Podcast Summary: David Remnick and Ryan Lizza on Obama’s Two Recent Speeches

Podcast: The Political Scene | The New Yorker
Date: July 25, 2013
Guests: David Remnick (Editor, The New Yorker), Ryan Lizza (Staff Writer)
Host: Dorothy Wickenden (Executive Editor, The New Yorker)

Overview

This episode examines President Barack Obama’s two recent speeches: his personal, impromptu remarks about the Trayvon Martin case and his major policy address on the economy in Illinois. Through an in-depth discussion with David Remnick and Ryan Lizza, the episode dives into the complexities of Obama’s approach to race, presidential strategy, the polarized state of American politics, and the limited powers of the modern presidency, especially in the face of congressional polarization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Obama’s Speech on Trayvon Martin and Race in America

• Reluctance and Evolution: Obama has generally refrained from discussing race explicitly as president, being cautious of the political ramifications (03:05–04:20).
  • David Remnick recounts Obama's belief: “The most important thing that I can do, I’ve already done. I’m the first elected African American president. It’s an enormous thing.” (03:30)
• Friday’s Speech: Obama diverged from script, directly addressing experiences of young African-American men in America (01:24–02:18).
  • Barack Obama: “There are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of walking across and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars… or getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously.” (01:24)
• Strategy and Impact: He waited several days after the verdict to allow initial reactions to unfold, delivering an unscripted, heartfelt reflection, which was seen as highly effective and affecting (04:21–05:15).

2. The 2008 Race Speech in Context

• The Reverend Wright Crisis: Obama’s pivotal 2008 speech on race came at a moment of crisis, when controversy over Reverend Jeremiah Wright threatened his campaign (05:52–07:13).
  • Ryan Lizza: “That speech literally saved his campaign.… He talked about race in a way that seemed to speak to both white America and black America.” (05:52)
  • Obama leveraged his mixed-race background to bridge divides, but only did so when absolutely necessary, under immense political pressure (07:09–07:54).
• Contrast in Approaches: Obama invokes an ideal, “not white America or black America,” but was always conscious of the political constraints and impact on his broader agenda (08:14–09:00).

3. The Obama Household and Perspectives on Race

• Michelle vs. Barack: David Remnick highlights that Michelle Obama’s primary focus is on racial issues and advancing less privileged Americans, influenced by her South Side Chicago upbringing (09:00–10:08).
  • Remnick: “Michelle Obama… would have been called a race woman in the best sense, you know, really interested in advancing her people.” (09:10)

4. Politics, Policy, and Congressional Limitations

• Trayvon Martin and Gun Control: The administration’s ability to leverage the Martin case for gun reform is minimal; most meaningful legislation is controlled by states and stymied at the federal level (10:08–10:46).
  • Remnick: “These are lost, if not lost causes. The ability for the President of the United States to get anywhere is so diminished by the stranglehold that the radical right has on the House.” (10:46)
• Immigration Reform: Discussion about the post-2012 Republican strategy of appealing to Hispanic voters was quickly undercut by renewed focus on winning more white votes, enabled by gerrymandered House districts (11:16–13:18).
  • Ryan Lizza: “Maybe we can win 65% of the white vote next time… we don’t have to worry about the Hispanics.” (12:49)

5. Race, Generations, and Economic Division

• Younger Generations and Change: Obama’s mention of his daughters symbolizes generational progress, though debate remains about the representativeness and true extent of racial progress (13:18–13:54).
  • Remnick: “It was both politically true and needed… We are no longer living in the world of Bull Connor. It’s better in many ways, and in many ways it’s insufficient.” (13:32)
• Persistent Economic Divide: The conversation transitions to the widening economic gap, noting it’s not solely about race, but raises alarm as social mobility and the middle class decline (14:13–14:46).

