We are days from the US election, so I thought to myself: let’s have a US focused episode that explains US culture and American politics and why Trump is facing such an uphill battle by talking about….hot sauce.
Now, it’s been widely reported that this is Hillary Clinton’s favorite condiment. (Full disclosure: I too love everything spicy.) But it is also true that more Americans like spicy food than at any time in the history of this country.
On the line with me to discuss the political and cultural implications of Americans’ growing appetite for spicy cuisine is Denver Nicks, author of the new book: Hot Sauce Nation: America’s Burning Obsession. We discuss how spicy peppers became integrated into the mainstream of the American cuisine largely through public policy decisions that be traced to a profoundly important date in 20th century American history. The results on election day may be one more indication that spicy peppers and American elections are far more intertwined than we may think.
If you have 20 minutes and what to learn what the Siracha-flavored beef jerky that’s sold at the check out line in Home Depot has to do with the the John F. Kennedy administration, the civil rights movement and US national politics, have a listen.
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