• In contrast, the right is more accepting, allowing individuals to agree on most issues without requiring complete alignment (17m6s).
• This difference in approach is evident in the way individuals from opposing sides interact, with the left being less likely to engage with those who hold different views (17m22s).
• The establishment, including Democrats, often view populists as uneducated and unworthy of consideration, leading to a lack of engagement and a sense of superiority (17m54s).
• This elitist attitude is not unique to Democrats, as Republicans can also exhibit similar behavior, but the focus is on the Democrats' distrust of populists on their own side (19m37s).
• The distrust between the establishment and populists is mutual, with both sides having reasons to question each other's intentions and actions (19m27s).
• The left's approach can be seen as unlikable and uninviting, making it difficult for individuals to engage with them and leading to a sense of disconnection (18m49s).
• The right has been known to attack marginalized groups, including Muslims, transgender people, and black people, which can contribute to the distrust between the left and right (19m2s).
• The populist right is credited with leading a successful rebellion against establishment Republicans, which is why some individuals are willing to acknowledge the influence of corporate donors on politicians like Mitch McConnell (19m47s).
• When criticizing Democrats like Nancy Pelosi for taking money from corporate donors, some people defend her actions, claiming she did it for the well-being of others, despite evidence suggesting otherwise (20m3s).
• In contrast, when discussing Republicans with right-wing populists, they are more likely to criticize Mitch McConnell and acknowledge the influence of corporate donors, indicating some common ground (20m42s).
• The bare minimum that people should agree on is that politicians are controlled by their donors, and they serve their interests rather than the people, often using empty talking points and serving the donors who give them money (21m4s).
• This issue is not unique to one party, as politicians from both sides are often seen as crooks who prioritize the interests of their donors over the needs of the people (21m14s).

Does Elon Legitimise Trump’s Campaign? (21m24s)

• Politicians spend a significant amount of time fundraising and attending events, which can be more time-consuming than their actual legislative work (21m25s).
• The question is whether Elon Musk's large financial contributions and strategic involvement in a campaign can add transparency, legitimacy, and scrutiny to the process (21m40s).
• Donald Trump's actions have shown that he serves his donors, such as Sheldon Adelson, who gave him over $330 million in campaign contributions (22m25s).
• In return for Adelson's donations, Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem and awarded Miriam Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (23m0s).
• Trump's appointments, including Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Waltz, are seen as favoring team Israel over team America and promoting more war (23m37s).
• Similar criticisms are made about Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, who have received significant donations from AIPAC and other groups, influencing their policies (24m4s).
• Elon Musk's transparency about his involvement in politics is seen as a positive aspect, but his interests and potential conflicts of interest are still a concern (24m35s).
• The influence of money in politics is a broader issue, with both sides accusing each other of being controlled by donors, and the need for genuine populism and campaign finance reform is emphasized (24m54s).
• Elon Musk's potential actions as a politician, including his approach to regulation and government efficiency, will be closely watched to determine whether he will prioritize his own interests or the public good (25m11s).
• The hope is that right-wing populism will hold politicians accountable, but there are concerns that it may not be genuine and that politicians will prioritize the interests of their donors (25m49s).

How the Left Takes Criticism (26m8s)

