2021 was a shit show, so who better to help us dig through it than friend-of-show Thomas Frank, author of Listen Liberal and What’s the Matter with Kansas.
I read "Listen, Liberal" after I first saw Frank on your podcast, and I really enjoyed it for the eye opener that it was. I hope you can have him on more often next year, and good luck with your book, Matt.
America has a long history of anti-intellectualism that rejects objective reality in preference of belief. These people are the problem as a democracy requires an enlightened electorate and there is no excuse for people to not educate themselves. If they have time to watch sitcoms or sports, then they have time to read textbooks. The culture war is the creation of conservatives who hate the very idea of experts that reject their belief driven worldview. It is and always was.
And, BTW, ideology and philosophy are no alternatives to evidence based science. Economics is a soft science that is mostly ideology and philosophy and so is not capable of providing any certainty of prediction as Newtonian physics is, for example. Therefore, to equate economic "experts" with scientists is just wrong. Science is based on evidence and so it is part of the scientific process for experts to not agree until evidence proves some wrong whereas in economics, no such control exists, certain economists will maintain their "truth" regardless of objective reality.
TF is saying the same stuff he always has, but his take has not evolved. I wish more people like him would listen and comment on Yanis Varoufakus' thesis that capitalism is already dead, the left has been completely ineffectual, and the transition into technofeudalism is unimpeded:
Why arent we discussing this? I laugh at dick jokes as much as anyone, but I hope Aaron has the balls to take on this subject (wishful thinking, considering Max is the guy I must turn to for that, even at the Grayzone.)
I do look forward to the book, and enjoy the work you do - but I am beyond furious. I just signed up for the service days ago, and expected I was getting both serious journalism and the funny vid-show (as with Greenwald, my only other paid subscription). So now I don't have the serious writing I did want, or the silly video show I enjoy but don't care so much about. MONEY BACK PLEASE. This is pure bait and switch otherwise. This platform is about PEOPLE, not institutions (and you aren't one yet anyhow). ACT LIKE HONOURABLE PEOPLE PLEASE! When I see my refund, I will sign up for the serious journalism side. Until then, I really am seriously angry, and very much regret signing up.
I also recently signed up for a year subscription, mostly because I enjoy Matt’s perspective on most subjects. Katie is great too but I simply won’t listen to the podcast as much if Matt isn’t there. Why try to garner all of these subscribers if there was no long term plan? I am overjoyed to know that Matt is going to be working on his next book and should dedicate his time to that. I do also feel a bit duped by this podcast.
No surprise that Thomas can't publish in any of the pseudo-progressive U.S. publications anymore. Now we know why Matt left Rolling Stone and Glenn left the Intercept. I'm going to forward this interview to all my lib friends but I'm not optimistic anything will get them to rethink what the Dems have become.
I know things change, but I feel a bit of a victim of "bait and switch" here. Whilst I love Katie's part, I subscribed because of Matt and his incisive cuts through the BS. Now after subbing, You are leaving to do other things, with no loyalty to your subscribers. I've heard the " I'll be back" routine many times before too, and in 99% of those cases the promiser never returns. Now I'm concerned this may simply be incorporated into Katie's own show, which is great but not what I'm subbing for. I'll be listening hard for the next couple of weeks and deciding whether to continue the sub. I wonder if this were someone else doing this how Matt would report on it. Greed?
sadly things didn't change … useful idiots started as a shambles and has ended as a shambles … at least substack makes it easy to quit. hopefully Matt gets lucky with whatever he tries next.
Maybe consider this -- Matt is first and foremost a writer -- one of the best -- and he's exactly the right guy to chronicle how institutions shamelessly profited from COVID at our expense. Matt's writing is why I understand the grift of the 2008 financial meltdown and also why Obama was a first class grifter, not the embodiment of hope and change. I think Matt will be back but much as he'll be missed, he's writing an important book from which we'll all benefit.
I read "Listen, Liberal" after I first saw Frank on your podcast, and I really enjoyed it for the eye opener that it was. I hope you can have him on more often next year, and good luck with your book, Matt.
The “extended interview on Substack” is teased at the end of this episode, but—as usual—not posted.
