It's impossible to understand American politics without recognizing that Bill Clinton's trade and corporatist policies just *shattered* American social institutions.

West Virginia is a good example. It's a traditional Dem state that went for Dukakis! Now it's Trump country.

West Virginia split off from Virginia during the Civil War because West Virginians hated Virginia's slave dominated politics. That basic coalition lasted until 2000! Now it's chain store land

It was under Bill Clinton that Walmart opened a store in every state.

It was Democrats who voted to unleash chain stores in 1975, prompted by Ralph Nader. Dems didn't experience a right-wing takeover, but a consumer movement one. https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/walmart-americas-food-government