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)MODERN CAPITALISM IS TURNING 250, TOO.WE NEED TO REMIND AMERICANS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT"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...