The National Review’s Tim Alberta Discusses Politics

Tim Alberta, Chief Political Correspondent for the National Review and Michigan native, discusses Thanksgiving fun, the transformation of Detroit, and the dynamics of the Republican presidential race. He calls the transformation of Detroit over the last few years “staggering,” explaining how the positive changes become increasingly apparent on occasional holiday visits. 

Adopting a more political note, Alberta and Henderson segue into a conversation about the Republican primary race, which Alberta has been following closely. Alberta says that the race is traditionally reduced down to an establishment favorite who appeals to mainstream party interests and a more conservative grassroots favorite who appeals to the party’s base. 

“Marco Rubio is beginning to consolidate some of that establishment support … Conversely, Ted Cruz is beginning to gain that kind of same momentum, going to gain that same foothold on the conservative side … “

According to Alberta, the real question hovers around Donald Trump’s popularity and whether or not it will fade in the upcoming months. He explains how Trump’s anti-refugee and racist rhetoric is detrimental to the branding of the Republican party and its already waning ability to appeal to minorities. 

“Donald Trump had already consumed all of the oxygen in the room and there was no space for anyone else … A lot of these comments from Donald Trump and to a lesser extent from Ben Carson, could follow the party into next November … “

To hear the conversation, please click the audio link above: