Short Run: 'The power of populism' | Episode 1

Find a full transcript of the episode here.

Populism is a defining force in American politics, and around the world.

But what exactly is populism? Where does it come from, and where does it take us?

In the first episode of On Point's five part series The power of populism, host Meghna Chakrabarti explores the origins of the word and concept of populism, and exactly what makes a leader a populist.

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. Author of the Age of Betrayal: The Triumph of Money in America and editor of Colossus: How the Corporation Changed America. (@JackBeattyNPR)

Nadia Urbinati, professor of political theory at Columbia University who focuses on democratic and anti-democratic traditions. Author of Me The People: How Populism Transforms Democracy and Democracy Disfigured: Opinion, Truth and the People.

Jan-Werner Mueller, professor of social sciences and politics at Princeton University. Columnist for the Guardian U.S. Author of What is Populism? and Democracy Rules.