The Art of Persuasion

Yascha Mounk, the founder of Persuasion, joins Sarah and David to discuss his new publication ...

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Yascha Mounk, the founder of Persuasion, joins Sarah and David to discuss his new publication and the project of defending liberal democracy.

Show Notes:

–Persuasion

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  1. Avatar photo
    Emily

    Loved this whole podcast, and I’m off to check out Persuasion! Also adored the funny moment at the end where Sarah expresses this total surprise that, once upon a time, parents (like mine and David’s and the other old people) couldn’t know the sex of their child in advance and had to show up to the hospital with both a boy and a girl name. It gave me such a spontaneous laugh out loud moment!

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    Josh Bell

    Great podcast! Is there a distinction (or what is the distinction) between "Cancel Culture" and just the "consequences of someone's actions"? For instance, if someone was a Nazi and posted a bunch of propaganda on their Twitter account, we would understand if they were fired. That to me doesn't scream illiberal or Cancel Culture. I can't easily articulate the line between that and say, a professor being fired for not being progressive enough.

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  3. Will Findlay

    Just a technical note, if possible, Sarah's microphone gain needs to be turned down a bit to avoid clipping.

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    Bruce Mamont

    I couldn't wait until the podcast finished to subscribe to Persuasion. I'm tormenting tweet posters by responding with @JoinPersuation

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    Victor Clairmont

    Thank you for the podcast. I wish Yasha and those in his new group success on bridging the divide.

    Conversation not shouting.

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      Bill Nelson

      Bigotry against Vogons?

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        Victor Clairmont

        Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy eh?

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    Angie

    Cool...I shall check it out...

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    Rev Snow

    The presentation from David French in minutes 22 - 25 of this podcast are such a deep reservoir of observation on deliberative procedures in governing, and the ways we succeed and fail to respect them, I'd say a whole week or more of worthwhile essays could be derived from them.

    The piece of that which spoke loudest to me was the phenomenon of respecting and following a majoritarian institution only up until the point that it delivers a defeat. Then comes an effort to either withdraw from or tear down the institution itself. This was always taught to me as the procedural evil of secession to go along with the moral evil of sustaining slavery. Participation in an election implies assent to the outcome. When the American South fled an election loss, they denied that principle, the very principle that went their way for so many decades before. That same secessionist spirit is animated in too many Americans of all views today.

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    Rev Snow

    A question to direct to Yascha Mounk at a future meeting: Many voices on the Right make a distinction in their commentary using the language "liberals" and "the Left". Do Mounk's left-of-center partners in Persuasion see and recognize this? Is there any parallel linguistic distinction people on the Right should look out for in left-of-center commentary?

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      Tracie

      I'm also curious cuz my younger accquaintances on the left are prone to call themselves "anti-racist" or "radical." I have not heard any of them use "liberal" to describe themselves or their views.

      My self-described libertarian acquaintances call the "anti-racists" and such "social justice warriors" or SJWs, but I've seen no evidence that the latter claim that moniker.

      "Liberal" first came into my awareness as a derogatory label to describe people who didn't vote for Reagan or GHWB. It was closely associated with "dope-smoking hippie" and "yankee." Not until college did I proactively investigate the liberal vs conservative designations beyond that.

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    Kevin Johnson

    This was fantastic! Perhaps best pod ever. Everyone, and everyone you know, should enjoy. Wow, wow, wow. After a great TMD, now you REALLY made my Independence Day! Here’s to “lighting a single candle rather than cursing the darkness.” Good ideas ARE sprouting. Thanks a million!

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