• The Democratic Leadership tends to find internal criticism and hard questions offensive, which hinders constructive improvement and progress toward shared goals (26m30s).
• There are two main reasons for this: the belief that the media's role is to market for them, and the training of Democratic voters to find criticism offensive (27m4s).
• This has led to a culture where criticizing the Biden Administration or other corporate Democrats is met with pushback from voters who believe in propaganda and only want to hear positive things (27m23s).
• This ideology of no criticism can lead to weak leaders and a weaker party, as absolute power corrupts absolutely (28m0s).
• For the past 10 years, there has been an argument for stronger primaries, rather than anointing a leader who is often the most pro-corporate and pleasing to donors (28m17s).
• The Democratic Leadership has historically chosen leaders who they believe have the best chance of winning, often based on their ability to please donors, and have used media outlets like MSNBC to promote this narrative (28m41s).
• This approach has been criticized, with examples like Bernie Sanders' successful run in 2016 despite a lack of media coverage, showing that non-corporate candidates can be successful (28m54s).
• The 2016 DNC primaries, where the party did everything they could to ensure Hillary Clinton's nomination, are cited as an example of how this approach can backfire (29m25s).
• The 2016 US presidential election is compared to a Royal Rumble or Battle Royale, where multiple candidates compete against each other, and Donald Trump emerged as the winner (29m55s).
• In the 2020 Democratic primary, there were 27 candidates, but the party ultimately chose Joe Biden as their nominee, with some critics arguing that he was the "anointed one" despite concerns about his mental health (30m30s).
• Critics argue that the Democratic Party's strategy of denying Joe Biden's mental health issues is flawed and that it is impossible to convince people that he is mentally healthy through propaganda (30m48s).
• The decision to support Joe Biden despite his mental health issues is seen as a dumb strategy that prioritizes loyalty to the establishment over winning the election (31m8s).
• There was a petition 14 months ago to get Joe Biden out of the race, and some critics, including the author, challenged Biden in the primary (31m47s).
• The author despises the marketing and propaganda efforts of the establishment Democrats and believes that they prioritize loyalty to the party over winning the election (31m56s).
• The author suggests that the establishment Democrats may hate them more than they hate any Republican, and that they would rather go to lunch with Trump than with the author (32m6s).
• A story is shared about Trump's fragility around knowing things or not knowing things, and how he refused to learn about an important issue in the Middle East because he believed he already knew everything (32m54s).
• Trump has a fragility about knowing things, which is one of his major character flaws that people dislike, and he often doesn't do his homework or study before making statements or giving speeches (33m15s).
• The left often points out Trump's narcissism and ego, but they have also started to embody these traits by being unwilling to accept difficult or opposing views and becoming defensive when questioned (34m3s).
• Trump's lack of knowledge on certain topics often leads to humorous statements, such as his claim that "Clean Coal" is when coal is taken out and washed, but the important part is that he never thinks to ask for clarification or fact-checking before speaking (34m50s).
• Trump's tendency to speak without knowing the facts is not unique to him, as some Democrats have also started to exhibit an imperious attitude and become defensive when questioned or presented with opposing views (35m48s).
• This attitude is ironic, given that the left often criticizes Trump for not taking suggestions or listening to others, but some Democrats have started to exhibit the same behavior, viewing suggestions from those without status as an anathema (36m7s).
• The left's gatekeeping and unwillingness to consider opposing views or suggestions is a problem, as it prevents constructive dialogue and progress (36m24s).

Class Gatekeeping in US Politics (36m26s)

• Class is a significant aspect of British culture, often discussed in terms of "Posh versus proletariat," but in the US, class is rarely discussed openly, and Americans tend to deny its existence or attribute it to other factors like race, sexual orientation, or location (36m26s).
• Establishment Republicans and Democrats have been trying to avoid discussing class, instead focusing on identity politics and cultural wars to divide people and prevent them from realizing their common interests as the 90% (37m37s).
• The goal of this strategy is to distract people from the fact that the top 10% are rigging the rules to their benefit, and by dividing people, they can maintain their power and wealth (38m9s).
• An example of this is Nancy Mace's stance on trans bathrooms, which is seen as a way to create a cultural war and distract from more pressing issues like the national debt and lack of paid family leave (38m30s).
• The US is one of the few countries without paid family leave, with 84% of Americans supporting it, but politicians claim it's impossible to pass due to corporate interests (39m30s).
• Corporations and politicians are more interested in maintaining their power and wealth than in passing legislation that benefits the majority of people, such as paid family leave, higher wages, and universal healthcare (40m15s).
• The influence of corporate money in politics is a significant factor in the inability to pass legislation that benefits the majority, with politicians often prioritizing the interests of their corporate donors over those of their constituents (40m37s).

