Why Blue and Red No Longer Make Purple
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This is a tale of why Republicans and Democrats can no longer see eye to eye.
Before the election Research Radio host Kasia Broussalian sat down with Jeff Smith, assistant professor of politics at the Milano School for International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy, to discuss the country’s growing political divide, and its implications in the months and years ahead.
Following Representative Todd Akin’s controversial statement about “legitimate rape” in August, much of the media expected the Republican senate nominee from Missouri to give up his election bid. Smith, however, has an interesting take on why representatives like Akin are facing elections in better standing than ever before. With experience as a representative in the Missouri State Senate, as well as his research on campaign politics, Smith sees population movement as one of the main factors in why Akin’s extreme views could be an electoral advantage. You’ll hear why Smith thinks Missouri is a perfect microcosm to discuss the widening divide between the left and the right at the national level. Stay tuned for an election night recap with Jeff Smith.
Research Radio is a New School podcast series that tells stories of academic inquiry at the university. From sustainability to psychology to politics, our faculty and students have been researching pressing social and scientific issues for nearly a century–and now you can listen to their latest findings.