Professor Sasha Mudd

In this episode, we sit down with philosopher Sasha Mudd to examine the deeper moral currents shaping contemporary politics. Professor Mudd challenges the conventional view of Trumpism as nihilistic chaos, arguing instead that it represents a coherent—if troubling—moral vision that seeks to replace liberal values with hierarchical ones.

Our conversation explores how liberal elites have become disconnected from ordinary people's lives, making core democratic values feel abstract and irrelevant. We discuss the role of technology in fragmenting social bonds, the paradox of fighting authoritarianism while maintaining respect for political opponents, and whether liberal democracy can renew itself without abandoning its fundamental principles.

Professor Mudd also shares her insights on polarization as a "social contagion," the importance of disaggregating the "77 million" Trump voters rather than treating them as a monolith, and why local political engagement may hold the key to democratic renewal. We conclude with discussions of assisted dying and the philosophical question of whether we should aim for happiness or goodness in life.

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