Podcast Summary: The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Episode: The Challengers: The Fight for the Working-Class Vote

Date: July 26, 2018
Host: Dorothy Wickenden
Guest: Dan Kaufman (Journalist, author of The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics)

Overview of the Episode

This installment of "The Challengers" focuses on the political transformation in Wisconsin—a state emblematic of the broader turmoil shaking up America's two major parties, especially around the issue of the working-class vote. Host Dorothy Wickenden and guest Dan Kaufman dissect the factors behind Democrats’ loss in traditionally blue Wisconsin, the ongoing power of the Tea Party movement, challenges faced by labor activists and unions, the importance of gerrymandering, and the current high-stakes Democratic primary contest between Randy Bryce (a labor activist and ironworker) and Kathy Myers (a teacher).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Transformation of Wisconsin Politics

• Progressive Legacy Lost:
  • Wisconsin was once famed for progressive politics, environmental stewardship, and clean government.

    “It was always kind of a state driven by what I would call a kind of pragmatic idealism.” (Dan Kaufman, 03:20)

  • A major conservative shift began in 2010 with Governor Scott Walker’s election and Republican control of the state legislature.
• Legislative and Structural Changes:
  • Introduction of voter ID laws and Act 10, which stripped nearly all collective bargaining rights from public employees, leading to large-scale protests and heightened partisanship.
  • Dramatic gerrymandering cemented GOP dominance:

    “In 2012, the Democrats won 200,000 more votes for the state assembly seats in aggregate than the Republicans. And yet they lost a seat and only had 39 of 99 state legislative seats.” (D, 05:09)

• Outside Money and Political Entrenchment:
  • Influence of outside donors (notably the Koch brothers), “dark money,” and the impact of Citizens United on Wisconsin’s political landscape:

    “[Walker] was auditioning for the backing of some of these powerful conservative interests, including Charles and David Koch.” (D, 05:09)

2. Paul Ryan’s Retirement from Congress

• Multiple causes: fulfillment of policy agenda (notably the tax bill), increasing friction within GOP caucus, rising strength of the Democratic opponent Randy Bryce, and a desire to distance himself from Trump.

  “I think Bryce’s spirited challenge...was also a factor. It seemed as though there was a blue wave coming.” (D, 06:18)

3. The Democratic Primary in Ryan’s District

• Candidates:
  • Randy Bryce: Army veteran, ironworker, labor leader, cancer survivor. Supported by unions and progressive groups, active in broader social justice movements (including immigrant rights and Black Lives Matter).
  • Kathy Myers: School teacher and member of the Janesville school board, with deeper experience in local politics.
• Appeal and Platforms:
  • Both candidates share similar policy positions with differences in approach—Bryce is more outspoken on issues like abolishing ICE and has outsider, working-class appeal.

    “Randy Bryce was a labor activist, and he has the support of many of the unions, including the Wisconsin State AFL CIO… he has a lot of credibility with labor.” (D, 08:01)

  • Myers is noted for her experience and traditional political credentials.
• Electoral Dynamics:
  • The district, once safely Republican, is now surprisingly competitive, in part due to the viral success of Bryce’s campaign ad that highlighted healthcare and his own family’s struggles.

    “The video went viral and Bryce is now running a surprisingly competitive race in a district once considered a Republican stronghold.” (B, 02:51)

4. Trump, Walker, and the Politics of Division

• Both Trump and Walker have leveraged divisive rhetoric:

  “Walker and Trump are very similar…they really pitted groups of citizens against each other.” (D, 11:12)

• While Trump retains some strong support, there's growing fatigue with this politics of resentment, as described by UW-Madison professor Kathy Cramer (author of The Politics of Resentment).

5. The Erosion of Labor and Democratic Prospects

• Decline of union power and membership has undercut the Democratic base—Walker’s anti-union efforts (Act 10) and the right-to-work push in the Midwest have had tangible impacts on Democratic turnout.

