The Populist's Guide to 2020: A New Right and New Left are Rising

by Krystal Ball, Saagar Enjeti

Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti are co-hosts of Rising at The Hill TV, one of the fastest growing political shows in America. Theirs is the only book that fuses the populist right and populist left to explain the rise of the Trump and Sanders movements. The authors curate an essential collection of their biting commentary, stunning predictions, media critiques, and reveal their vision for a working class centered politics. No establishment media or political figure goes unscathed. This book reveals the white hot core of The Hill Rising's meteoric rise in the alternative media space.

We are living through chaotic, nerve-wracking, and occasionally terrifying times, but we hope you will find this book both hopeful and helpful. Nothing has made us more hopeful than our work together on Rising, watching what unfolds, laughing at the absurdities, and joining in our outrage at the often bipartisan rituals of manipulating our fellow citizens and viewing them with contempt. People are often confused by our politics and how much we end up in agreement. Ultimately, we have largely different policy prescriptions and beliefs. However, we do share a central diagnosis of the rot in this country, of how we got to this place, and a deep skepticism of power. It's amazing how far you can get when you start in the same place with a shared understanding of reality. It's a hell of a lot further than the shallow, fake civility politics that the forces of the status-quo say you must embrace-'Keep quiet and hold still while they rip you to shreds.' We take the opposite view. Speak up. Make people uncomfortable. Don't let the "experts" convince you that better isn't possible.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Political Science, Economics, American History, Collections

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2020

About the author

Krystal Marie Ball is an American journalist, politician, and news talk anchor on The Hill's news program Rising with the Hill's Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti. She is also a businesswoman and certified public accountant. She co-hosted MSNBC's afternoon news/talk show The Cycle for the duration of the show's run from June 2012 to July 2015.

She was the Democratic Party nominee for Congress in Virginia's 1st congressional district in the 2010 election.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started watching "Rising with Krystal and Saagar" around the middle of last year and found it quite refreshing and informative compared to mainstream news. This book is an extension of the show. The essays are based on what they've covered in their daily "radars", as well as some new material, each with the main focus being on the current economic and political environment in the U.S. Together they provide a clear explanation of their visions of "economic populism" as the new direction for both parties.
It's an easy read, and though it covers current events and politics it doesn't feel like a news report and isn't bogged down by lengthy annotations. Krystal represents the left, admonishing the media's coverage of Bernie Sanders, the lack of introspection from the Democratic Party since the 2016 election, and their misguided hopes in Russia-gate and impeachment. Saagar represents the right, calling out liberals on their current trend of "woke" virtue signaling and identity politics, but also warning conservatives against worshiping the ideals of "free-market libertarianism" and urging them to remember the working class that helped them win back the White House.
Overall, I find Krystal and Saagar's work engaging, informative and timely. It's a much needed reminder that we do find consensus in many places. We may have different ideas of how to solve the problems America is facing, but we are pretty much unanimous on identifying the sources.

[Aarav Balsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good list of talking points. Strong give-this-to-your-lib-friend energy to shatter their illusions about the Democratic Party or the corporate media class.

Fairly straightforward, easy-to-read, finished in a day.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little substance; some but limited value

This is a collection of on-air segments relating the author’s TV content to book form. At about three pages each, they’re repetitive, perhaps necessarily shallow, and they lack follow-through. For example, there are maybe five pieces decrying how the media has short-changed Yang and Gabbard, but, for instance, none about how to get Americans to agree to higher taxes to fund Medicare for All when, as the authors point out, Americans don’t trust their government. In other words, a lot of sniping about what’s wrong using recycled talking points - which ironically mirrors cable media telling audiences what they already think - without a lot of ideas for progress. I assume this was because they rushed it out for Super Tuesday. It makes you wince to read KB’s takes on Bernie’s multi-racial coalition when Biden has beaten him so thoroughly with black voters so far; makes you wonder what else she’s wrong about. And SE’s position is pretty hard to pin down, which makes you wonder if he really has one.

If you want more substantive and focused ideas about corporate elitism, the conditions of working people, media BS, or what a progressive political agenda might be, go to Matt Taibbi, Chris Hedges, the god Chomsky, or even Utopia for Realists.

Gold star for putting this together. E for effort.

[Camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is thoroughly packed with crucial observations on today's current political climate without the usual technocratic flair of punditry.

Saagar and Krystal do an excellent job of exploring the four central ideas laid out in the book. The concepts of the "Core Rot" of the establishment politics, the eager Media's compliance in maintaining the status quo, why Identity Politics is a losing tactic, and the Theories Of Political Change are all explained with honest insight, and often good humor.

