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The Ezra Klein Show · May 5, 2026 · 1h 5m

The Book That Changed How I Think About Liberalism

Helena Rosenblatt
Show Notes

Ezra Klein talks to historian Helena Rosenblatt about her book “The Lost History of Liberalism.” Klein argues that liberalism needs a positive, inspiring vision beyond simply opposing Donald Trump. Rosenblatt explains how recovering the lost values and moral commitments at the heart of the liberal tradition — values she uncovered in her research — can provide that vision. Drawing on her deep historical research, she shows that 19th-century liberals were concerned with community, virtue, and the common good, and that remembering this history is essential for liberalism’s revival.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Liberalism's Lost History Offers a Way Forward
Helena Rosenblatt argues that the rich moral and communal values at the heart of 19th-century liberalism have been forgotten, and recovering them can make liberalism inspiring again in the face of illiberalism.
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Editorial

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Liberalism Needs a Positive Vision, Not Just Opposition
Ezra Klein observes that illiberalism is in power but that liberalism has felt weak, and he argues that to turn the tide, liberalism must stand for something exciting and inspiring beyond just being 'not Trump.'
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Deep Historical Reading Can Illuminate Current Crises
Ezra Klein's personal journey of reading many history books to understand the current moment reflects the value of historical perspective: reading older thinkers can reveal forgotten solutions and make sense of contemporary political challenges.
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References

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The Lost History of Liberalism — Helena Rosenblatt — The central book discussed and the source of Rosenblatt's argument
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Democracy in America — Alexis de Tocqueville — Mentioned as an influence or reference
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Liberalism — Edmund Fawcett — Mentioned in the show notes
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Liberalism against Itself — Samuel Moyn — Book recommendation from Rosenblatt
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Liberalism as a Way of Life — Alexandre Lefebvre — Book recommendation from Rosenblatt
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Thinking With Machines — Vasant Dhar — Book recommendation from Rosenblatt

Misc

✧Ezra Klein describes his deep reading in the history of liberalism as an 'esoteric journey' and says reading Rosenblatt's book felt like an epiphany.
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