America has a long history of anti-intellectualism that rejects objective reality in preference of belief. These people are the problem as a democracy requires an enlightened electorate and there is no excuse for people to not educate themselves. If they have time to watch sitcoms or sports, then they have time to read textbooks. The culture war is the creation of conservatives who hate the very idea of experts that reject their belief driven worldview. It is and always was.
And, BTW, ideology and philosophy are no alternatives to evidence based science. Economics is a soft science that is mostly ideology and philosophy and so is not capable of providing any certainty of prediction as Newtonian physics is, for example. Therefore, to equate economic "experts" with scientists is just wrong. Science is based on evidence and so it is part of the scientific process for experts to not agree until evidence proves some wrong whereas in economics, no such control exists, certain economists will maintain their "truth" regardless of objective reality.
TF is saying the same stuff he always has, but his take has not evolved. I wish more people like him would listen and comment on Yanis Varoufakus' thesis that capitalism is already dead, the left has been completely ineffectual, and the transition into technofeudalism is unimpeded:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv6130kSzEY
Why arent we discussing this? I laugh at dick jokes as much as anyone, but I hope Aaron has the balls to take on this subject (wishful thinking, considering Max is the guy I must turn to for that, even at the Grayzone.)
I do look forward to the book, and enjoy the work you do - but I am beyond furious. I just signed up for the service days ago, and expected I was getting both serious journalism and the funny vid-show (as with Greenwald, my only other paid subscription). So now I don't have the serious writing I did want, or the silly video show I enjoy but don't care so much about. MONEY BACK PLEASE. This is pure bait and switch otherwise. This platform is about PEOPLE, not institutions (and you aren't one yet anyhow). ACT LIKE HONOURABLE PEOPLE PLEASE! When I see my refund, I will sign up for the serious journalism side. Until then, I really am seriously angry, and very much regret signing up.
I also recently signed up for a year subscription, mostly because I enjoy Matt’s perspective on most subjects. Katie is great too but I simply won’t listen to the podcast as much if Matt isn’t there. Why try to garner all of these subscribers if there was no long term plan? I am overjoyed to know that Matt is going to be working on his next book and should dedicate his time to that. I do also feel a bit duped by this podcast.
No surprise that Thomas can't publish in any of the pseudo-progressive U.S. publications anymore. Now we know why Matt left Rolling Stone and Glenn left the Intercept. I'm going to forward this interview to all my lib friends but I'm not optimistic anything will get them to rethink what the Dems have become.
where's the video of the remainder of the episode?
please go to usefulidiots.substack … and where is the rest of the conversation?! ffs happy new years ya idiots
All the very wishes to you and a huge thank you :)
I know things change, but I feel a bit of a victim of "bait and switch" here. Whilst I love Katie's part, I subscribed because of Matt and his incisive cuts through the BS. Now after subbing, You are leaving to do other things, with no loyalty to your subscribers. I've heard the " I'll be back" routine many times before too, and in 99% of those cases the promiser never returns. Now I'm concerned this may simply be incorporated into Katie's own show, which is great but not what I'm subbing for. I'll be listening hard for the next couple of weeks and deciding whether to continue the sub. I wonder if this were someone else doing this how Matt would report on it. Greed?
sadly things didn't change … useful idiots started as a shambles and has ended as a shambles … at least substack makes it easy to quit. hopefully Matt gets lucky with whatever he tries next.
Maybe consider this -- Matt is first and foremost a writer -- one of the best -- and he's exactly the right guy to chronicle how institutions shamelessly profited from COVID at our expense. Matt's writing is why I understand the grift of the 2008 financial meltdown and also why Obama was a first class grifter, not the embodiment of hope and change. I think Matt will be back but much as he'll be missed, he's writing an important book from which we'll all benefit.
I certainly prefer to see him focus his time on a book and the subsequent tour.
I'm tired of these agonizing hours of him sitting in strained conversation with someone who's just not suited to the job.
Taibbi's most recent visit with Joe Rogan may have been the stark comparison for him to realize Useful Idiots was not a good use of his time.
Matt I know you characterized this as a “sabbatical” but honestly, are you coming back?
New years resolution for 2022 - Completely forget about 2021.