The alternating points of view which showcase establishment woes alongside neglected voter issues that come from both sides of the aisle are woven together in a way that makes for a smoothly fun learning experience that ends way too soon. Even for regular viewers of Rising, the expanded commentary from the selected monologues spread throughout the book hold extra nuggets of wisdom.

And it all ties together neatly at the end. It's sure to leave you feeling validated in your own experiences with the political establishment, as well as motivated to help usher in the new political era of populism.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slapdash, poorly edited compilation of monologues that has its moments, but is also tedious as fuck. I respect Krystal and Saagar’s points of view though their thoughts from 2019 feel somehow incredibly dated with all that has happened this year. Also, Krystal’s hard on for Tulsi Gabbard is insanity and trying to mention her in the same breath as Bernie or Andrew Yang is bonkers. That being said, I enjoyed hearing different views and it definitely leaves a lot to ruminate on in terms of who governments work for and why we don’t hold them more accountable.

[Cody Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a tremendous problem going on in America: There is almost no representation of working class people in government. We thought it was going to be Obama, then we thought it was going to be Trump, then we thought it was going to be Bernie Sanders. Turns out we were wrong every time—the establishment has a much firmer grip on things than we ever thought.

Middle America is suffering from an opioid crisis that has reached epidemic proportions. The jobs have been shipped overseas, the people have moved to the cities in search of work, and the rest has been left to decay. People are so distracted with consumerism lifestyles that they hardly notice. We’re in so much collective debt it’s honestly laughable that we’ll ever get out of it. Why can’t congress find a way to bring jobs back and give people a reason to live? “As a nation, we’ve been chasing the metrics of topline economic growth, while forgetting that human beings need meaning, worth, and community.” Ball and Enjeti continue: “a country with a few prosperous super cities and a vast wasteland of hollowed out towns and small cities is not a success.”

Part of the problem is that the media is no help. The media’s job used to be to report what was important. They are supposed to investigate powerful people and hold them accountable. “Story selection is the most pernicious form of media bias” our authors write. “What they choose to ignore often matters more than what they choose to show you.” The media is supposed to inform the populace of things like, for example, 67,000 people dying from an opioid overdose (2018 CDC numbers.) How are they supposed to do that when they’re too busy yelling at the opposing political party? How can we expect The Washington Post to report honestly when its owned by Jeff Bezos?

The only way out of this mess is a populist movement that actually works. Obama and Trump both made promises, but upon entering the White House they effectively handed the reins over to the career politicians in their respective political parties and let Wall Street continue to run the show. Obama had his chance with the housing crisis of 2008, but ultimately failed, as he ‘bailed out’ the banks, putting millions of dollars into the pockets of corporate bankers. Trump had his chance, but ended up doing the same thing via his Coronavirus relief packages. Bernie came close, but the Democratic elites used Mayor Pete and Amy Klobuchar as pawns on the political chess board in order to stuff him and propel Joe Biden to victory. They did the same in 2016 when they rigged the game against him in favor of Hillary Clinton. All the while, everyone at the tops of the political and economic structures in this country have continued to grow rich and wealthy while the rest of the people suffer. Is there anybody out there who can break though the oligarchical stranglehold of the powerful people in Washington and Wall Street and fight back? Who will come along next and give the populace of this once great nation a real shot at change?

[Anthony Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krystal and Saagar host a show called The Rising with The Hill. I regularly watch clips from their show and have found them to be enthusiastic, thoughtful, and prescient guides to discerning our political times. Krystal leans left and Saagar leans right which makes for an interesting and thought-provoking show. They have a lot of agreement for people on different sides in part because of the populist stream they've identified in both parties. The book reads quickly and captures the wit and humor of the authors. On the down side, the book already feels a bit dated given Biden's dramatic comeback in the Democratic Primary and the Coronavirus, but if you want to get a good sense of politics in the second half of 2019, this book is as good as any IMO.

[Taylor Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a student of comparative politics and American public policy I struggle to find voices in the media that do anything but push partisan dogma. Getting to the root of any issue let alone actually talking about the issues that affect the average American outside the political realm is almost impossible to find. As a student of history at first, I am weary of populist campaigns as they can turn into fear mongering and racial scapegoating fast as seen in President Donald Trumps rhetoric—— Yet populism done Krystal and Saagar style brings out the best in the American people bringing together the best parts of the Left and Right, uplifting the voices of America’s working class. This book provides the specific language needed to accurately critique the Corporate Media and Elite Classes, Americans are tired and anger and young Saagar and Krystal are the voice we are all searching for!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book outlining populism through core rot, media, identity, and theories of change. Both left and right views are given consideration, and many points follow from the hill rising show which the authors are co-anchors of. Outstanding primer, would definitely recommend to anyone dissatisfied with government prioritizing a few over many.

