‘Reddit Posts Are the Median Voter’ | The Ezra Klein Show

I think there's a theory of the case I think there's a theory of the case here, and I'm not saying this is true. here, and I'm not saying this is true. here, and I'm not saying this is true. I'm just presenting it as a possibility. I'm just presenting it as a possibility. I'm just presenting it as a possibility. Is it part of the brand problem for the Is it part of the brand problem for the Is it part of the brand problem for the Democrats has been excessive Democrats has been excessive Democrats has been excessive conscientiousness. conscientiousness. conscientiousness. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> That this is the party of essentially >> That this is the party of essentially >> That this is the party of essentially kind of like schoolmarm kind of like schoolmarm kind of like schoolmarm tisk-tiskin. Now, that's extremely tisk-tiskin. Now, that's extremely tisk-tiskin. Now, that's extremely gendered. I want to be very clear about gendered. I want to be very clear about gendered. I want to be very clear about that. Um and I think a lot of the that. Um and I think a lot of the that. Um and I think a lot of the conversation about Platner on both sides conversation about Platner on both sides conversation about Platner on both sides of the very intense polarized debate of the very intense polarized debate of the very intense polarized debate within the Democratic coalition is very within the Democratic coalition is very within the Democratic coalition is very gendered. That said, gendered. That said, gendered. That said, I think it's you know, there is a kind I think it's you know, there is a kind I think it's you know, there is a kind of post-COVID hangover of the sort of of post-COVID hangover of the sort of of post-COVID hangover of the sort of idea that the Democrats are just this idea that the Democrats are just this idea that the Democrats are just this like again, this kind of like like again, this kind of like like again, this kind of like quick to cancel, tell you what you can quick to cancel, tell you what you can quick to cancel, tell you what you can and can't do, kicking people out who and can't do, kicking people out who and can't do, kicking people out who talk a little salty, et cetera. talk a little salty, et cetera. talk a little salty, et cetera. I think there's something to that. I I think there's something to that. I I think there's something to that. I think there's a particularly something think there's a particularly something think there's a particularly something to that with a certain subset of to that with a certain subset of to that with a certain subset of cross-pressured swing voters. cross-pressured swing voters. cross-pressured swing voters. And maybe this is a kind of antidote to And maybe this is a kind of antidote to And maybe this is a kind of antidote to it. it. it. >> Yeah, maybe maybe none of this is >> Yeah, maybe maybe none of this is >> Yeah, maybe maybe none of this is negative for him.

negative for him. negative for him. >> Right. And that's like the I had a post >> Right. And that's like the I had a post >> Right. And that's like the I had a post People have joined me on this joke. The People have joined me on this joke. The People have joined me on this joke. The Reddit posts are the median voter, Reddit posts are the median voter, Reddit posts are the median voter, right? That's the joke people have made. right? That's the joke people have made. right? That's the joke people have made. >> When I saw the Reddit post, I was like, >> When I saw the Reddit post, I was like, >> When I saw the Reddit post, I was like, that's a asset. that's a asset. that's a asset. Right? I don't have to agree with him or Right? I don't have to agree with him or Right? I don't have to agree with him or like them to be like, that's a political like them to be like, that's a political like them to be like, that's a political asset. asset. asset. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean, this is a a line I I I say all >> I mean, this is a a line I I I say all >> I mean, this is a a line I I I say all the time, but and it's something I need the time, but and it's something I need the time, but and it's something I need to like spin out into an essay, but the to like spin out into an essay, but the to like spin out into an essay, but the personality type of the left is personality type of the left is personality type of the left is bureaucratic, and the personality type bureaucratic, and the personality type bureaucratic, and the personality type of the right is autocratic. of the right is autocratic. of the right is autocratic. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And and those are failures, right? The >> And and those are failures, right? The >> And and those are failures, right? The The The The left is another version of The The The left is another version of The The The left is another version of it that I use is the left is over-formed it that I use is the left is over-formed it that I use is the left is over-formed by institutions, and the right is by institutions, and the right is by institutions, and the right is under-formed by institutions. under-formed by institutions. under-formed by institutions. >> And you can imagine a world where >> And you can imagine a world where >> And you can imagine a world where Platner loses Platner loses Platner loses or doesn't win by as much as he could or doesn't win by as much as he could or doesn't win by as much as he could have, and the answer is simply like, you have, and the answer is simply like, you have, and the answer is simply like, you kind of almost got it right with him. kind of almost got it right with him. kind of almost got it right with him. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, you just pick somebody like a >> You know, you just pick somebody like a >> You know, you just pick somebody like a little too under-formed, right? You little too under-formed, right? You little too under-formed, right? You don't want the straight-A student, and don't want the straight-A student, and don't want the straight-A student, and you don't want the kid smoking pot in you don't want the kid smoking pot in you don't want the kid smoking pot in the parking lot. You need something sort the parking lot. You need something sort the parking lot. You need something sort You you [laughter] need something sort You you [laughter] need something sort You you [laughter] need something sort of in between there. But of in between there. But of in between there. But but but but the question is really we're but but but the question is really we're but but but the question is really we're going to see a test of whether or not going to see a test of whether or not going to see a test of whether or not this works in of whether or not this this works in of whether or not this this works in of whether or not this works in Maine. It's going to be very works in Maine. It's going to be very works in Maine. It's going to be very very interesting to totally to see how very interesting to totally to see how very interesting to totally to see how that plays out.