Oct 19, 2026 · 52 min
Farm backlash and French unrest expose economic fault lines
10/19/26: Farmers Shocked By ICE Raids, France Erupts In Protest
The episode connects immigration enforcement, war costs, austerity, and declining purchasing power to political instability in the United States and France.
- 1Kansas farmers’ economic frustrations and opposition to immigration raids could expose Republican vulnerabilities in the Senate race.
- 2Rising war costs, inflation, and unaffordable housing deepen discontent beyond the reach of partisan campaign messages.
- 3France’s protests reflect weakened public services and declining purchasing power, conditions that may strengthen the far right.
Don't miss
Cole Stangler argues that France’s unrest is rooted in austerity, housing pressure, weakened public services, and declining purchasing power rather than immigration alone.
The brief
Krystal and Saagar open with Kansas, where farmer discontent, immigration enforcement, and economic strain threaten to weaken Roger Marshall’s Republican coalition.
The hosts argue that Trump-centered campaigning cannot resolve stagnant wages, rising housing and health-care costs, or the political burden of Iran war expenses.
Cole Stangler joins from France to explain why protests and unrest reflect austerity, housing pressure, weakened public services, and declining purchasing power—not immigration alone.
The discussion’s sharpest warning is that economic disinvestment can turn public anger toward Marine Le Pen and France’s far right.
Across both countries, the episode frames affordability and public provision as central political battlegrounds that conventional partisan messaging fails to address.
What was said on this episode
16 statements · 1 positive · 13 negative · 2 neutral
Kansas Senate race polling is essentially tied.
“if you look at the polling averages, it is basically 50-50,”
Listen at 2:35
Trump policies have directly caused Kansas’s dire economic condition.
“Kansas has been screwed. Kansas is in a dire economic state directly because of Trump policies.”
Listen at 8:30
The Texas RNC convention further reduced Republicans’ poll standing.
“That convention actually was devastating for them. It caused their polls to erode even further.”
Listen at 9:40
Many conservative farmers may abstain from voting.
“Are they just not going to come out? That seems like a big possibility”
Listen at 10:07
Undocumented labor is essential to U.S. meat and farming industries.
“illegal labor is the only reason the U.S. meat industry or farming can”
Listen at 13:33
Brent crude oil is trading above $100.
“Brent crude is up well over $100 now.”
Listen at 19:32
Higher gas prices correspond to lower Trump approval.
“the more gas prices go up, the more Trump's approval rating goes down.”
Listen at 19:48
Polling shows 29% see the U.S. on the right track and 71% disagree.
“29% only saying the U.S. is on the right track. 71% say it's the wrong track.”
Listen at 20:05
Trump’s approval rating is 34%.
“Trump's approval stands at 34%.”
Listen at 20:43
Inflation and immigration are the two leading political issues.
“I think inflation, immigration, those are the two number one issues.”
Listen at 21:22
The Iran war has multiplied existing financial pressures tenfold.
“as a result of the Iran War, it's exacerbated that by tenfold.”
Listen at 22:03
The mortgage rate is approximately 7.2–7.3%.
“I believe it's like 7.2 or 7.3%.”
Listen at 22:12
The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 after decades without increase.
“it's still $7.25. It hasn't been increased in decades.”
Listen at 23:22
The 1970s minimum wage would equal roughly $25 hourly today.
“if you had the same minimum wage that you had back, let's say, in the 70s, it'd be something around, I think the number was like $25 an hour.”
Listen at 23:29
Housing, healthcare, and education costs have outpaced general inflation.
“Housing, health care, education costs have gone up way far and beyond what other inflation is.”
Listen at 23:38
A large political reckoning is likely approaching.
“there is a relatively large scale reckoning, more so than what we saw even in 2018 coming”
Listen at 24:25
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Books & mentions
What Do We Want?
Cole Stangler’s podcast extends the discussion of French politics and social unrest.
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