Join me for a little walk back in history. The year 2016 marked a critical rupture in both the American and British story. Brexit happened in June. Trump happened in November. November moments when the larger stories that once bound their people together and instead embraced politics of division. These political earthquakes rejected globalization, diversity, and democratic norms in favor of narrower identities rooted in grievance and nostalgia. And by seating this identity debate to demagogues, democratic l ...

Economic Discontent & Political Landscape - The report highlights a loss of faith in the "American dream" due to systemic failures, inequality, and corruption, leading to a willingness to listen to identity-based appeals [3][4] - The discussion points out that economic anxieties, stemming from events like the 2008 financial crisis, fueled a rejection of globalization and neoliberalism, as people felt their lives were not improving despite the enrichment of elites [8][9] - The analysis connects economic anger with identity politics, where frustration with the system opens the door for divisive figures to blame immigrants and liberal elites [11][12] Rebuilding the Future Narrative - The report emphasizes the need for a forward-looking vision that addresses corruption and ensures the government works for the people, rather than simply patching up the existing system [6] - The analysis suggests that reclaiming the narrative requires demonstrating a vision for the future that goes beyond nostalgia and focuses on rebuilding the system to address the root causes of economic discontent [5][6] Brexit & Trump Parallels - The report draws parallels between Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, noting that both were driven by underlying economic issues and identity-based appeals [7] - The "take back control" slogan in Brexit is analyzed as appealing to both economic anxieties (control from out-of-touch elites) and identity concerns (control from immigrants), highlighting the connection between the two [9][10]

Political & Economic Strategy - The report questions whether the Democrats, if regaining power, should return to neoliberalism, embrace economic populism, or pursue a middle ground approach [1]