American Angst
American Angst is a podcast where political scientist Dr. Michael Bailey unpacks the founding ideals and present tensions of American democracy with clarity, depth, and concern. Hosted and produced by his longtime friend Dale McConkey, the show blends serious civic reflection with honest, good-humored conversation for anyone trying to make sense of this American moment.
American Angst
End of an Era? Dems in the Hot Seat, Part 4
In our fourth and final installment of our "Democrats in the Hot Seat" series, political scientist Dr. Michael Bailey shifts the focus squarely onto the Democratic Party—its historic dominance since the New Deal, the vision it set forth, and the serious challenges it faces today. Bailey examines how Democrats built an era defined by international cooperation, inclusion, regulation, and a social safety net, but questions whether those pillars can endure in the age of globalization, inequality, debt, and climate change. Along the way, he unpacks whether Hillary Clinton’s “smugness” was tied to gender, explores why Democrats often stumble in cultural battles, and considers how Trump is disrupting the political order. The episode closes with a playful round of “One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State,” putting Bailey’s knowledge of oddball state laws to the test.
The views expressed on American Angst are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.