Do the Bureaucrats Fear Elon & Vivek? (40m59s)

• Government officials are concerned about having Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy "breathing down their neck" if their initiatives are successful, as they may be held accountable for inefficiencies and wasteful spending (41m1s).
• The Pentagon was found to have wasted $125 billion in 2015, which was revealed in a buried report, and this is an example of the kind of wasteful spending that needs to be addressed (41m36s).
• The concern is that bureaucrats are not only worried about the abuse of funds but also have an agenda to protect their own interests and regulate businesses, such as those owned by Elon Musk (42m16s).
• Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, is working to prevent monopolies, which is in line with capitalist principles, but is opposed by Elon Musk and other wealthy donors, including Mark Cuban (42m30s).
• Cutting funding to agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, which is led by Lina Khan, would not save money but rather cost the average American, as it would allow monopolies to form and harm consumers (42m50s).
• The point at which the American people will push back against budget cuts is likely to be when essential services like education are threatened, such as the proposed elimination of the Department of Education (43m10s).
• The elimination of the Department of Education would likely be met with resistance from the American people, who would see it as a threat to public education and an attempt to privatize education for the benefit of the wealthy (43m17s).

Cenk’s Postmortem on the Election (43m34s)

• The post-election analysis suggests that people voted for change, as they often do, due to dissatisfaction with the current neoliberal system, also referred to as corporate rule, where corporations have gained significant power and influence over democracy (43m34s).
• This phenomenon is observed globally, with voters in countries like Brazil and Argentina swinging between left and right, but ultimately voting against the incumbents and the establishment (44m44s).
• In the case of the US election, Kamala Harris initially gained popularity with populist positions, such as ending price gouging by corporations and addressing housing issues, but lost momentum after her team, including her brother-in-law Tony West, a corporate lawyer, convinced her to take a more corporate-friendly stance (45m28s).
• Harris's campaign made strategic mistakes, including releasing a letter stating that 90 corporate CEOs supported her and featuring Mark Cuban on cable news, which undermined her initial populist message and led to a loss of support (46m14s).
• The association with unpopular figures like Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney also hurt Harris's campaign, as they are widely disliked, with Dick Cheney's last poll showing a 13% approval rating (46m45s).
• The shift in Harris's strategy was criticized by commentators, including those on The Young Turks, who predicted that it would lead to her downfall, which ultimately occurred (47m1s).

Was Wokeness a Big Issue in the Election? (47m10s)

• A highly effective Trump campaign ad focused on the theme of "them" versus "us," suggesting that Democrats are more concerned with the interests of others, such as trans individuals, rather than the average American (47m10s).
• The ad's message resonated with voters, as seen in the passage of California's Prop 36, a referendum on crime that passed with 70% of Democratic voters supporting it, indicating that many Democrats are concerned about crime and want stricter laws (48m50s).
• Some on the left believe that taking a maximalist position on issues like trans rights and crime will lead to electoral victories, but this approach is unlikely to succeed as it alienates moderate voters (48m14s).
• The left's focus on extreme positions, such as providing surgery to non-citizen detainees, can be seen as out of touch with the concerns of average Americans, who prioritize issues like paid family leave (49m37s).
• The framing of Democrats as being "for them" rather than "for us" is damaging, as it reinforces the perception that the party is beholden to corporate donors and special interests rather than the people (50m45s).
• The left's failure to listen to the concerns of ordinary people and instead prioritizing the interests of others has contributed to the effectiveness of the "them" versus "us" narrative (51m4s).
• Kamala Harris's perceived support for extreme positions on trans rights has been used to illustrate the "them" versus "us" divide, with some arguing that her stance is out of touch with the concerns of average Americans (50m4s).
• The debate over the effectiveness of the Trump campaign ad and the left's approach to issues like crime and trans rights continues, with some arguing that a more moderate approach is needed to win elections (47m49s).
• The extreme left and corporate wings of the Democratic Party have been discredited, while the populist left wing, represented by Bernie Sanders, has been proven correct in its approach to taking care of the average American (52m15s).
• The Democratic Party can be divided into three wings: the corporate/establishment wing (represented by Biden, Harris, and Clinton), the extreme left/identitarian wing, and the populist left wing (51m58s).
• The corporate wing of the Democratic Party may be using the extreme left wing's focus on identity politics as a way to distract from economic issues and avoid criticism (52m47s).
• Many culture wars are started by the Republican donor machine, which tries to find unpopular issues on the left to use as wedge issues and divide people (53m20s).
• The Republican donor machine has used various issues, such as trans people in the military, bathrooms, and sports, to try to find a wedge issue that can be used against the left (53m30s).
• The goal of using wedge issues is to divide people and avoid discussing economic issues, on which the majority of people are united against the establishment (54m23s).
• The populist left wing was correct in its approach, but it remains to be seen whether it can convince Democratic primary voters of this in the 2028 election (52m31s).
• The use of wedge issues is a trick that is used to divide people, and it is not unique to one side of the political spectrum (54m35s).
• The left often falls into a predictable cycle of reacting to reactions, creating a recursive and reactive cycle of storytelling, which can be easily predicted and exploited by the opposing side (54m56s).
• A prediction was made about 14-15 months ago that Biden had a zero percent chance of winning the election, which was met with disagreement from his staff and others (55m18s).
• The extreme left was warned about the dangers of falling into traps set by the opposing side, specifically regarding unpopular opinions, but this warning was ignored (55m50s).
• An example of this is the debate over trans women in sports, where some on the left fell into the trap of saying there is no difference between trans women and biological women, despite biological differences (56m26s).
• This debate is seen as a distraction from more important issues, such as healthcare and wages, and is used by the right-wing to create a culture war (57m16s).
• The right-wing has been trained through propaganda to oppose policies like a $15 minimum wage, which is seen as a way to distract from the real issues and maintain the status quo (57m35s).
• The focus should be on fighting for important issues like wages, healthcare, and family, rather than getting caught up in culture wars and distractions (58m6s).

