Nicholas Kristof: Readers Respond to My Column on Trump Voters

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In this episode, the columnist Nicholas Kristof argues that Democrats should focus their criticism on Donald Trump instead of the people who are voting for him.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of the audio piece. To listen to this piece, click the play button below.

Nicholas Kristof: Readers Respond to My Column on Trump Voters

Nicholas Kristof responds to readers who disagree with him.

Nicholas Kristof: Usually column writing is a one-way street, and we pontificate and tell the world what we think. Instead, today I’ve invited some people who really disagreed with a column to speak up and set me right.

I want to persuade readers. I want to win them over on issues that I care deeply about. That’s why I am a columnist. And I think I’m more likely to win people over if I treat their criticism seriously and engage with them. And that’s what I’m trying to do right now.

Let me tell you about my column first. Bill Clinton gave me the idea, actually. I thought he gave a terrific speech at the Democratic National Convention, saying that Democrats should engage people whom they disagree with.