In our increasingly fractured political culture, I’m often asked how we arrived at a moment when so few powerful figures ever seem to face consequences. From the unresolved questions surrounding the Epstein files to the normalization of corruption at the highest levels of government, the sense that the rules no longer apply evenly has only deepened public distrust.
I recently talked with former Rep. Adam Kinzinger to try to make sense of the current landscape and explore what the future of US political parties might look like. A onetime rising star in the Republican Party who ultimately broke with its leadership, served on the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and then decided to step away from Congress altogether, Kinzinger hasn’t been shy about sharing his criticisms of both parties.
In a wide-ranging conversation, we talked about why Kinzinger believes it will be a long time before the Republican Party returns to the politics of figures like George W. Bush and John McCain, how a culture of grievance and conspiracy has reshaped the right, and why purity politics are becoming increasingly dangerous to both parties. We also dove into how exhausted Americans can step back from the chaos and still find ways to stay engaged and push for better politics.
Press play to hear the full conversation.
