Kevin Phillips, Renowned Political Analyst and Author, Passes Away at 82

Kevin Phillips, a political analyst and author, has passed away at the age of 82. Known for his prediction of a Republican resurgence through the "Southern strategy," Phillips later had second thoughts about income inequality under three Republican presidents. His influential book, "The Emerging Republican Majority," refined earlier studies and predicted a rightward realignment in national politics driven by racial divisions and white discontent. Phillips popularized the term "New Right" and coined the term "Sun Belt." He authored several best-selling books, including "American Theocracy" and "Wealth and Democracy," which criticized Reagan administration policies. Phillips's views on Republican hegemony shifted over time, and he warned of the dangers of authoritarianism and overreaction to liberal permissiveness.