The latest episode of MidAtlantic wasn’t an easy one to record. I sat down with Aram Fischer in Oakland, Michael Donahue in Los Angeles, and my London-based friends Steve O’Neill and Dave Smith to grapple with Donald Trump’s decisive victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The mood was heavy. For progressives on both sides of the Atlantic, it feels like a dark moment—one of disillusionment and soul-searching.
It’s hard not to be despondent. Kamala Harris, burdened by years of Democratic complacency, couldn’t deliver in the swing states. Her defeat has exposed a deeper issue: a party disconnected from the struggles of working-class voters. “The idea that Trump has a sweeping mandate is silly,” Aram Fischer said, “but he won where he needed to, and his message resonated. Pain without a solution is a void the Democrats left wide open.”
Michael Donahue lamented the failure of “Bidenomics” as a compelling message. While real economic progress was made, it simply didn’t resonate with people living paycheck to paycheck. “Scraping mold off already moldy bread isn’t enough,” he said. Fischer added that Trump’s simplistic messaging—blaming immigrants for economic struggles—proved more effective than the Democrats’ policy-heavy but uninspiring approach.
A Cabinet Built on Loyalty Over Competence
As we dissected Trump’s early cabinet picks, the sense of foreboding only deepened. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General? RFK Jr. heading Health and Human Services? This isn’t a government—it’s a loyalty club. “It’s a murderers’ row of incompetence, designed to dismantle checks on Trump’s power,” Fischer said. Steve O’Neill agreed, pointing out the stark difference between Trump’s 2016 cabinet—which at least had some veneer of expertise—and the current crop of sycophants.
Dave Smith warned that Trump’s second term might not just be about policy failures—it could be about consolidating power in ways that undermine democratic institutions. “The scary answer,” he said, referencing Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Strongmen, “is that Trump is setting the stage to ensure he can’t be removed from office.” It’s a chilling prospect, one that feels increasingly plausible as Trump fills his administration with yes-men and disruptors.
Keir Starmer’s Competent but Colourless Leadership
Shifting gears to the UK, we examined Keir Starmer’s early days as Prime Minister. Starmer is solid, competent, and—let’s face it—a bit boring. That’s not necessarily a bad thing after years of chaos, but is it enough? “Starmer thrives as the boring technocrat,” O’Neill said, “but where’s the big, transformative policy to excite voters?”
On the other side of the aisle, Kemi Badenoch has stumbled in her new role as Leader of the Opposition. While she’s raised legitimate questions about the government’s policies, her delivery hasn’t impressed. “She looks like the captain of the debate team, thrilled to finally have her moment,” Dave Smith said. “But she’s not connecting with people yet—and that’s a problem.”
The Deafening Silence on Gaza
The discussion took its most heated turn when we addressed the ongoing war in Gaza. I won’t mince words: what’s happening there is ethnic cleansing, and the silence from Western leaders—especially Keir Starmer—is inexcusable. “Ethnic cleansing is happening before our eyes,” I said, “and our leaders are silent, prioritizing geopolitics over ethics.”
Fischer was equally blunt. “If we don’t defend human rights in Gaza, how can we credibly stand for Ukraine or Taiwan?” he asked. The hypocrisy is staggering, and it’s eroding the West’s already shaky claim to being the moral arbiter of the global rules-based order. This is bigger than politics—it’s about humanity. And right now, our leaders are failing.
Finding Escape in Stories and Maps
After such heavy topics, we ended on a lighter note: books. For all our political despair, there’s comfort in a good read. Steve O’Neill is enjoying Stephen Fry’s The Odyssey, a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths. I recently read John Elledge’s The History of the World in 47 Maps and was fascinated by its insights into how borders—like the one between South Sudan and Uganda—are often the result of human folly.
Dave Smith highlighted The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, a sobering look at systemic racism in American housing policies. And Fischer, ever the humorist, turned to the absurdity of 27B/6, a comedy website filled with hilariously bizarre email exchanges. “Sometimes, you just need to laugh at life’s absurdity,” he said.
Where Do We Go From Here?
As I wrapped up the episode, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’re at a crossroads. Both in the U.S. and the UK, the left is facing existential questions about its identity, strategy, and moral compass. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that despair can’t be the end of the story. We have to keep fighting, keep questioning, and—when we need to—find solace in books, maps, and the occasional absurd joke. After all, politics is about more than just power—it’s about people. And people, for all their flaws, are worth fighting for
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