6. Obama’s Economic Speech & Legislative Challenges

• A New Economic Vision: Obama aims to reset the economic conversation ahead of renewed budget battles, emphasizing working Americans and using the remaining days in office for tangible impact (14:53–15:25).
  • Obama: “I do not intend to wait until the next campaign or the next president… The only thing I care about is how to use every minute of the remaining 1,276 days of my term to make this country work for working Americans again.” (14:53)
• Recurrent Themes: Echoes his 2011 Osawatomie speech — provides a history of economic highs and struggles, highlights recovery markers (deficit, unemployment), spotlights inequality, and points blame at House Republicans for current stasis (16:06–17:17).
  • Ryan Lizza: "Our annual deficit is now below a trillion dollars for the first time in a long time.” (16:44)
• Limits of Executive Power: Obama now looks to executive actions and business partnerships, but his ability to effect significant change without Congress is sharply limited (17:17–17:31).
  • Ryan Lizza: “Without Congress’s assent, he can’t do a whole lot. That’s not the way our system works.” (17:31)

7. Rhetorical Flourishes and Historical Legacy

• Invoking Carl Sandburg: Obama closes with poetic imagery about “an ocean of tomorrows,” recalling American optimism (18:26–18:41).
  • Obama quoting Sandburg: “The past is a bucket of ashes… There is only an ocean of tomorrows, a sky of tomorrows.” (18:26)
• Comparisons to Reagan: Obama’s closing, reminiscent of Reagan’s rhetorical style, strives to inspire Americans to see their best selves and possibilities even as changing speeches cannot change political math (18:41–19:06).
• Presidential Legacy-Making: The episode concludes that, especially in the second term, Obama’s actions and speeches are increasingly conscious of how history will remember him, both on race and the economy (19:24–20:03).
  • Ryan Lizza: “A lot of the decisions presidents make in the second term are really with an eye towards… I want history to record that.” (19:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Obama on everyday racism (01:24): "There are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of walking across and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars."
• Remnick on Obama’s strategy (03:30): “The most important thing that I can do, I’ve already done. I’m the first elected African American president. It’s an enormous thing.”
• Lizza on the 2008 speech (05:52): “That speech literally saved his campaign.”
• Remnick on Michelle Obama (09:10): “She would have been called a race woman in the best sense, you know, really interested in advancing her people.”
• Remnick on legislative lost causes (10:46): “These are lost, if not lost causes... [due to] the stranglehold that the radical right has on the House.”
• Lizza on Republican strategy (12:49): “Maybe we can win 65% of the white vote next time… we don’t have to worry about the Hispanics.”
• Obama invoking Sandburg (18:26): “The past is a bucket of ashes. Yesterday is a wind gone down... There is only an ocean of tomorrows, a sky of tomorrows.”
• Lizza on legacy (19:33): “A lot of the decisions presidents make in the second term are really with an eye towards… I want history to record that.”

Timeline & Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:24] Obama’s personal remarks following the Trayvon Martin ruling
• [03:05–05:15] Analysis of Obama’s approach to discussing race
• [05:27–07:54] Revisiting the 2008 race speech and its importance
• [09:00–10:08] Insights on Michelle Obama’s influence and household priorities
• [10:08–11:16] Discussion on the Trayvon Martin case, stand-your-ground, and gun control
• [11:16–13:18] Immigration, gerrymandering, and political polarization
• [13:18–14:46] Generational change and the economic divide in America
• [14:53–17:31] Obama’s economic speech and the reality of legislative roadblocks
• [18:26–19:24] Sandburg quote and Obama’s effort to inspire a sense of American optimism
• [19:24–20:03] Reflection on the presidency, legacy, and challenges of the second term

Conclusion

Through critical analysis and context, Remnick and Lizza highlight the signature tension at the heart of Obama’s presidency: moving between powerful symbolism and systemic limitation, grand speech and political reality. Obama’s careful navigation of race, struggle for economic reform, and growing focus on historical legacy frame both his second term and how he will be remembered.