S1E45 - Bruce Cain - Back to Compromise

At the time of our recording, Trump had just received his third indictment for his role in the January 6th insurrection.  To give us some greater perspective on the state of politics in our fragile democracy, we turned to Stanford political science professor Bruce Cain who is one of our nation's great political analysts.  Cain reflected on Trump’s many self-made challenges, the options before the Republican and Democratic parties, the relevance of polling, the vulnerabilities of our democratic system, and ideas to help us get our system of governance back on track.  On top of all that impedes our politics, reacting to changes in the climate heightens our need for timely action.  We are in a perfect storm.  And yet, there is hope.  Cain’s latest book reflects on how we will likely find ways to decarbonize in the long run, even if we don’t move fast enough to avoid the inevitable disruption that climate change will bring in the short run.  Cain argues that deniers change their tune when they experience extreme weather effects first hand.  He adds that, “...ultimately it is a cultural thing.”  Our education, our religions and our journalism will be where we find ways to combat the forces that manipulate us.  We’ll have to find our way back to political compromise, for that is how James Madison envisioned our system must function.  Join us. 

Biography

Bruce Cain is an expert in U.S. politics, particularly the politics of California and the American West. A pioneer in computer-assisted redistricting, he is a prominent scholar of elections, political regulation and the relationships between lobbyists and elected officials. His latest book, Under Fire and Under Water, covers wildfire, flooding, and the fight for climate resilience in the American West.

Prior to joining Stanford where he is director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West, and Charles Louis Ducommun Professor in Humanities and Sciences and Professor of Political Science, Professor Cain was director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley from 1990-2007 and executive director of the UC Washington Center from 2005-2012. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2000 and has won awards for his research (Richard F. Fenno Prize, 1988), teaching (Caltech, 1988 and UC Berkeley, 2003) and public service (Zale Award for Outstanding Achievement in Policy Research and Public Service, 2000). He is currently working on state regulatory processes and stakeholder involvement in the areas of water, energy and the environment.

Stanford University Profile Page

Conversation recorded on August 4, 2023.