The Highbrow and Lowbrow of the Trump Era

Hosted by Michelle CottleRoss Douthat and Carlos Lozada

Is Donald Trump the chicken or the egg? On the cusp of his second administration, the hosts of “Matter of Opinion” dissect whether the president-elect is a cause or symptom of trends in popular culture.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of their conversation. To listen to this episode, click the play button below.

The Highbrow and Lowbrow of the Trump Era

Trump culture has been renewed for a second season.

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Carlos Lozada: So we have talked a lot in our recent conversations about the 2024 election, what a new Trump administration might bring, how the Democrats need to rebrand themselves, etc. In other words: a lot about politics and policies and parties. Today we’re going to do something a little bit different, and that is we’re going to think about the relationship between politics and culture — in particular, how the Trump era is felt in our art and our ideas, the things we read and watch and consume.

So I’m hoping we can start by examining a few cultural artifacts of the Trump era so far, especially now that the Trump era has officially been renewed and extended — for a new season.