# How the GOP and the Dems got so weird

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/american-friction-6897945/the-real-history-of-america-s-dysfunctional-parties
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/american-friction-6897945/the-real-history-of-america-s-dysfunctional-parties.md
Podcast: [American Friction](https://stenobird.com/podcast/american-friction-6897945)
Published: 2026-07-13T11:40:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8745375634.mp3
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8745375634.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/american-friction-6897945/episodes/the-real-history-of-america-s-dysfunctional-parties
Duration seconds: 2254

## Resource

The Republicans and the Democrats are both in a weird place right now. How did they get to where they are? What were they like when they first started? And did they really “switch”? Paul Heideman, the author of Rogue Elephant: How Republicans Went from the Party of Business to the Party of Chaos,  joins Jarv to discuss.  Buy Rogue Elephant: How Republicans Went from the Party of Business to the Party of Chaos through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund American Friction by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media:  BlueSky   Instagram  TikTok Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Video and Audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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