[Quentin Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have discovered Krystal and Saagar on Rising and I have been enjoying their analysis since then. I believe in their vision and I follow them everyday with their show Breaking points (which I recommend).

[Samantha England · Rating 3 out of 5]

just exploring my options as we wallow into another four years of biden or worse

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing af

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brutally honest. A great read discussing the core rot of centrism, corporatism, and establishment within both parties. It discusses theories of change for 2020 candidates and moving forward. It also discusses why identity politics and main stream media are total dog shit. Very good read & highly recommended.

[Mathiasquackenbush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tired of being locked into a two-party status quo that seems to leave us with no good options? Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti (whose daily show "Rising" by The Hill I highly recommend you check out on Youtube) provide a resounding call for not just one but both of our parties to reconnect to relevance for the working class, promising the tantalizing possibility of an actually-rich and substantive political discourse centered on how our government can best function for the benefit of all Americans. What a concept, right?!

Despite an unorthodox format and structure, this short book was chock-full of readable, cogent, and refreshing reflections inspired by the 2019 phase of the 2020 democratic primary campaign but more relevant than ever going forward. The book is divided into 4 categories with alternating pieces by Krystal and Saagar, on the topics of:
-The corruption and "rot" at the core of our political system
-The obvious corporate bias and decreasing relevance of the traditional cable news media, and their attempts to gaslight those who point out this obvious development
-The bankruptcy and emptiness of identity politics that leaves out class, and with it the issues substantive to most Americans' lives.
-The oft-ignored role of differing theories of political change in explaining the rift in the Democratic party

Things I learned:

-In terms of class interests, most Americans hold more in common than different. The left's overreach in pushing "woke" cultural changes on the electorate, even in the context of advocating for class interests, will continue to make it extremely vulnerable to a Right that combines cultural conservatism with advocating for government programs to protect and strengthen the poor and the middle class, rather than the prevailing libertarian orthodoxy. This was demonstrated in the 2019 British labor party election loss- the conservatives were able to win big because they made concessions on climate and vowed to protect the National Health Service- though the Labor party's waffling on Brexit also had an impact.

-Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris's campaigns show that it doesn't work to try to please everybody. There's simply no way to straddle the line between pro- and anti-establishment. Tulsi Gabbard's complete ostracism and smearing, attempts to ignore and then sneer at Bernie Sanders and his movement, and Andrew Yang's minimization by the corporate media show that regardless of specifics of ideology, policy, or identity, anybody who advocates credibly for significant changes to the economic status quo will be persona non grata on cable news.

-The biggest distinction between pro and anti-establishment candidates (including between Bernie and Warren) and their supporters is theory of change. The idea that significant changes to the lives for working people can come just from bipartisan cooperation and incremental bureacratic lever-pulling ignores the considerable economic forces invested in stasis. "...there is zero doubt in my mind that Warren would play the game the best. She's brilliant. She knows what to do. But what if that's not enough? Not enough to combat a climate crisis, and a white nationalist crisis, and an automation crisis. What if the idea of working together for change with Mitch McConnell is more of an unworkable fantasy than democratizing power through a political revolution? Bernie's theory of change may not be 'practical,' but it may be the best shot we've got."- Krystal Ball, p. 200

