Bill Kristol: On Why Politics Remains Dangerous

TL;DR

Despite recent positive developments, such as the dismissal of Giuliani's law license and a potential bipartisan deal on police reform, the fragility of these wins and the rise of hyper-partisanship remain concerns.

Transcript

welcome to the bulwark podcast we made it through the week happy friday happy weekend uh as i wrote in my newsletter this morning the obituaries for centrism may have been premature but i i i just want to caution against irrational exuberance and of course to join me in in that effort our colleague bill crystal good morning bill how are you i'm fin... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Bipartisanship may be possible, but it remains fragile and requires continuous effort.
• ❎ Hyper-partisanship and negative partisanship are significant challenges to rational governance.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The spread of anti-vaxxism endangers public health and compromises efforts to control COVID-19.

Questions & Answers

Q: How are recent developments suggesting a potential moment of bipartisanship?

Recent events, such as the infrastructure compromise and the creation of a select committee on the January 6 insurrection, indicate the possibility of bipartisan cooperation and a move towards rationality.

Q: Why is the rise of hyper-partisanship a concern?

Hyper-partisanship leads to negative partisanship, where hating the other side becomes more important than policy or issues. This makes it difficult to find common ground and resolve conflicts.

Q: How is anti-vaxxism endangering the population?

The spread of anti-vaxxism is endangering public health as unvaccinated individuals can become vectors for the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. It also puts individuals with compromised immune systems at a higher risk.

Q: What are the potential consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan?

The withdrawal may result in the collapse of the Afghan government and a resurgence of the Taliban. It also raises concerns about the safety and well-being of Afghan translators and other individuals who aided the American military.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Recent positive developments include the dismissal of Giuliani's law license, the defeat of the defund police movement in New York, and the potential for a bipartisan deal on police reform.

• The infrastructure compromise and the creation of a select committee on the January 6 insurrection are seen as significant moments of bipartisanship.

• However, the fragility of these wins and the intensification of hyper-partisanship, as seen with attacks on the military and the spread of anti-vaxxism, pose significant challenges.