The Gist

Deregulation Nation

Fighting red tape is a winning political strategy for Republicans. How did that happen? Author Jacob Hacker explains.

Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming at a news conference on July 14, 2011, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Listen to Episode 667 of Slate’s The Gist:

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Americans are skeptical of regulation, no matter how much they hate hair in their hot dogs. Why are Republicans winning this argument? Jacob Hacker is director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University and author of the new book American Amnesia.

For the Spiel, an ethics scandal hits South Dakota. Yes, South Dakota!

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