Ep 72. March 6, 2018 - Cass Sunstein

Jordan Klepper hosts The Opposition, a satirical news program that parodies right-wing media. In this episode, he interviews Cass Sunstein, a former Obama administration official and legal scholar who has written extensively on government regulation and behavioral economics. Sunstein, who is currently a professor at Harvard Law School, has been a controversial figure in conservative circles due to his advocacy of "nudge" policies that use incentives and persuasion rather than mandates to encourage behavior change.

Throughout the show, Klepper takes aim at mainstream media outlets and left-leaning politicians who he believes have been too soft on Trump and his supporters. He rants about the "fake news" narrative that has been perpetuated by the president and his allies, arguing that the real culprits are the mainstream media outlets that give Trump a platform to spread his lies. He also calls out Democrats for their lack of strategy and for failing to effectively combat Republican policies.

Klepper's interview with Sunstein touches on a number of topics related to Sunstein's research and policy initiatives. They discuss the idea of libertarian paternalism, which argues that government can promote public welfare by nudging people toward better choices without taking away their freedom. Sunstein defends this approach as a reasonable compromise between government intervention and individual liberty, and argues that it has been successful in a number of policy areas such as healthcare and retirement savings.

The conversation then turns to the current political climate and the challenges facing the Trump administration. Sunstein acknowledges that there are legitimate concerns about Trump's behavior and how he is handling the presidency, but he cautions against resorting to extreme measures such as impeachment or ousting him via the 25th Amendment. Instead, he suggests that Democrats should focus on building a broad-based coalition that can win elections and enact progressive policies.

As always, Klepper injects his trademark humor and sarcasm into the conversation, using witty quips and outrageous analogies to poke fun at both Trump and his critics. Overall, the episode provides an engaging and insightful look at the intersection of government policy, behavioral economics, and political strategy, all through the lens of Klepper's unique comedic voice.