Sarah Smarsh

First, thanks for having me, John. And yes, I do find I'm getting a lot of calls right now. That's been true to some extent for some time through the current political era. But this really feels like a moment when maybe my message about class and the way that we need to center it and discuss it as an identity unto itself is really critical right now. So yeah, I'm happy to be here to talk about it.

First, thanks for having me, John. And yes, I do find I'm getting a lot of calls right now. That's been true to some extent for some time through the current political era. But this really feels like a moment when maybe my message about class and the way that we need to center it and discuss it as an identity unto itself is really critical right now. So yeah, I'm happy to be here to talk about it.

Well, I think we've been in a burn it down moment for some time, several election cycles. 2020 might have been somewhat of an anomaly. Biden, of course, won that general. And here we are again with Trump.

Well, I think we've been in a burn it down moment for some time, several election cycles. 2020 might have been somewhat of an anomaly. Biden, of course, won that general. And here we are again with Trump.

I will say going back to 2016, you know, I felt it profoundly on the ground, even in places like rural Kansas, that a Democratic socialist from Vermont was sure getting a lot of traction and actually built an incredible coalition. almost got the nomination more than once, in fact.

I will say going back to 2016, you know, I felt it profoundly on the ground, even in places like rural Kansas, that a Democratic socialist from Vermont was sure getting a lot of traction and actually built an incredible coalition. almost got the nomination more than once, in fact.

So that sort of anger, rage, you know, that's just been kind of on broil at ground level across, as you say, all sorts of identity markers, I do believe has a lot to do with class and the way that, as you say, it intersects with race, it intersects with gender. But it is an experience that every one of us has and contains.

So that sort of anger, rage, you know, that's just been kind of on broil at ground level across, as you say, all sorts of identity markers, I do believe has a lot to do with class and the way that, as you say, it intersects with race, it intersects with gender. But it is an experience that every one of us has and contains.

And if you're on the losing end of that power structure, that continuum, and far more people are on the losing end than not, of course, then to your point, indeed, saying we're now defending these structures that have had you and your family hurting for some generations is maybe a losing messaging strategy. Yeah.

And if you're on the losing end of that power structure, that continuum, and far more people are on the losing end than not, of course, then to your point, indeed, saying we're now defending these structures that have had you and your family hurting for some generations is maybe a losing messaging strategy. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, I think a way to kind of look at this in very specific terms would be the gulf between the message that the economy is actually great, dummy. You must not have seen the statistics. Are you saying that doesn't work? All right. You must not have read the latest report about the GDP. Most Americans don't own stocks.

Yeah. Well, I think a way to kind of look at this in very specific terms would be the gulf between the message that the economy is actually great, dummy. You must not have seen the statistics. Are you saying that doesn't work? All right. You must not have read the latest report about the GDP. Most Americans don't own stocks.

Sure, you can say inflation has slowed down and there have been economic gains in all sorts of ways. But for the average underpaid American – It's not even just about prices. It's also about or spending. That's a measure that economists love to trot out. You might be buying all your groceries and your consumer goods with a credit card. I didn't hear a lot of talk about debt.

Sure, you can say inflation has slowed down and there have been economic gains in all sorts of ways. But for the average underpaid American – It's not even just about prices. It's also about or spending. That's a measure that economists love to trot out. You might be buying all your groceries and your consumer goods with a credit card. I didn't hear a lot of talk about debt.

Most of the working class and working poor Americans I know hold profoundly disturbing amounts of debt, be it credit card, medical. I will say the Biden administration did talk about medical debt a little bit. Maybe they could have led with that. I think that might have helped.

Most of the working class and working poor Americans I know hold profoundly disturbing amounts of debt, be it credit card, medical. I will say the Biden administration did talk about medical debt a little bit. Maybe they could have led with that. I think that might have helped.

Right. Yeah. So, yeah, people are hurting. And if you're looking at in the face and saying, actually, you're not in whether that's a move to kind of defend your own administration that, of course, the Democratic candidate was part of. And that's a very difficult to thread that needle, you know, the task she was handed to kind of

Right. Yeah. So, yeah, people are hurting. And if you're looking at in the face and saying, actually, you're not in whether that's a move to kind of defend your own administration that, of course, the Democratic candidate was part of. And that's a very difficult to thread that needle, you know, the task she was handed to kind of

propose how it will change, but also still be riding with the last administration.

propose how it will change, but also still be riding with the last administration.