What’s the Matter with Populism? Feasting on the Remains of the Religious Right

Abstract

Abstract:This article provides a critical assessment of the populist nationalism associated with President Donald Trump. Using Thomas Frank’s “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” as an inspiration, it makes the argument that Trump’s populism is in fact a cover for a corporatist agenda. Further, it argues that the evangelical right’s support of Trump exposes the sense of white grievance that has animated its political mobilization from the start.