Ep 28. The Circus of Politics: Mark McKinnon's Take on our Polarized Political Landscape

In this episode, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with friend and colleague, Mark McKinnon to delve into an array of pivotal issues impacting the current political landscape. They kick off by addressing the wider challenges posed by political polarization within society. Their dialogue includes McKinnon's insightful observations from his address at Trinity University's Policymaker Speaker Series, and he shares his musings on the unpredictability shrouding the upcoming elections. The duo particularly laments the erosion of bipartisan cooperation and trust in institutions, citing historical instances of cross-party collaboration that seem a distant memory amidst today's toxic stew of partisanship. This shift has engendered stark ideological divides, further hindering legislative progress in Congress, and both Aldrete and McKinnon express concern over how this atmosphere is poisoning civic culture and governance, potentially paving the way for autocratic tendencies.

They explore the profound effects of local journalism's decline and the rise of algorithm-driven platforms on public access to information, alongside a pitch by McKinnon for a new documentary that would uncover the influence of Gen Z on electoral politics, addressing their political tendencies and the cultural divides that may result in electoral apathy.

The episode also doesn't shy away from tackling the contentious issue of immigration, highlighting former President George W. Bush's pro-immigrant policies juxtaposed against the current administration's struggles and the tactical maneuvers involving immigrants by state leaders.

To wrap up the episode, McKinnon reflects on his acclaimed Showtime series "The Circus" and discusses the imperative of civic engagement and political involvement, while also giving listeners a rare glimpse into his personal life and upcoming projects in Hollywood and beyond.

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