Donald Trump’s War on Culture Is Not a Sideshow

In The New Yorker Radio Hour, David Remnick interviews Adam Gopnik about the culture war in the United States, particularly during Donald Trump's second presidency. They discuss Trump's attacks on cultural institutions, the motivations behind these actions, and the potential dangers to democracy and pluralism. Gopnik argues that these attacks are not merely deflections but represent a serious effort to control culture and enforce ideological conformity, drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes like the Soviet Union under Stalin and Nazi Germany. They explore the implications for museums, universities, and the arts, as well as the role of artists and intellectuals in resisting such control. The conversation also touches on the importance of wit, historical awareness, and the need to defend pluralism in the face of increasing political polarization.