Today, Explained

Was populism worth it?

November 3, 2026·25 min·4-min readnarrativenews
Podzilla Summary (4 min)
TLDR
This episode of Today Explained examines a decade of populism in American politics, from Donald Trump's rise through the 2026 midterms, arguing that populism's fate may hinge less on politicians than on the structure of the media environment.


PREMISE

As Americans head to the polls,

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Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Donald TrumpJonathan ChaitEric LevitzJoe BidenGina HinojosaFranklin Delano RooseveltFather Charles CoughlinElon MuskNoel King

Topics

DemocracyElectionsInequalityPolitical NewsUs Politics

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