This seminar analyzes contemporary American politics. We focus on polarization, inequality, and populism. With President Trump’s election and administration, political life is turbulent and chaotic. In a polarized politics, two broad forces oppose each other intensely on all fronts. There are passionate arguments about immigration, the role of the government in regulation and social policy, the political meanings of ethnicity and race, and the appropriate international role of the U.S. Our second focus is on inequality in the United States. How should we explain large increases in economic inequality in the last several decades? What are its political meanings? In addition to economic inequality we examine social inequality along several dimensions, including racial and ethnic inequality, and assess emerging forms of regional inequality. Populism is historically important and always debated in the U.S. – its contemporary forms appear across most of the political spectrum. In addition to major works about American politics, readings include current statements by contending political forces. This course helps prepare Ph.D. students in Politics for the American Politics field exam. It is open to M.A. and Ph.D. students in Politics and to M.A. and Ph.D. students in other New School programs.