MSNBC Hopes Gen Z Leftists Will Lead Fight Against ‘Voter Suppression’

MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle and Harvard Institute of Politics Polling Director John Della Volpe were optimistic on Monday that Gen Z will save America from the horribleness that is Republicans and their “voter suppression” efforts and that they actually care about other people, unlike other generations.

Ruhle started with the idea that voter suppression is a problem. He asked Della Volpe to help him promote his book. Fight: Gen Z’s Fearful and Passionate Action to Save America is How Gen Z Channels Their Fear. “Is Gen Z focused on or aware of voter suppression efforts going on and voting rights, you know? Is this what motivates them?

Della Volpe was pleased to report that, “Absolutely, especially if you’re a young voter, a college voter in New Hampshire, who has to fight, you know, to, to, to overcome those obstacles that are new in place or in Texas, et cetera. They are. 

Della Volpe claims that Gen Z is a generation which cares about others’ well-being, unlike any other.

That’s not the problem. They’re just not concerned, Stephanie, about, kind of, their own situation and college voters. A lot of young people, of course, aren’t college voters. But what is special is they’re fighting for justice for everybody, whether that’s the person who, who’s has barriers put up so it’s more difficult to vote or the younger person or their parents or grandparents who have to work a second, you know, take a side hustle or two just to make ends meat these days. It’s all part of the deal. They are empathetic, but they’re not anywhere close to being selfish like I would argue some other generations. 

Apparently Ruhle thinks other generations wanted to make the world weaker, dumber, and worse off, because she claimed: “Then, John, this actually sounds like good news. It sounds like this is a generation that wants to make the world stronger, smarter, better.”

Ignoring that previous generations had to go through wars, nuclear bombing drills, 9/11, and other horribles, Della Volpe concluded by arguing Gen Z has it worse than the one that went through the Great Depression and World War II:

I paint a very optimistic picture by the end of this book… it’s hopefulness and that’s what seems to be resonating despite the insecurity and the trauma that they’ve grown up under. I don’t think there’s any generation that’s grown up under more trauma more quickly in at least seven, eight decades than this generation. But when Boomers, when Gen X, and when Millennials had a chance vote, this group doubled that level of participation in 2018 midterms, and in 2020 they, they broke all voting records including when, 2008 Obama was on the ballot. So this generation is actually walking the walk. 

Gen Z’s concern for others is admirable, but MSNBC doesn’t need to stereotype entire generation or accuse Republicans falsely of suppressing votes to prove it.

This segment was sponsored and produced by Subway.

The transcript of the January 24, 2009 show is available here:

Stephanie Ruhle Reports

1/24/2022

9:00 AM ET

STEPHANIE RUHLE: Is Gen Z focused on or aware of voter suppression efforts going on and voting rights, you know? Is this what motivates them? 

JOHN DELLA VOLPE: Absolutely, especially if you’re a young voter, a college voter in New Hampshire, who has to fight, you know, to, to, to overcome those obstacles that are new in place or in Texas, et cetera. They are. That’s what is important. They’re just not concerned, Stephanie, about, kind of, their own situation and college voters. A lot of young people, of course, aren’t college voters. But what is special is they’re fighting for justice for everybody, whether that’s the person who, who’s has barriers put up so it’s more difficult to vote or the younger person or their parents or grandparents who have to work a second, you know, take a side hustle or two just to make ends meat these days. It’s all part of the deal. They are empathetic, but they’re not anywhere close to being selfish like I would argue some other generations. 

RUHLE: Then, John, this actually sounds like good news. It sounds like this is a generation that wants to make the world stronger, smarter, better. 

DELLA VOLPE: Yeah, I absolutely think so, Stephanie. I paint a very optimistic picture by the end of this book. 

RUHLE: Keep going.

DELLA VOLPE – I, I, have ten predictions. So, it’s hopefulness and that’s what seems to be resonating despite the insecurity and the trauma that they’ve grown up under. I don’t think there’s any generation that’s grown up under more trauma more quickly in at least seven, eight decades than this generation. But when Boomers, when Gen X, and when Millennials had a chance vote, this group doubled that level of participation in 2018 midterms, and in 2020 they, they broke all voting records including when, 2008 Obama was on the ballot. So this generation is actually walking the walk. 

ROBERT RUHLLE: It’s really encouraging. An encouraging and optimistic picture. John, we are always glad to have you around. Congratulations. This book is very important.