Episode 11: The Deficits Racket Part II -- Racist Media as Barrier to Govt Spending

In this episode of Citations Needed, Adam Johnson is joined by producer Florence Burrow Adams to discuss how race serves as a barrier to government spending and broad social programs. They analyze the media's role in racializing poverty, with guests Sean McElwee and Professor Noel Cazenave, who provide insights on how racial attitudes and stereotypes influence perceptions of welfare and social programs. The discussion covers the historical context of welfare reform, the impact of means testing, and the exploitation of racial divisions by political figures and media outlets, including examples from Bill Maher, Glenn Beck, and Fox News. The hosts and guests explore how narratives of "makers and takers" are often racialized, and they debate potential strategies for building inclusive coalitions to support social programs while addressing racial biases.