Jon Wiener: From The Nation magazine, the show "Start Making Sense" is hosted by Jon Wiener. A discussion took place on how Donald Trump returned to the White House, attributing part of the reason to the long-term Republican strategy around "culture wars," which has been building for decades. The history of these cultural conflicts extends back at least a century, with the Scopes Trial in 1925 being particularly significant due to its focus on the teaching of evolution, an issue that remains contentious today. Adam Hochschild is set to elaborate further.
Initially, Jon Wiener highlighted a crucial upcoming election on April 1, 2025, in Wisconsin for a new Supreme Court Justice. Notably, Elon Musk is investing significant funds in this race. John Nichols provided insights into the situation.
John Nichols commented on the frigid weather in Wisconsin, where the election is taking place. In 2023, a liberal majority was secured on the state’s Supreme Court, marking a historic shift. A new election is now imminent to fill the seat of Ann Walsh Bradley, a liberal incumbent not seeking reelection. If the conservatives win this seat, they could regain control of the court, impacting key issues like abortion and voting rights. The court’s decisions influence the state’s political balance, pivotal in presidential elections due to Wisconsin’s close vote counts in recent years.
Jon Wiener inquired about the potential implications of this Supreme Court position and its effect on Wisconsin politics. John Nichols noted that despite Trump’s narrow win in 2024, the state remains highly divided, reflected in the reelection of liberal Senator Tammy Baldwin. The 2023 Democratic success prompted intervention against gerrymandering, resulting in fairer legislative maps and potential Democratic gains in 2026. Consequently, conservatives are keen to reclaim the court to secure a favorable political landscape.
Jon Wiener discussed the current candidates, Susan Crawford, a liberal county judge, and Brad Schimel, a former State Attorney General representing the Republicans. Elon Musk’s involvement sees his group, Building America’s Future, investing significantly in ad time to support Schimel. John Nichols anticipated further substantial funding, both from Musk and other donors like Richard Uihlein, emphasizing the high stakes of this election due to national interest and significant financial inputs from both sides.
In response to concerns about whether TV ads effectively change votes, John Nichols argued these ads primarily aim to suppress voter turnout through negativity. Instead, grassroots organization, as championed by Ben Wikler of the Democratic Party, proves pivotal in motivating Democratic and progressive voters to participate actively, countering the impact of high-budget advertising.
Jon Wiener noted the potential strategic disadvantage for Republicans due to Musk’s unpopularity, according to a YouGov poll indicating disapproval among independents. John Nichols emphasized that while Trump’s association with Musk is potentially problematic, the influx of right-wing money in Wisconsin could backfire if perceived negatively by voters, especially if framed as billionaire influence undermining democratic processes.
Turning to broader cultural battles, the interview examined the role of the Scopes Trial within the historical context of America’s cultural conflicts. Adam Hochschild discussed how societal changes and cultural division manifested in the 1925 Scopes Trial, with parallels to present-day cultural clashes over educational content. The trial’s legacy continues to resonate through ongoing debates over educational curriculum in states like Florida, where recent legislative battles mirror past controversies over topics like slavery, evolution, and climate change.
Finally, the discussion highlighted the trial’s enduring influence, noting how anti-evolutionary sentiment persisted for decades and remains contested in some educational settings. Hochschild emphasized that today’s cultural disputes might lack the civility of those from a century ago but are similarly rooted deeply in American political conflict and societal transformation.