-Democrats in Kentucky won the governor's race in 2019 not because of, but in spite of the impeachment obsession on the part of the party leadership. Their campaign centered three core economic issues: healthcare, education, and union rights. In fact, it was the Republican Matt Bevins who was "clinging to Washington," focusing on his relationship with Trump, the impeachment, and trying to use the "socialism" smear by tying Beshear to AOC and Bernie. Beshear's focus on how Bevins insulted and hurt the working class drove an increase in turnout in the working class coal-country in eastern Kentucky, and in the face of this campaign Bevins' smears fell short. This is the exact opposite of how neoliberal democrats have been focusing on attacking Trump, with their emphasis instead on his outrageous tweets and his assaults on the "norms and guardrails" of the American system. Beshear's strategy is how the Democrats will win back the midwestern swing states against Trump, and they ignore it at all of our peril.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique and entirely necessary look at how traditional American politics are crumbling in front of the mainstream media's blissfully ignorant eyes. Biggest problem is that it's mostly centered on the Democratic Primary and extremely "of this exact moment" to the point where certain takes already feel stale or dated. Second biggest problem is that it's a series of pre-published essays and transcripts of YouTube monologues the authors have already written and said. Still, knew I'd enjoy this - seeking out my own echo chamber in book form now, I guess - not good! Regardless, I came for Bernie Bro Krystal Ball, who's all over my Twitter feed and whose chapters I could have written versions of myself, having heard (and made) so many similar left-based arguments in the last year or two. Naturally it was the other author, self-identifying Republican Saagar Enjeti, whose essays made me reflect and re-think and also wonder what the hell his actual politics are. (They seem to boil down to, "the Republican Party needs to move to the left, lest the Democrats start to actually win things.") I mean I read a hundred pages this guy wrote and couldn't articulate what policies he wants to see enacted. Anyway, solid book, important takes, and you should read it before it's completely irrelevant in like six months.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reads like a series of blog posts, each one scratching at the surface of an interesting point, but not providing any analysis. Most chapters start with some debatable premise, and the authors presume that's true. Then the authors draw conclusions based on the premise without much support. I am not familiar with The Rising or the authors prior to reading this book, but I assume that most of the themes are what gets their fan base excited.

As an example of a debatable premise, a chapter on Pete Buttigieg assumes that the (1) consulting firm McKinsey does evil work and (2) people who worked for McKinsey are complicit in the evil. There are interesting points here--when is an employee responsible for the sins of the company? But those are not explored. McKinsey is assumed to be bad, and so everything Buttigieg does to boast about his experience at McKinsey is bad.

There is also a lack of support and logic for many conclusions. In the chapter titled, "White Feminists Melt Down over AOC's Bernie Endorsement," the author names only one "white feminist" -- the director of academic affairs at Columbia Journalism School. Hard to buy into that chapter based on that sole example.

There are some interesting points brought up. Media and politicians frequently ignore true working class issues. Corporate interests and control of media is problematic. Media and politicians cater to the "creative class," rather than the "working class." But the book is not organized in any way to discuss those issues. And no solutions or steps are provided for individuals to address those issues (except perhaps to vote for Bernie Sanders, Andrew Yang, Tulsi Gabbard, or some anti-establishment candidate).

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

They're all new and unknown to the ignorant mind of the reader so you have to buy your own Krystal Ball to understand what is going on in 2020. Or maybe the groups are not that new, and this is a dim Krystal Ball trying to ride her own Populist wave and sell some TV show.

[Danny Magallanes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to like it but they paint the political landscape in a black and white lens.

[Mark Noack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this book five stars because it is, for the most part, well written, very readable and interesting; and it also presents something of a framework through which we might begin to bring together historically isolated factions within the working class in their common interest, while agreeing to disagree on less essential issues that have separated us.

That said, I don't agree with much of what is presented here. It is very easy to present a pretty picture of a country where families can count on a home, a good job with enough income to support the family on one income (what if they don't want that?), and healthcare, education etc. if they are willing to work hard. (Why? This is the richest country in the world. Why shouldn't everyone have the money and the leisure to pursue intellectual, artistic, health oriented pursuits etc. instead of working to exhaustion while the children of the rich are off on African safaris?) But, more to the point, this has never been that country, which, for the reader goes to the problem of language. The phrase "liberal coastal elites" is a false linguistic wedge used by the ruling class to divide the working class geographically and racially. And it has been very effective. The coastal elites are neither liberal (middle America polls more progressive, when asked about specific issues,) nor Democrats. Many, possibly most, are traditionally conservative Republicans. Most of the actual voters in these cities are working class, many of whom work in the service sector, and many of whom are trapped in their current status and would love to have a nice home in a small town in Kansas. Is Kansas ready for them? There may well be more working class voters on the east and west coasts than in the rest of the country, so the phrase, above, which appears at least twice in this text, calls into question whether the politically "right" position stated in the book is either serious, or well thought out. You can't simply gloss over systemic racism while using it's language. Your thesis is right on, but you are not there yet.

Another point of language, for the reader: Where you see "libertarianism," substitute anarcho-capitalism. Libertarianism, historically, is a left anti-capitalist philosophy, which was hijacked in the US in the 1980s by the Koch brothers takeover of the Libertarian party; so we must now distinguish between traditional anarch0-syndicalist libertarian and the opportunistic individualism popular in the US.

