Episode · Interesting Times · 2026-03-19
Books mentioned on White Identity Is Galvanizing the Right | Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
The idea that white people — and white men in particular — face discrimination has become something of an obsession on the American right. It’s a view that my guest this week shares.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Unprotected Class
The Unprotected Class by Jeremy Carl is a contentious political examination focusing on alleged discrimination against white Americans in contemporary culture and institutional spaces.
Discussed“In 2024, you wrote a book called "The Unprotected Class," which is about discrimination against white Americans.”
Where to get it
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Democracy in America
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville is a classic observation of American political and social life in the 1830s that evaluates the triumphs and perils of egalitarian democracy.
Discussed“So there were huge periods of time that we had very low immigration in this country, and if you actually read democracy in America by Tocqueville, he doesn’t mention the word immigrant or immigration even once in that book, the US is 2 percent foreign born at that time.”
Where to get it
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What's the Matter with Kansas?
What's the Matter with Kansas? by Thomas Frank is a political analysis examining the shift of working-class voters toward the Republican Party and the cultural grievances driving conservative populism.
Discussed“I mean, again, the book I’m working on right now has got the working title, what’s the matter with Minnesota. And I chose that a year ago. By the way, listeners, just like you will recognize that as an allusion to Thomas Frank’s book. What’s the matter with Kansas.”
Where to get it
