Is U.S. politics melting down or just heating up?

The House

How quickly things change. The 2024 campaign was supposed to be a rematch of the 2020 race, but in a matter of a few weeks, the lagging Democrats have ditched U.S. President Joe Biden as the candidate, crowned Harris — and surged in the polls. Now, they’re set to meet in Chicago for their national convention, with the aim of keeping their momentum going. Guest host Katie Simpson sits down with a Democratic insider to talk about the role governors will play in the new campaign, before two journalists break down what the convention might hold.

Plus — author David R. Samson talks about his book, Our Tribal Future, digging deep into the origins of the “us versus them” mentality, how it pervades our politics today and how humanity may be able to inoculate itself against it.

This episode features the voices of:

• Ofirah Yheskel, director of external affairs, Democratic Governors Association
• Amie Parnes, senior political correspondent, The Hill
• Rob Russo, correspondent, The Economist
• David R. Samson, evolutionary anthropologist, author, Our Tribal Future: How to channel our human instinct into a force for good