'BradCast' 8/21/2017: (Guest: David Dayen on Dems' 'Better Deal' and much more)
For a few blessed moments on Monday, the peoples of the United States set politics aside, for the most part, to look skyward, towards the first continent-wide total solar eclipse in the U.S. since 1918. But the welcome distraction from politics in the madness of the Trump Era didn't last long. More and more top Republicans continue to distance themselves from this President, following the most recent tumultuous weeks of his Presidency (summarized quickly today), capped by his defense of a white supremacist rally that turned deadly in Charlottesville just over one week ago. Democrats are beginning to salivate at the idea that a wave election could be ahead for them in 2018, in which they re-gain control of the U.S. House. But is that hope a realistic one? And is their new 'Better Deal' plan to capture the majority by focusing on populist economic issues enough to get them there? We're joined today by financial author and journalist David Dayen of The Nation and The Intercept (among other places) to discuss the Democratic Party's plan for rebuilding with new populist regulatory agencies and oversight, which Dayen describes as 'quietly radical'.\xa0 He also weighs in on the debate within the Democratic/progressive side of the aisle between 'identity politics' and economic populism, as well as the key point we should keep in mind about all of the business leaders seemingly abandoning Trump and the Presidential economic councils that continue to be disbanded in the wake of Charlottesville. Also, Dayen explains the so-called 'trade war' with China that Trump's now-former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was murmuring about on his way out the door last week...