Episode 135 with Freddie deBoer
Welcome back to KK&F. This week, our conversation with writer Freddie deBoer about his recent article on the disappointments of AOC’s political journey opens up an opportunity to reflect on what progressive politicians promise and what they deliver, how to relate to leftist electeds, how we should assess the Biden presidency, and much more. Watch below:
Both in his article and in this episode, Freddie lays out evidence against AOC, describing insufficient support for key progressive policies and not enough to show for her years of fundraising and her image as a major figure on the American left. What is her theory of change? And how has it collided with the comparatively conservative agendas of establishment members of her party? If she hasn’t accomplished the things her base expects her to, realistically speaking, is it because she lacks the political will to do so, because that change is hamstrung by her centrist colleagues, or some combination of these things?
Kyle pointed out that the Justice Democrats were intended as a left-wing Tea Party, ready and willing to take on Democratic leadership. Progressives lack this kind of infrastructure. Should we build it? Or should the left abandon the Democratic Party all together after the disappointments of AOC and her Justice Democrat colleagues? You’ll hear all about it — and much more — on this week’s episode of Krystal Kyle & Friends, out tomorrow as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more.
