DeepSummary
The episode discusses the conventional wisdom that immigration is seen as a political loser for the left and a winner for the right, and explores whether this narrative truly holds up. Host Jerusalem Demsas interviews John Burn-Murdoch, a columnist and data reporter for the Financial Times, to examine the factors that influence public opinion on immigration and challenge the popular narratives surrounding this issue.
Burn-Murdoch highlights that concern over immigration often stems from real events and changes in local communities, but does not necessarily track with actual immigration numbers. He suggests that factors like the method of entry, perceived contribution to society, and the pace of change play a significant role in shaping attitudes towards immigration.
The discussion also touches on the role of the media in driving coverage and concern over immigration, as well as the differing experiences and public sentiments towards immigration across countries like the US, UK, and continental Europe. Overall, the episode aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics influencing public opinion on immigration.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Public concern over immigration often stems from real events and changes, rather than just media narratives or xenophobia.
- Factors like the method of entry, perceived contribution to society, and the pace of change in local communities play a significant role in shaping attitudes towards immigration.
- The narrative that immigration is a political loser for the left may be an oversimplification, as public opinion is nuanced and influenced by various factors.
- The role of the media in both reflecting and shaping public opinion on immigration is complex and difficult to untangle.
- Concerns related to immigration have shifted from jobs to issues like housing, reflecting the evolving nature of public sentiment.
- The experience and public sentiment towards immigration varies across countries like the US, UK, and continental Europe, influenced by factors such as language and socioeconomic outcomes.
- Understanding the underlying factors driving public sentiment towards immigration is crucial, rather than dismissing concerns as mere xenophobia.
- The pace and visibility of change in local communities can significantly impact attitudes towards immigration, regardless of actual immigration numbers.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And, I think, is sort of the ultimate thing for America. And so in America, from my viewpoint, there's quite a separate conversation about people coming to work with visas versus people turning up at the southern border.“ by John Byrne Murdoch
- “Yeah, I mean, I feel like when people want to talk about this, like there isn't a real problem that people are reacting to. There's a desire to kind of cast all of the people who are kind of frustrated with immigration as xenophobes instead of trying to disaggregate what their real concerns are and actually address them.“ by Jerusalem Demsis
- “Yeah, 100%. I think the really interesting shift we're actually seeing, starting in the last couple of years is certainly in english speaking countries, is the sort of hot button topic around immigration is shifting from jobs to houses.“ by John Byrne Murdoch
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Episode Information
Good on Paper
The Atlantic
6/11/24
In recent years, there's been an overarching narrative that immigration is seen as an obvious political loser for the left and a clear political winner for the right. But does that theory make sense?
Host Jerusalem Demsas talks to John Burn-Murdoch, columnist and chief data reporter for the Financial Times, about the factors that influence public opinion on immigration—and why it may not be as simple as political commentators would have you believe.
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