Will the Left Reassess Their Strategy? (58m13s)

• The primary job of a political party is to gain power, as being in power is crucial for making a significant impact (58m13s).
• A reassessment of the left's strategy may be necessary, and it is uncertain whether this will lead to genuine change (58m21s).
• The 2020 US presidential election showed that online media was not strong enough to overcome mainstream media, despite initial predictions (58m45s).
• Bernie Sanders' campaign was hindered by mainstream media's negative portrayal of him, with some outlets labeling him and his followers as Nazis (59m36s).
• The 2024 US presidential election marked the first time online media was stronger than mainstream media, with online platforms like podcasts gaining more views than paid media (1h0m12s).
• The success of online media in 2024 gives hope for a truly populist left candidate to win in the 2028 primary, providing Americans with a real choice (1h1m4s).
• The outcome of the 2028 election will be determined by the media wars, with online media now having a stronger populist presence (1h2m18s).
• The left's online media, including The Young Turks, needs to be strong enough to overwhelm mainstream media outlets like MSNBC to win primaries (1h1m34s).
• The idea that people make informed decisions based on debates and policy issues is a misconception, and media plays a significant role in deciding elections (1h1m46s).

What’s Next for Cenk? (1h2m34s)

• A new initiative is being launched at TYT.com, which includes a populist plank that outlines specific positions on issues such as paid family leave, anti-war policies, and money out of politics, with the goal of creating a voting block that will support whichever side delivers on these promises (1h2m41s).
• The idea is to sign a pledge that commits to voting for the side that delivers on these policies, regardless of whether it's the right or left, and to hold politicians accountable for their actions (1h2m52s).
• The positions outlined in the populist plank are super popular with both the right and left, and the goal is to create a movement that will deliver votes to the side that delivers on these promises (1h3m39s).
• The initiative is not about fearmongering or criticizing the other side, but about holding politicians accountable for their actions and delivering on popular policies (1h3m24s).
• The Young Turks do a live show from 6:00 to 8:00 PM every day, Monday through Friday, and invite right-wingers to watch and engage with the content (1h4m1s).
• The show is known for criticizing both sides and addressing genuine concerns, rather than just criticizing for the sake of being oppositional (1h4m23s).
• Viewers are encouraged to check out the populist plank on TYT.com, sign the petition, and watch the show to make an informed decision about which side to support (1h4m32s).