Hanging by a Chad

Chloe and Emma discuss how Aaron Sorkin’s the West Wing went from an alternate-world liberal consolation prize in the early 2000s, to playbook for the Obama White House, and now back again in the age of Trump.They also talk through what might happen if (when?) Trump contests the 2020 election, and how the Republican Party took advantage of an unclear result in 2000, leading to George W. Bush’s victory in the Supreme Court.
They also explore the Electoral College, and its origins in 19th century mistrust of the voting public and the oldest American institution—slavery.
Links:Aaron Sorkin writes the script for election night, 2020 https://variety.com/2020/film/festivals/aaron-sorkin-the-trial-of-the-chicago-7-san-sebastian-1234781014/Corey Robin on ‘the Obamanauts’ https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-obamanautsBarton Gellman on the interregnum: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/11/what-if-trump-refuses-concede/616424/
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