Those criticisms aside, you should read this book and put some thought into it. It is hard to believe some reviewers stating simply that this is either preaching to the converted, or that they are viewers of Rising, and already agree. There are two very different philosophies represented here, attempting to help us to listen to each other and find common ground. Pay attention.

[Ryan Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revisiting this work 5 years later, it’s now more apparent than ever that what was presented in this book as a rising “populist right” did not exist at the time of publishing and does not exist in any substantive way today in the United States. The sole Republican U.S. Senator who even rhetorically supports a worker’s right to organize for better conditions (Josh Hawley, Missouri) led the Republican efforts in the Senate to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election just months after the publishing of this book. Nearly all of Hawley’s ilk at all levels of government, whether traditional neoconservatives or self-styled economic populists, contributed to the efforts to move against the popular will in 2020, and I would challenge anyone to show me principled, substantive wins for working people championed by the elected “populist right” in the years since this book was published. To the extent the Biden administration accomplished anything legislatively for American workers (American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act), it did so *despite* opposition from Republican lawmakers, not because of the populist right.

The thinly-veiled xenophobia and racism held by Saagar has been exposed since the publishing of this book, particularly in the wake of the second Trump administration’s wanton, unconstitutional, and extrajudicial kidnappings, incarcerations and deportations of permanent residents over the past few weeks. If folks like Saagar, Tucker Carlson, and Steve Bannon are some of the faces of modern right-wing populism, then this movement exists for no other reason than to capitalize on the failures of the Democratic Party by sheep-dogging disaffected voters (who might otherwise be amenable to progressive politics) into the Republican Party using the language of economic populism, all while supporting policies that protect corporate interests.

Regardless, I’ve always appreciated Krystal’s commentary and her efforts to provide an accessible on-ramp for disaffected Americans to learn about progressive and leftist politics. I remain as unsure today as I was in 2020 about the effectiveness of co-hosting shows like Rising and now Breaking Points with someone like Saagar, as it implies to the viewer the equal footing of Saagar’s phony populism with her own leftist socioeconomic populist messaging (which represents a very real constituency across America as consistently reflected in polling). Regardless, Krystal Ball has stuck to her progressive roots through the years and isn’t afraid to offer substantive critiques to both Democratic and Republican politicians and operatives.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you follow electoral politics like I do, this is a breath of fresh air. The co-hosts of Rising, a youtube show by The Hill, bring you into an alternate universe (aka the real world) where average people are far more concerned with rent and healthcare than they are about Russia-gate and tweet drama.

In this book there is a curated selection of their video essays in typed form. While I have been an avid viewer since their show's early start (found the show entirely by surprise and was instantly hooked), there is something special about being able to read words. I digest ideas not only in audio format but by reading it. That was great - as was the added commentary.

It is a book about the 2020 election and centered around the news stories of the past 6 months. It came out just a month ago-ish and already 4 prominent candidates have dropped out and the rise of billionaire Bloomberg have fundamentally re-shaped the Democratic race... HOWEVER. A lot of what is written about Pete or Klob or Trump or the Media still stand.

A good, accessible, and quick read. Love them. Tune in. They have an amazing show lined up for you today.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Repudiating both tribes to reclaim a legitimate center
If you believe that either the liberals or the conservatives have all the answers, and that everything would be fine if only your tribe could run the show, then you may not like this book, but you should read it.
If you are able to see that both “Liberals” and “Conservatives” have in many ways gone off the rails, then this book will help confirm that suspicion and clarify your thinking.
Bell and Enjeti have very different political perspectives, but both are willing to discern the points upon which the other tribe happens to be right, as well as to criticize their own for its current follies.
This slender volume is no literary masterpiece. Two busy young broadcast journalists have pasted together a collection of their more durable on-air opinion pieces, prefaced by new content that reinforces their continuing pertinence.
The biggest reason to read this book is that, once today's political idiots have on both sides have finished burning themselves out, these young “radical centrists” represent this nation's best hope for the future – if we're lucky.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. I am a big fan of Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti and their YouTube daily program The Rising Om HillTV. Such an interesting duo both pledged to the reigniting of working msn/woman democracy in America. One from a progressive Democrat point of view and the other from a progressive Republican point of view. Both sharing the goals of a restoration of worker power through Unions and Universal Medical care. They both abhor the attempts to created segmented American (African - American, Hispanic-Americans. They both see this as a way to divert attention from our economic class struggles and the failure of our political parties to reduce the disparity in economic well being. Saagar originally supported Trump but sees Trump now with no purpose other than to get re-elected. Sees Trump now as fully co-opted by Republican values. Krystal seems to have been a Bernie supporter.

