Saturday, February 15, 2025

Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Hosts Conversation with Political Analyst Sabato

Fleet listens to Sabato during the Commonwealth Conversation discussion. (Stephanie Sabin/WYDaily)

WILLIAMSBURG — Political analyst Larry Sabato was the featured guest during the first Commonwealth Conversation of 2025 hosted by The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce.

Sabato is a New York Times best-selling author, has won four Emmys, and is recognized as one of the nation’s most respected political analysts. He is also the founder and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and has had visiting appointments at Oxford and Cambridge universities in England.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation President Cliff Fleet moderated the discussion.

As a renowned political commentator, Sabato addressed topics regarding the political climate, bipartisanship, the polarizing state of government leaders, social media as a news source, and why he thinks Donald Trump won the 2024 Presidential election.

Fleet began the discussion by asking Sabato what he thinks about the current political climate in the United States.

“We all know we are divided. The question is — how divided and can it be held in check rather than leading almost inevitably to more violence?” answered Sabato.

Explaining that the start of a new administration is the “easy part,” Sabato noted people tend to have good feelings at the end and the start of an administration, but laughed as he added, “if this is good feelings — I don’t know what it will be like in six months.”

The answers to many issues are not easy, explained Sabato, as “you can never please everybody. Today, the problem is you can’t please half.”

Not listening to one another is a problem Sabato sees as causing the divide and he cited social media as one catalyst in that it has “increased the viciousness.”

Sabato offered a few suggestions to mitigate the divide.

“We need to talk to one another more — particularly people we disagree with because you can find common ground with almost anyone,” he said.

“I think everybody should commit to watching at least a half hour of each of three or four networks — don’t pick all from one side — just to listen to the dialogue. You may disagree with all of it but, if you watch it you can see the perspectives better of the other sides,” he added. “It is not going to convince you of anything but, it is going to give you a basis for the discussion that you ought to be having with people who don’t agree with you — or you don’t agree with them. That is foundational basis is critical to understanding one another and reducing the level of tension that can easily lead to violence.”

Fleet asked Sabato to speak about populism — a political approach that appeals to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.

“Populism has a long history in the United States and elsewhere. Almost every country with a major election in the past year or so has tossed out the incumbent party and elected the major opposition party. There are exceptions. Again, the economy and inflation is the fundamental reason why. Inflation affected the whole world not just the United States,” Sabato said.

He continued to explain, “Populism is useful, especially in polarizing times. Because you can’t just have your supporters — your base — before you. They have to be excited about you. I always remind people, there is nothing in the Constitution that requires people to be excited in order to vote. It is your duty to vote. To prepare. To research. To vote.”

When asked why he thinks Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Sabato stated that, like most elections, it fundamentally came down to the economy and inflation.

“All people knew is what they were seeing at the gas pump and the grocery store. They don’t study unemployment statistics or GDP growth. They see what the price of gas is. They see what the price of a dozen eggs is — and that is how they judge how the economy is going,” explained Sabato. “You can call it short-sighted and unfair and whatever you want to but, that’s the basis of people voting in a year where they are unhappy about the economy.”

The Commonwealth Conversation series will continue on March 21 with Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Virginia Governor.

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