Recent years have seen a marked rise of populism, as leaders like President Trump tapped into fury over growing chasms in society to assume power and reshape American institutions. Even President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr., an embodiment of the Washington establishment for decades, has embraced populist elements in his platform. (Core to his “Build Back Better” plan is “Buy American,” after all.) As Heidi Heitkamp, the former Democratic senator from North Dakota, put it, people increasingly ask of government and business leaders, “What the heck are those guys doing for me?” The answer, as they see it: “It seems like they are really focused on themselves.” That attitude, and the ire it stokes, has put ever more pressure on fundamental systems like capitalism and democracy, with the potential to reshape society in countless ways. The participants:

Source: New York Times December 16, 2020 11:00 UTC