© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Scramble: Why Trump Now?

Jamelle Boule
/
Creative Commons
Trump Supporters at a 2014 Rally at the American Airlines Center, Dallas

There is no doubt that Donald Trump has taken the country by storm, defying all expectations that his candidacy would implode after the initial infatuation wore off last summer. Why Trump now?

High-paying manufacturing jobs have been in decline since the 1980's, leaving mostly white male workers who have little education unable to find comparable work. In addition, the number of middle-aged white men who are dying earlier in life has been rising over the last fifteen years.  

Some say the Trump phenomenon is a backlash against President Obama by working-class men desperate to restore a racial hierarchy that favored their interests. Others say Trump is the first candidate to care about the plight of the working class

Why the rise of Trump now? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

Jamelle BouieChief political correspondent for Slate Magazine

Michael Goodwin - Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, columnist for the New York Post, and commentator on Fox News and Fox Business.  He's the co-author of I Koch: A Decideley Unauthorized Biography of the Mayor of New York City, Edward I. Koch

You can join the conversation on Facebookand Twitter

Colin McEnroe, Betsy Kaplan, Tucker Ives and Greg Hill contributed to this show.

Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content