ARGUING YES
Educator, Author, and Co-Founder of the Young Men’s Research Institute
ARGUING NO
Staff Writer at The Atlantic; Visiting Professor of Humanities at Bard College; Nonresident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
MODERATOR
Host and Moderator-in-Chief
This week:
- New episode: Could identity politics attract men to the Democratic Party?
- Attend our inaugural “Hopkins Forum” debate at Johns Hopkins University in D.C. on January 29th
- Your Sunday reading list
As Donald Trump’s inauguration takes place on Monday, Democrats are engaging in self-reflection, and in partnership with Civis, we ask whether using identity politics to engage men is necessary as they rebuild their party.
It’s a pressing question, as the group most responsible for helping Trump win the 2024 election was men.
During Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, she and the Democratic party mentioned issues that would matter to several groups, including women, LGBTQ+ people, and Black and Latino people. However, men as a key demographic to campaign seemed missing from the equation.
Over the last few elections, the gender gap has been growing, and men as a group have been leaning more toward the right. The Trump campaign effectively used the diverse and evolving media landscape, including influential podcasts, to help achieve credibility with young men.
Could identity politics help Democrats reconnect with a group that feels left behind, or should their strategy rely on a strong articulation of universal principles and policies?
Arguing that everything is identity politics, and that strategic use would help engage lapsed male voters for the Dems, is Jackson Katz, the co-founder of the Young Men’s Research Institute and producer of The Man Card: 50 Years of Gender, Power, and the American Presidency. Arguing the opposing view, that a shift towards male-focused identity politics would undermine the goals of the party is Thomas Chatterton Williams, a staff writer for The Atlantic, a visiting professor of humanities at Bard College, and a nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
Should Democrats design explicit male-friendly strategies leading up to the 2026 midterms and the 2028 election? Listen to the debate now on your favorite podcast platform, WNYC, and YouTube. As always, let us know what you think.
DEBATING THE DATA
What can Democrats do to attract younger men back to the party?
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Could Identity Politics Help Democrats Engage Men?
YES: Jackson Katz
“All politics are really identity politics. I think the reason why we’re having this conversation now is because people are finally realizing, including in the Democratic party and in the commentariat, they’re finally realizing that the failure of the Democrats and progressives more generally and liberals to talk to men, to speak to men, to create narratives and stories that include men in their lives.”
NO: Thomas Chatterton Williams
“The core strength of liberalism is its universal values that benefit everyone. We need to abandon divisive identity politics. The promise… during the Obama era can still be realized if we return to a politics that maximizes flourishing for all irrespective of the abstract labels we attach to them.”
Join Us For Our Inaugural Hopkins Forum Debate at Johns Hopkins University
We are thrilled to announce a two-year partnership between Open to Debate and Johns Hopkins University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute to host The Hopkins Forum. This flagship series of eight live debates in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore will bring together diverse perspectives to tackle today’s most pressing issues.
Our first debate in this series, “Unresolved: The Future of the Supreme Court”, will take place in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, January 29 at 6:30 PM, and discuss the highest court in the land and its future.
Debater Panel:
- The Honorable Jeff Sessions, Former U.S. Attorney General and Senator
- Ambassador Jeff Flake, Former Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jamal Greene, Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School; Supreme Court Commentator
- Cristina Rodríguez, Former Co-Chair of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States; Professor at Yale Law School
- Moderator-in-Chief: John Donvan, Emmy Award-winning journalist
Join us to witness the power of civil, respectful debate in shaping the national conversation and fostering meaningful dialogue on a college campus. Register now.
WEEKLY POINTS OF VIEW
Edward Lucas | January 6, 2025
CEPA
Watch Edward’s debate on whether Russia is a marginal power
Why are we still arguing about the health effects of moderate drinking?
Jacob Sullum | January 8, 2025
Reason
Watch Jacob’s debate on Super PACs
Mickalene Thomas doesn’t need the Whitney Biennial
Jerry Saltz | January 9, 2024
Vulture
Watch Jerry’s debate on the whether the art market is less ethical than the stock market
You can’t optimize your way to being a good person
Sigal Samuel | January 6, 2025
Vox
Watch Sigal’s debate on whether we should erase bad memories
Hear Both Sides with One Donation
At Open to Debate, we bring opposing views together for meaningful debates that bridge the gaps dividing our nation. By tackling challenging topics, encouraging critical thinking, and fostering respectful dialogue, we create understanding where it’s needed most. Donate today to help us sustain a forum where diverse perspectives converge to find common ground.