Host Roifield Brown engages with Ira Shapiro, the author of “The Betrayal,” to dissect the legacy of Senator Mitch McConnell. The discussion delves into McConnell’s significant yet contentious 17-year tenure as the top Republican in the U.S. Senate, a period marked by strategic mastery and polarizing partisanship. Shapiro, offering insights from his comprehensive examination of McConnell’s career, paints a portrait of a politician whose actions have indelibly shaped American politics.

The episode explores McConnell’s complex persona, acknowledging his unparalleled skill in navigating parliamentary procedure while critiquing his staunchly partisan approach. The conversation underscores McConnell’s influential role in obstructing the Obama presidency and facilitating the Trump administration’s judicial appointments, framing these actions as pivotal moments that define his legacy.

The episode is an in-depth analysis of McConnell’s first major political manoeuvre against campaign finance reform, highlighting his enduring impact on the role of money in politics. The episode also addresses McConnell’s strategic decisions during key moments, such as the blocking of Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination, illustrating his prioritisation of party over country.

The podcast provides a nuanced perspective on McConnell’s legacy, balancing admiration for his political acumen with critical scrutiny of his partisanship and its implications for American democracy.

Quotes

1. “I have a sneaking admiration for Mitch McConnell. I think he is that Machiavellian master of the dark arts of parliamentary procedure. And there is something, even though I dislike every one of his policies, I admire him for that.”
2. “My problem is that Senator McConnell has functioned totally as a partisan. Our system is a little different and complicated because it requires some degree of minority cooperation.”
3. “He tarnished and diminished the Obama presidency through his obstruction. He made the Trump presidency through his ramming through of the Supreme Court nominees after blocking Merrick Garland’s nomination.”
4. “The first and continuing work of McConnell has been to maximize the power of money in politics, and he was very successful at it.”

Further Reading

1. “The Betrayal: How Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans Abandoned America” by Ira Shapiro

• This book provides an in-depth look at McConnell’s tenure and his impact on American politics, focusing on his actions during key moments and their implications for democracy. You can find it here on Amazon.

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