The book is selections from The Rising, organized by topic with a great topic link at the end.

It is a quick read about 210 pages. I read in about six hours.

End

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clarion call of warning, as most media outlets do not cover things stated in this book, and even after Bernie Sanders won Nevada, people were either freaking out on MSNBC or going "I don't understand this country anymore" on Twitter. This book is an attempt to reach those people who aren't already watchers of the authors' show Rising from the Hill on YouTube with the perspective of what the authors are seeing and then where the country goes from here.

The book is divided into four segments or sections: Core Rot, Media, Identity, and Theories of Change.

I'm a regular watcher of the authors' show Rising from the Hill on YouTube. If you aren't yet a watcher, each chapter has a snippet of introduction and then sometimes what I recognize as an essay that was used as a Radar (monologue, or their viewpoint on current topics) for the show.

I think Saagar could get me converted to his brand of conservatism, as explained in the book.......

[J]

For years I have considered the Democratic and Republican parties to be without significant differences. I believe that more strongly after reading this.

Ball and Enjeti give a much-needed dismantling of hollow-as-a-drum-but-twice-as-loud identity politics. And they make a unified defense of a needed politics that is neither Republican nor Democrat but supports individual and family thriving, not corporatism.

This book very quickly will be a history book, since it takes the currently evolving 2020 race as the source of examples for their argument. If you didn't follow the Democratic primary campaigns of Gabbard, Warren, Booker, and others, you will still understand but possibly won't connect as solidly as you would otherwise.

The book really is a collection of essays without the feel of a true book, but this only slightly weakens the overall coherence which they mostly maintain.

[David Mario Mendiola · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit disappointing. I still don't really understand what a populist is. Maybe they assumed I'm not an idiot. Well, you gotta lose some stars for that blunder. The book is pieced together from their articles/podcasts, so sometimes it was clear, and sometimes I was lost what the point was.

They believe Obama/Biden steered the Democratic party away from the working class towards elitists. They could have developed the background more; what decisions did they make to do that? They might list them out parenthetically, but why did he make those decisions? Did he view it as abandoning the working class? Again, could be that I'm missing the obvious.

My rating might be a bit harsh. My notes are a pretty balanced mix of "interesting" and "???". So not a waste of time, but my expectations for an organized cohesive explanation of the "populist" viewpoint were much higher.

[Wilson Smith]

I’m a relatively new viewer of Ball and Enjeti’s morning show, but it’s already become daily viewing for me. As someone who’s pretty politically engaged on a day to day level, this didn’t necessarily tell me much I didn’t already know. But it’s a handy guide to the emerging consensus among people on the ground - both liberal and conservative - that the way things have been done up till now no longer works for the vast majority of Americans, and how only those with political visions that speak to that sense of righteous grievance have a future with any sort of constituency. This is the kind of book I’ll buy for my less politically active family members so that they can hear the sorts of sensible takes that are almost entirely absent from mainstream media discourse these days.

[Jesse Pamintuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides an excellent basis for understanding the emergence and legitimacy of populism/socialism in this day and age. Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti collaborate harmoniously as they give their riff on the establishment- thematically organized in sections of corruption, media bias, and identitarian politics. The format is quite interesting: a compilation of essays. This makes it quite easy to pick up and read on any issue. As someone who is interested in solidifying their foundation in politics, I'd recommend this book to someone who looks for a contemporary commentary that truly reflects our reality.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at some of the growing political ideologies on the left and the right, from two people who view themselves as left- and right-populists. Most of book is short essays (a few pages long) on various topics written by one author or the other, but most of these essays felt like their short news segments on Rising, reused, with minimal additional comment and commentary. While these segments made for good television, in book format it felt lacking—there was certainly more space for nuance and further depth, especially when some of the points they were making were genuinely interesting and unique… but just surface-level.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Title for Once is actually applicable to the body of work. Both Krystal and Saagar understand politics as it applies to the under 40 crowd than any pundit I've seen on Corporate News today. I know they think under 30, but really there is a great deal of crossover in the next decade, of people so burdened with student debt, medical debt, marginalized work, sub par pay, outrageous insurance costs and no family or comfortable life in sight. Some of the over 40 crowd needs to open their eyes and read this before its too late. I think this work is a timely snapshot of politics today.