Hyperpolitics

The LARB Radio Hour hosts Kate Wolfe, Eric Newman, and Medea Ocher engage in a deep, wide-ranging discussion of Anton Yeager's book *Hyperpolitics*, exploring the evolution of political engagement in the West over the past century. They trace a timeline from mass politics (1914–1989), through the post-political era (1989–2008), to anti-politics (2010–2020), and now to the current state of hyperpolitics—characterized by intense but fleeting public agitation, high voter turnout, and widespread political feeling without lasting institutional change. The hosts examine how cultural individualization, driven by consumerism and digital isolation, has eroded collective institutions like unions and political parties, leaving people emotionally charged but politically impotent. They critique the hollow nature of contemporary politics, where popular demands like universal healthcare and abortion access go unmet despite broad support, and question whether the Democratic Party is truly distinct from the Republican one. The conversation also grapples with the role of identity politics, the failure of movements like Bernie Sanders’ to institutionalize change, and the rise of authoritarianism on the right, asking whether fascism requires a real left threat to emerge. Amid these concerns, the hosts highlight the resilience of mutual aid networks during crises like the pandemic and climate disasters, offering hope for grassroots organizing. They conclude with a 'lightning round' on whether to choose comfort or revolution, ultimately leaning toward revolution as a necessary path toward lasting justice and survival in an increasingly unstable world.