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Liberal Atlantic writer Jemele Hill doubled down after suggesting that capitalism was linked to White supremacy, during a heated clash with another panelist on CNN on Tuesday.
“It’s one thing to not think capitalism isn’t working ideally. It’s another thing entirely to insist that it is oppressive, that it is bound up with White supremacy,” Kmele Foster, a podcast host, said.
“How is it not?” Hill pressed.
The panelists were responding to newly unearthed 2020 comments, first reported by CNN, in which Texas Senate candidate James Talarico described capitalism as an “oppressive system” that is linked to White supremacy and climate change and needs to be dismantled.
Kmele Foster and Jemele Hill debate capitalism’s ties to White supremacy during an exchange on CNN’s “Newsnight” on September 1, 2026. (CNN/Newsnight)
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“I’ve always preferred Adam Smith’s description of capitalism as the natural system of liberty, the idea that people can own property, that they can exchange it freely with one another for profit, that they can find ways to put their resources to good use, those private property,” Foster continued.
He added, “And profit in a way that is actually beneficial to everyone else, that there can be gains from trade that are mutually beneficial. These are foundational ideas that have created more wealth than any other system in human history. That is what capitalism is, that’s not White supremacy.”
“Do you think capitalism has always worked that way?” Hill asked Foster.
“I’ve actually just described the basic facts of economics,” Foster responded. “Slavery is an institution that is older than writing. It predates capitalism. The notion that White supremacy and all these other things are bound up with capitalism in an intrinsic and fundamental way is so absurd and laughable, it barely needs to be defended.”
Jemele Hill doubled down on her claim linking capitalism to White supremacy after a CNN panel clash with Kmele Foster over the issue. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Foster asked Hill to substantiate her argument and asked multiple times about the “the White supremacist dynamic of private property.”
“But you’re talking about capitalism in the purest form of how it was intended to work versus how it’s actually working. It’s not working,” Hill argued.
Hill was called out on social media by other media commentators and hosts.
Political commentor Mary Katharine Ham said, “Kmele: ‘You actually have to articulate what the connection is.’ Hill writes for the Atlantic and has years of TV experience, but it didn’t occur to her she would ever need to, and she isn’t prepared to.”
Podcast host Stephen Miller noted that Hill worked for the Atlantic and wrote, “She is a staff writer for one of the most prestigious neoliberal publications in the country and she’s never been once challenged on any of her ideas like this.”
Podcast host Kmele Foster called the connection ‘absurd and laughable’ during a debate sparked by James Talarico’s resurfaced remarks. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images; Amanda Stronza/Getty Images for SXSW)
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Liberal commentator Leigh McGowan also made the case that capitalism was not working during the exchange.
“I think that’s the problem. I think the problem is it’s not working well, today. I think for a long time that is a great way to describe it. Adam Smith capitalism, if we had that, that would be totally different,” she said. “We have got to a place where we have deregulated everything so much that only a certain handful of people are actually succeeding in this version of capitalism.”
Socialism has gained popularity among younger voters, according to a Fox News Poll from March. The survey found a record 38% believed it would be a good thing for the United States to move away from capitalism and in the direction of socialism — up from 32% in 2022, the last time the question was asked. In 2010, a low of 18% backed socialism.
Hill appeared to double down after the exchange.
“America was built on the institution of slavery. It is how America became a world economic power — the buying and selling of people being tied to the economy. That is effectively white supremacy, since it was a race-based system. Fast-forward to other economic policies that were guided by race — housing, employment, etc. There were rules that prevented Black people from equally participating in the free economy. In fact, one of the most glaring features of American capitalism is racial inequality. The racial wealth gap exists because specific policies were put in place to suppress economic participation. So yes, capitalism is tied to White supremacy,” Hill said in a post to X that followed the CNN panel debate.
Hill did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for further comment.
Talarico made his 2020 comments at the Austin Sierra Club during a virtual candidate forum while serving his first term as a state representative. His answer came in response to a question about what lawmakers could do to address climate change in communities of color, according to CNN’s K-File.
“I am so thankful that you asked this question and also thankful that young activists have really drawn the link between climate change and White supremacy and capitalism in our country,” Talarico said. “And I think only ending the ways that all three of those oppressive systems work together are we gonna be able to begin the process of dismantling them.”
During the same event, Talarico said the oil and gas industry was not going to last.
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Texas Senate candidate James Talarico speaks at a campaign rally on March 2, 2026, in Houston. (Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
“We all know that Texas has been a leader in oil and gas, but in many ways that’s like being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s,” Talarico later said, responding to another question. “That industry is not gonna last. And if we wanna ensure we have an economy that’s gonna work for our children and our children’s children, we gotta be ahead of the curve and Texas has to lead instead of follow on this issue.”
“James supports the oil and gas industry and believes in an all of the above energy strategy that protects Texas oil and gas jobs. He’s already said he missed the mark on some of his past statements, but Ken Paxton is clipping a few old, cringey comments to distract from his career of corruption that includes being impeached by his own party, enriching himself and his billionaire mega-donors, and using his office to protect pedophiles and animal abusers,” Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis told Fox News Digital in a statement regarding the oil and gas industry remarks.
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Ennis’ statement also said Talarico is a “proud capitalist,” and “agrees with the majority of Texans that racism, natural disasters, and a billionaire-controlled economy are all problems we need to address.”
“James has already said he missed the mark on some of his past statements, while Ken Paxton has refused to address his comments that the school shooting in Uvalde was ‘God’s plan’ and that Texas’ abortion ban is good for interstate commerce,” the statement continued.
The Democratic state representative is facing off against Republican Ken Paxton in the midterm elections for U.S. Senate in November.
