There have been complex exceptions, both here and abroad, and sometimes even though it's been leftish, it's also been right -- in the sense that the populists had the right idea.
Historically (and speaking very broadly), populism has been a generally leftish phenomenon -- the have-nots demanding more from the haves, regardless of the rule of law, property rights, etc.
The liberal elite we talk about today is beholden to a leftish cultural and political paradigm which predominates in all the non-elected institutions which run our lives.