Ezra Klein

garb of official knowledge you know wrapped in credentials coming out of universities etc that it was in part actually an institutional monoculture on the democratic side that created a loss of some of some antibodies that might have created some friction between that and going way too far yeah and then you know now you have the other side in power also without any antibodies

garb of official knowledge you know wrapped in credentials coming out of universities etc that it was in part actually an institutional monoculture on the democratic side that created a loss of some of some antibodies that might have created some friction between that and going way too far yeah and then you know now you have the other side in power also without any antibodies

Always our final question. What are three books you'd recommend to the audience?

Always our final question. What are three books you'd recommend to the audience?

This episode of The Ezra Klein Show is produced by Elias Iskwith. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker, and Michelle Harris. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld with additional mixing by Isaac Jones with Amin Sahota and Afim Shapiro. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon.

This episode of The Ezra Klein Show is produced by Elias Iskwith. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker, and Michelle Harris. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld with additional mixing by Isaac Jones with Amin Sahota and Afim Shapiro. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon.

The show's production team also includes Marie Cassione, Annie Galvin, Roland Hu, Marina King, Jan Kobel, Kristen Lynn, and Jack McCordick. We've original music by Pat McCusker, audience strategy by Christina Samieluski, and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie Rose Strasser.

The show's production team also includes Marie Cassione, Annie Galvin, Roland Hu, Marina King, Jan Kobel, Kristen Lynn, and Jack McCordick. We've original music by Pat McCusker, audience strategy by Christina Samieluski, and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie Rose Strasser.

From New York Times Opinion, this is The Ezra Klein Show. A number of people I respect and often agree with have been making different versions of the same point. Immigration is one of Trump's best issues and one of the worst issues for Democrats. The economy is where Trump is now weak. So if you really care about the dangers Donald Trump poses, you need to beat him.

From New York Times Opinion, this is The Ezra Klein Show. A number of people I respect and often agree with have been making different versions of the same point. Immigration is one of Trump's best issues and one of the worst issues for Democrats. The economy is where Trump is now weak. So if you really care about the dangers Donald Trump poses, you need to beat him.

And that means focusing the country's attention on his worst issues, the places where he is most beatable. Nate Silver submitted a version of this argument, and so did California Governor Gavin Newsom.

And that means focusing the country's attention on his worst issues, the places where he is most beatable. Nate Silver submitted a version of this argument, and so did California Governor Gavin Newsom.

This is their 80-20 issue as they've described it. And I want to give this argument its due. It's not without merit. Optimal political strategy is usually to keep the focus on your opponent's worst issues. For Donald Trump right now, it's his decision to light the global economy on fire. From that perspective, focusing on Abrego Garcia is a distraction.

This is their 80-20 issue as they've described it. And I want to give this argument its due. It's not without merit. Optimal political strategy is usually to keep the focus on your opponent's worst issues. For Donald Trump right now, it's his decision to light the global economy on fire. From that perspective, focusing on Abrego Garcia is a distraction.

Trump's meeting with President Bukele is a distraction. And getting distracted is bad politics. Focus on the tariffs. Focus on the stock market chaos. Focus. But I think there are two things wrong with this. One is that the polling here isn't clear. Yes, Democrats have become afraid on the issue of immigration. They see that as a winner for Donald Trump.

Trump's meeting with President Bukele is a distraction. And getting distracted is bad politics. Focus on the tariffs. Focus on the stock market chaos. Focus. But I think there are two things wrong with this. One is that the polling here isn't clear. Yes, Democrats have become afraid on the issue of immigration. They see that as a winner for Donald Trump.

But if you look at the polling on rule of law, on due process, to the extent this is framed that way, which it should be, that's actually what this is about, then Democrats are in a much better position. People do not want the Trump administration to be able to randomly disappear people living in this country without due process.

But if you look at the polling on rule of law, on due process, to the extent this is framed that way, which it should be, that's actually what this is about, then Democrats are in a much better position. People do not want the Trump administration to be able to randomly disappear people living in this country without due process.

But I think this argument reflects a generalized collapse of roles and time across the political system. If this was October 2026 and you're running a congressional campaign, then what you focus on is a hard question and you should pay pretty damn close attention to the pulse. If you're choosing how to write and spend money on ads, same thing. And I wish you luck figuring it out.

But I think this argument reflects a generalized collapse of roles and time across the political system. If this was October 2026 and you're running a congressional campaign, then what you focus on is a hard question and you should pay pretty damn close attention to the pulse. If you're choosing how to write and spend money on ads, same thing. And I wish you luck figuring it out.