Joe Manchin on why Democrats lost the working class, Trump, and polarization

Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has long been one of the most controversial figures in politics. Democrats accused him of blocking progressive priorities, Republicans welcomed his swing votes, and centrists saw him as the last hope for bipartisanship. After years of being branded a “DINO” (Democrat in Name Only), Manchin officially left the Democratic Party in 2024 and registered as an Independent.

In this episode, Kara talks to Manchin about:

Why he voted against President Biden’s Build Back Better Act

His defense of the filibuster and warnings about polarization

His complicated relationship with Donald Trump

The decline of working-class Democrats in West Virginia

Why he believes independents and third parties may be the future of U.S. politics

His new memoir, Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense

Can the middle hold, or is Washington too broken to fix? Manchin argues that America needs leaders willing to put country over party—and that independence might be the only path forward.

0:00 Manchin reacts to the viral internet joke about his book
0:19 Introduction
0:53: Reacting to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and rising polarization
3:17: Sandy Hook, Charlie Kirk, and gun control struggles
4:22 Solutions to political polarization
7:28: Trump's tone and leaderships responsibility
9:05: Political leaders need to tone down rhetoric
11:23: Why social media platforms to be held accountable for polarization
13:17: Why Manchin wanted to run government like a business
15:20: Why Manchin was wrong about the Affordable Care Act
17:50: How West Virginia turned red
22:10: Why Manchin didn't join Trump's cabinet
23:46: Democrats vs. Republicans on the debt and border
28:30: Why the filibuster needs to stay
32:14: Why Manchin didn't vote to get rid of gerrymandering
36:17: Why Congress needs term limits
38:26: Is Trump a king?
40:45: Why West Virginia still backs Trump
42:55: Why America needs a third party
45:57: Can centrist politics survive in America?
48:35: Why Manchin left the Democratic Party
50:53: Which politicians are still centrist
51:37: Final reflections

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