The Squad, Part 2: From Obama to Bernie, a Crisis and a Crossroads

The 2008 economic crisis had a profound impact on the United States and the world. In the aftermath of the crisis, the slow response by Barack Obama and the Democratic Party led to a sluggish recovery, an eviction crisis, and a surge in populist sentiment. This period also saw the rise of movements such as Occupy Wall Street, which brought issues of wealth and income inequality to the forefront of national politics.

The Rise of Bernie Sanders

Building on the momentum generated by Occupy Wall Street, the new radical energy among young people set the stage for Bernie Sanders’ first presidential campaign. In 2016, Sanders came close to securing the Democratic nomination, but as his campaign faded, a group of his staff decided to take a different approach. They focused on recruiting and supporting Bernie-style populists to run for Congress with the goal of taking over the House.

The Squad’s Political Awakening

In this episode of Deconstructed, Ryan Grim presents an audio documentary adapted from his book, “The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution.” The episode delves into the 2008 economic crisis, Obama’s election, and explores how individual members of The Squad became politically engaged.

Listen to the Audio Documentary

For a more in-depth understanding of the political climate during this time, listen to the full audio documentary on The Intercept’s website.

Transcript Coming Soon

Stay tuned for the transcript of this episode, which will be available shortly.

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