Heather Cox Richardson in Conversation with Robert Reich

journalismAug 25, 202617689

Robert Reich hosted historian Heather Cox Richardson in a Substack conversation today examining the origins and rise of Trumpism. They traced the decline of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s working-class Democratic coalition to a series of shifts beginning with Lewis Powell’s 1971 memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Supreme Court’s money-in-politics decision Buckley v. Valeo in 1976, and House Democrats’ embrace of corporate funding in the early 1980s. Reich recalled his frustrations as secretary of labor in the 1990s with corporate or “moderate” Democrats and cited his 1994 Democratic Leadership Council speech warning that a two-tiered society could produce a demagogue. Richardson and Reich said that element of a working-class Democratic Party is now reemerging. They also argued that rightwing Republicans have used the demonization of women as a tool for aggregating political power.

Robert Reich

@rbreich.bsky.social

I'm very excited to be chatting right now with one of my favorite historians, @hcrichardson.bsky.social. Join us! open.substack.com/live-stream/...

6054h ago

Carol ❄️4

This was fabulous. Thank you both so much for doing this. You are both so valuable to us all and greatly appreciated! Know you are both extremely busy, but you could not do this too often for the rest of us :) CC @hcrichardson.bsky.social

Coko2

You are both my favorites! 💙

raventerp1.bsky.social1

Ask her about how the far left helped to elect a NAZI in Germany. www.newstatesman.com/world/europe...

Silvia S.1

I enjoyed it very much. Thank you both and I look forward to the next time you're together.

💙🦋1

👀👆Thank you for a highly informative; balanced and focused discussion ✔️

@kcwinters.bsky.social

In this 250 to 250 from @hcrichardson.bsky.social & team, Joshua Turek, Iowa House Rep & candidate for the U.S. Senate, recounts the Dust Bowl, the 1930s environmental catastrophe that drove families from the Great Plains & taught America the value of soil conservation. youtu.be/Kx-w6QeXgic?...

755h ago

Carol Stephen

@carolstephen.bsky.social

A8. Here are a few influencers I like: * Heather Cox Richardson does her homework and posts diligently about history and politics every day. * Dr. Vonda Wright writes about women’s issues. * Dr. Daniel Sugai is a board-certified dermatologist. #DigiBlogChat

32h ago

70andexhausted.bsky.social

@70andexhausted.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/live/JjZ9I62... Two of my favorite erudite giants in conversation. A MUST listen.

23h ago

Patricia Ashlock

@pashlock.bsky.social

US two tiered society invited demagoguery of maga cult of personality. www.youtube.com/live/JjZ9I62...

3h ago

PKs Powerfromspace1 🚀 Last Angry Bernie Brother cast adrift 😒

@powerfromspace1.bsky.social

@hcrichardson.bsky.social #LiveStream #Politics Chat, August 25, 2026 @ 6PM 🕕 EST www.youtube.com/live/5TdLezl...

11h ago

John W Lewis

@johnwlewis.com

Heather Cox Richardson may be generating a substantial proportion of the income of Substack! #DigiBlogChat

12h ago

Richard Silvia

@yesrising.bsky.social

Definitely need part 2 with @hcrichardson.bsky.social and @rbreich.bsky.social After speaking to "how we got here" they were about to discuss how we can bring society back on track when they ran out of time. Please have a watch. Hopefully we'll see them back soon! www.youtube.com/live/JjZ9I62...

13h ago

grantsodiosa.bsky.social

@grantsodiosa.bsky.social

Live feed: like a box of chocolates. Maybe you get lucky Well informed opinions with clarity www.youtube.com/live/JjZ9I62...

14h ago

B. R. Erdmann

@msnberd.bsky.social

Heather and Robert discuss how we got into the current mess. substack.com/@robertreich...

2h ago

John Walling

@johnki7yra.bsky.social

I get a daily newsletter from www.dropsitenews.com They post also but the newsletter is more condensed. bsky.app/profile/drop... Heather Cox Richardson gives context to the news www.youtube.com/@heathercoxr... ..

3h ago

Gma4paws

@gma4paws.bsky.social

Explains much of how we got here. In Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson robertreich.substack.com/p/in-convers...

1h ago

Sue Baird

@suzb.bsky.social

I thought about you when hearing the news. Thanks for your terrific talk today with Heather Cox Richardson. Hope you do more.

2h ago

Mary

@maryhruth.bsky.social

Excellent, stimulating discussion! Despite all the other crap, I'm so grateful for great minds (and shining lights) like this - www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjZ9...

2h ago

Michael Byrne

@cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social

Fascinating conversation between two of my favorite professors, Robert Reich and Heather Cox Richardson about our political circumstance. History may not repeat, but it does recycle. robertreich.substack.com/p/in-convers...

2h ago

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robertreich.substack.comIn Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson

Heather Cox Richardson in Conversation with Robert Reichjournalism

Heather Cox Richardson in Conversation with Robert Reich

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