  “The erosion of labor really can affect elections. A new study...said that right to work states correlate to a 3.5-point drop in Democratic turnout.” (D, 13:48)

6. Dark Money and Election Outcomes

• Massive financial imbalances in campaign funding heavily favor Republicans in the state, especially with a steady influx of untraceable, outside funds.

  “In his recall election, [Walker] had $30 million to Tom Barrett’s $4 million. And there’s been a lot of dark money flooding into Wisconsin.” (D, 13:10)

7. Gerrymandering and the Courts

• Wisconsin's extreme partisan gerrymandering was challenged in court but faced setbacks at the Supreme Court, especially with the likely confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, weakening prospects for reform.

  “Now, with the likely confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, that looks...probably hopeless because I doubt that he would show the same openness to...ruling against partisan gerrymandering.” (D, 16:29)

8. Democratic Strategies and Party Tensions

• The national Democratic Party wrestles with its message and the best candidates to win back working-class and Midwest voters.
• Randy Bryce’s campaign is notable for receiving both progressive (Sanders) and establishment (DCCC’s Red to Blue) endorsements.

  “Bryce is also …the only candidate in the country that has been endorsed by both Sanders and the DCCC’s Red to Blue list.” (D, 17:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wisconsin’s Political Shift:

  “Wisconsin is really a microcosm for the country in so many ways. And it was an important target, I think, for conservatives because of its progressive past.”
  (Dan Kaufman, 13:48)

• On Labor’s Decline:

  “The deunionization has really hurt the Democratic Party, and I think the Republicans understood that much more clearly, whereas the Democrats didn't see the attack on labor in quite the same terms.”
  (Dan Kaufman, 14:34)

• On Democratic Party’s Crossroads:

  “I think there’s some in the Democratic Party doing this. I think there is a pretty big schism between the more establishment wing and the Sanders wing.”
  (Dan Kaufman, 17:33)

• On Political Realities:

  “Walker is interesting because he’s never really been above 50% in Wisconsin, yet he’s managed to win three elections.”
  (Dan Kaufman, 12:21)

• On the White Working Class:

  “The white working class sometimes gets cast monolithically. But there’s a progressive wing of that that has been overlooked, particularly strong in the labor movement.”
  (Dan Kaufman, 15:39)

Important Timestamps

• 01:16 – Episode theme & context: Wisconsin’s shift in national politics; intro to the Challengers segment.
• 02:51 – The rise of Randy Bryce and the viral impact of his campaign.
• 03:20 – Dan Kaufman describes the state’s political transformation from progressive to divided.
• 05:09 – Discussion of gerrymandering and outside political money in Wisconsin.
• 06:13 – Paul Ryan’s surprising retirement and its implications.
• 08:01 – Deep dive into Randy Bryce vs. Kathy Myers: backgrounds, union support, and campaign style.
• 11:12 – The “politics of resentment,” Trump’s base, and rising voter fatigue.
• 13:04 – Discussion of dark money in Wisconsin politics and Democratic funding challenges.
• 13:48 – Wisconsin as a national microcosm; links between labor decline and conservative victories.
• 16:29 – Gerrymandering in Wisconsin and its bleak prospects before the Supreme Court.
• 17:33 – Rifts within the Democratic Party; Bryce’s unique cross-factional endorsements.
• 18:09 – Episode wrap-up, closing reflections by Dan Kaufman and Dorothy Wickenden.

Conclusion

This episode offers a nuanced, in-depth look at how political, economic, and cultural changes in Wisconsin mirror the larger evolution of American politics—especially the Democratic Party’s precarious relationship with working-class voters and the enduring repercussions of union decline, gerrymandering, and dark money. Through the lens of the high-stakes Democratic primary between Randy Bryce and Kathy Myers, the episode underscores the urgency for Democrats to rebuild a coherent, competitive message that addresses the realities of a shifting electorate and hardened partisan landscape.