Hello and welcome to Overthink.
The podcast where two philosophers merit your full, undivided attention.
I'm David Peña Guzman.
And I'm Ellie Anderson.
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Merit has been a key concept in Trump's recent attacks on DEI in this absolutely depraved second term.
One of his first executive orders in 2025 is called ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity,
in which he says that hiring practices that involve principles of diversity,
equity, and inclusion are, quote, illegal and will be replaced with practices based on,
quote, individual merit, aptitude, hard work, and determination, end quote.
So he thinks that DEI unfairly privileges certain people based on where they were born,
rather than based on what they do.
That is based on merit.
Even though reversing the history of rewarding people based on where they were born,
rather than based on what they do, is exactly what DEI policies were created to do.
Well, and do we need to point out the irony that is staring us right in the face?
Which one?
There's so many we can choose from.
The plurality of ironies that constitute the Trump presidency.