The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Was the cruelty the point?

Vox's Sean Illing talks with Adam Serwer, whose new book The Cruelty Is the Point documents the role of cruelty in American politics, the way it was weaponized by the GOP during the Trump administration, and how these tactics could continue to shape the future of America.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox
Guest: Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer), staff writer, The Atlantic
References: 


The Cruelty is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America by Adam Serwer (One World; 2021)


"The Cruelty Is the Point" by Adam Serwer (The Atlantic; Oct. 3, 2018)


"The Great Awokening" by Matt Yglesias (Vox; Apr. 1, 2019)


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This episode was made by: 


Producer: Erikk Geannikis


Editor: Amy Drozdowska


VP, Vox Audio: Liz Kelly Nelson


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The Gray Area with Sean Illing takes a philosophy-minded look at culture, technology, politics, and the world of ideas. Each week, we invite a guest to explore a question or topic that matters. From the the state of democracy, to the struggle with depression and anxiety, to the nature of identity in the digital age, each episode looks for nuance and honesty in the most important conversations of our time. New episodes drop every Monday.