In this podcast, Senator Bernie Sanders discusses his book “It’s Okay to be Angry About Capitalism” with progressive journalist John Nichols. Nichols brings to the conversation his extensive experience as the National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation, an associate editor for The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin, and a prolific author of books such as “The Death and Life of American Journalism” and “Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest, from Madison to Wall Street.” His work, deeply rooted in his Wisconsin background, consistently focuses on crucial political issues, including social and economic justice, media’s role in politics, and the intricacies of American electoral politics, making his insights highly relevant to both local and national audiences.
They cover several critical issues, including:
- The importance of the upcoming election and the dangers posed by a potential Trump victory, particularly regarding climate change, women’s rights, and healthcare.
- The influence of Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 campaigns on the Democratic Party and the Biden administration, pushing for bolder, more progressive policies like the American Rescue Plan.
- The need for the Democratic Party to open its doors to working-class people, young individuals, and progressive voices, rather than being dominated by the “moneyed establishment.”
Sanders emphasizes the disconnect between the public’s sentiments and the actions of political leaders, particularly concerning the crisis in Gaza:
“People all over the country are saying, why is the United States complicit? Why are we actually funding somebody who is blockading, there’s restrictions at the border. So that the trucks, the thousands of trucks that we need to get through, to feed hungry children, he’s stopping them. And we are giving him more money? How insane is that? In Washington D.C. there’s another world.”