Are elites just whoever you don’t like?

Who actually counts as an elite in America?

The Argument ran its own poll on elite perception, and the results scramble a lot of conventional wisdom. Billionaires and celebrities are the only groups a majority of Americans call elite. College professors, journalists, and people with graduate degrees barely register. Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias dig into what that means for the anti-elite politics of both parties, and why Matt thinks the poll is an overwhelming win for the Bernie Sanders crowd. Matt even takes the poll on elites himself to see where his views match up.

Plus a peer review of a new paper on Ivy League admissions and elite networks.

(00:00) The Argument's poll on who counts as elite
(02:11) Celebrities, by definition, are elite
(10:01) Poll results, Bernie Sanders, and Chris Rufo
(21:26) Is the turn against feminism real?
(34:45) Hollywood, Green Book, and cultural power
(42:30) Career success vs. marriage and kids
(53:17) Progressive incoherence on population and climate
(01:00:23) Nobody thinks politicians are elite
(01:02:23) Peer review: Ivy League admissions and elite networks

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The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.