This American Life

872: Winners

November 2, 2025

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  • The concept of 'winners' is divisive among staff at *This American Life*, with some finding the host's motivational phrases inspiring while others find them irritating or alienating. 
  • President Trump's Executive Order 14204, which offered resettlement to Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, immediately created two opposing reactions among white South Africans: one group sought to lobby for local help, while another, led by Sam Busa, embraced the offer and began organizing for emigration. 
  • Sam Busa successfully built a movement ('Americaners') that interpreted the vague executive order to fit their needs, ultimately leading to her group becoming an official referral partner for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, demonstrating how non-governmental actors can shape policy implementation. 

Segments

Host’s ‘Winner’ Catchphrase
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(00:00:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Ira Glass frequently uses the phrase ‘We’re winners’ or ‘Let’s win’ to motivate staff during low points in story production.
  • Summary: Staff members revealed that the host frequently uses phrases like ‘We’re winners’ and ‘Let’s win’ when the team feels stuck on a story. Some staff members find this motivating, comparing it to a ‘Harry Potter’ moment of affirmation. Conversely, other staff members, like Nadia and Lily, find the constant emphasis on winning to be eye-rolling or indicative of a ’try-hard’ mentality.
Trump EO 14204 Reaction
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(00:09:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Executive Order 14204, concerning South Africa, was perceived as a major win by Afrikaner leader U.S. Stratum, but the proposed solution of resettlement as refugees was a surprise.
  • Summary: Executive Order 14204, signed in February 2025, addressed ’egregious actions’ and ‘unjust discrimination’ against Afrikaners in South Africa. U.S. Stratum initially felt validated by the language mirroring his own concerns about Afrikaner rights. However, the proposed solution—resettling Afrikaners in the U.S. as refugees—was contrary to his goal of securing territory within Africa.
Afrikaner Identity and Apartheid Context
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(00:12:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers, view themselves as a threatened minority whose identity was marginalized by South Africa’s post-apartheid ‘Rainbow Nation’ emphasis on unity.
  • Summary: The Afrikaner history includes inventing apartheid, a system of racial segregation that denied rights to black South Africans. After 1994, the new democracy emphasized unity, causing some Afrikaners to feel their identity was threatened. Despite white South Africans holding disproportionate economic power (60% of top corporate jobs), they cite affirmative action policies, like potential uncompensated land reform, as ’trampling’ on their rights.
Sam Busa’s Counter-Movement
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(00:17:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Sam Busa rejected the Afrikaner leadership’s ’no thank you’ to Trump’s offer, instead creating the ‘Americaners’ group to accept the resettlement opportunity.
  • Summary: Sam Busa was mortified when established Afrikaner groups publicly rejected the U.S. resettlement offer, feeling they were not speaking for everyone. She immediately started the ‘Americaners’ website to organize those who did want to emigrate, framing the move as a contribution rather than a drain on the U.S. Her group quickly gathered 27,000 signatories supporting the acceptance of the offer.
Legal Interpretation of EO 14204
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(00:20:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Sam Busa meticulously researched immigration law to confirm that the executive order’s terms—specifically ‘refugee’ and ‘discrimination’—could legally apply to in-country applicants fearing future persecution.
  • Summary: Sam determined that while refugees usually must be outside their country, a specific law allowed in-country designation by the president, validating the EO’s mechanism. She also noted that the EO’s use of ‘discrimination’ likely needed to be interpreted as ‘persecution’ to fit standard refugee criteria. The fear of future persecution was solidified by circulating videos of the ‘Kill the Boar’ chant, which Elon Musk linked to genocide.
The First Arrivals and Policy Shift
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(00:32:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The first 59 white South Africans arrived in the U.S. in May 2025, symbolizing a shift in U.S. foreign policy symbolism from celebrating South African democracy to using it as a cautionary tale against equality efforts.
  • Summary: The initial group of 59 refugees was welcomed with high-level government fanfare at Dulles Airport, contrasting sharply with the years-long wait times for other global refugees. This event signaled a symbolic reset where South Africa was framed not as a model of reconciliation, but as a warning about the dangers of ‘DEI’ policies. The administration’s actions suggested that the Afrikaner case, fitting the textbook definition of persecution, was prioritized over existing applicants fleeing war or genocide.
Sam’s Success and New Role
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(00:41:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite initial skepticism, Sam Busa’s grassroots organization became an official referral partner for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, processing applicants at record speed.
  • Summary: Following the initial arrivals, Sam’s Americaners group was inundated with support and inquiries, leading to Sam being unable to speak to the media due to her new official role. The U.S. government began processing applicants in Pretoria within weeks, adopting Sam’s interpretation: applicants need not be Afrikaner, only from a racial minority, and fear of future persecution (like the ‘Kill the Boar’ chant) suffices without prior documentation.