1 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to talk in politics, where we examine both sides 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: of the political discourse with a healthy balance. 3 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 2: Just kidding. 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: This is where we go hard, hard against fascism, hard 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: against authoritarianism, hard against stupidity and corruption. 6 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 2: Look, the stakes are too high for pleasantries. 7 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: The president thinks he's a king, the Republican Party agrees, 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: and the Democratic Party doesn't seem to know how to 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: stop any of it. So here's where we talk about 10 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: saving our democracy. In a bit, i'll share my political 11 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: hot take of the week, the thing in a mess 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 1: of news that really got my attention, But first my interview. 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: We just had a huge election week. The mayor's race 14 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: in New York City, governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia, 15 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: and a ballot initiative in California all gave Democrats something 16 00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: they desperately needed, momentum. But will these wins translate into 17 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: taking back the House and Senate in twenty twenty six, 18 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: into winning back the White House in twenty twenty eight, 19 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: into defeating trump Ism once and for all, Well, that 20 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: remains to be seen. Joining me now is a Democrat 21 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: I've gotten to know over the past few years, and 22 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: I'll tell anyone who listen that I think she should 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: be the future of the party. She gets where the 24 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: country is, where the party needs to go, and the 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: mistakes it's made. She leads with common sense and a 26 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: commitment to reclaim patriotism from a GOP that's corrupted it 27 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: to conform to Trump's bastardized version. She's Michigan Senator Alyssa 28 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:44,919 Speaker 1: Slocke and welcome to Talking Politics. 29 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. Good to see you. Okay, we 30 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: met at Bill Maher. 31 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: We did okay, but we quickly learned we just we 32 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: had a lot in common. We went to rival schools 33 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: in Michigan. 34 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: We did. We went to the same college. We did. 35 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, we were both really impacted by nine to eleven 36 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: in terms of what we did for our lives. And 37 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: we were interested in foreign policy and national security. And 38 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: I think I think we just see the world in 39 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: a similar way. Though I wouldn't want to taint you with. 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: That brush, but I just feel like, I just feel 41 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 2: like we get each other. We get each other. 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 1: I think, Yeah, I just want to get your reaction 43 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: to the wins this week. Yeah, everyone's saying what they mean? 44 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: Yeah for the Democratic Party, what do they mean? For 45 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: the Democratic Party. 46 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: Senator. 47 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, obviously, really good night. Two of my best friends 48 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 3: in the world are now governors. We came up together 49 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 3: the we're both you know, all service and veteran ladies 50 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 3: who ran together on the house. Yeah, it's a big, 51 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 3: big win. But I think the other message to me 52 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 3: is that they were all these races, whether you were 53 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 3: in Virginia or Manhattan or Minnesota or wherever Pennsylvania, people 54 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 3: were saying two things very clearly. Number one, cost of 55 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 3: living and the American dream is still the galvanizing issue 56 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,959 Speaker 3: no matter where you are, yep. And then number two, 57 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 3: they want a new damn generation of leaders. They want 58 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 3: something new and I and they're willing to take something new, 59 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 3: that's a risk, They're willing to change sides of the 60 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 3: aisle that they're just they're willing to do a lot 61 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 3: for that. And I think that is like a flashing 62 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 3: red light coming out of the country, and we either 63 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 3: hear that and interpret that the right way or we 64 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 3: just miss it completely. So those were my messages. I 65 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: think the the if I can add a third one, 66 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: it's okay and actually a strength that someone like Abigail 67 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 3: Spanberger can just kill it in Virginia, do great work 68 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: in Virginia, and Mom Donnie can win in Manhattan. Yeah, 69 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 3: it's okay, okay, it because different leaders are needed for 70 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: different places, and Democrats have a problem of having this 71 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 3: constant fight in fighting about you know, is it progressive? 72 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 3: Is it moderate? 73 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 4: Yes? 74 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 3: The direction know that the message is pick good leaders 75 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: who represent their communities and believe your own messaging that 76 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 3: diversity is good. 77 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 2: Yes. 78 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, so those I think were the messages from Tuesday. 79 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, you can't make an ideological comparison because you had 80 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: a progressive then you had two moderates prop fifty what 81 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: happened in Minneapolis, Like, the message is not ideological. 82 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 2: The message is candidate selection is key. 83 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it has to be the right person, the 84 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: right time, in the right place. Yes, that's Does a 85 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: Mom Donnie win hurt a moderate Democrat like you? That 86 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: seemed like what Hakeem Jeffreys was very worried about and 87 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: tried to split the baby this whole cycle? 88 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 2: Does Mom Donnie hurt you? 89 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 3: I mean, look, it's not like I agree with a 90 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 3: number of things that he's proposed, but does he get 91 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 3: that cost of living is the galvanizing issue? And could 92 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 3: I get in a room with him or someone else 93 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 3: who believes in his views and say, Okay, look we 94 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 3: agree on the problem. Let's debate and negotiate on solutions. Yeah. 95 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 3: And so look, the Trump administration and the Republicans are 96 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 3: going to take him and like have they want him 97 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 3: to be the poster child. Right, they cover his election 98 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 3: and not what happened in Virginia and what happened in 99 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 3: New Jersey because they don't want to talk about that, 100 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 3: So they're going to try and make it all about that. 101 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 3: But I think it's on us as a party and 102 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: through you know, improved leadership, that we focus on what 103 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 3: unites us instead of just what divides us. And I 104 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: will I would debate, you know, mister Mom, Dottie or 105 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 3: anyone on the policy solutions to the problem. Let's have it. 106 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 3: But do I agree with the problem at its origin? 107 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: Yes? 108 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: I think what all of these candidates did this time 109 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: was talk about this is so obvious, the issues that matter. 110 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 2: The most to the most amount of people. 111 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: And what Democrats have done in the past is talk 112 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: about the issues they wished mattered to more people, whether 113 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: it's abortion, democracy, and sometime sometimes that lines up twenty 114 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: twenty two midterms, Democrats really wanted to talk about abortion 115 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: of democracy, and it worked out because that's what mattered 116 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: to most people. Twenty twenty four, the top three issues 117 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: were economy, crime, and immigration, and they kept saying, economy 118 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: is great, crime. 119 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 2: Is down, immigration is not a problem. 120 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: What are Democrats going to need to do to win 121 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: back seats in the midterms. 122 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, always good to start by shutting 123 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 3: up and listening. I think you know that's really hard 124 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 3: for politicians, really hard for people in Washington. But our 125 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 3: politics changes every eighteen months, right, I mean, just to 126 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:12,239 Speaker 3: your point that issues change, foods change, the economy changes, 127 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,679 Speaker 3: things change and shift you to work amazingly. In twenty 128 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 3: twenty eight, it'll be twenty years since Barack Obama was 129 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: first elected, which kind of blows my mind. We're so old, 130 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 3: right check, yes, affirmative but although I'm still a complete 131 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 3: infant in the Senate, but yes, it's old in the 132 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 3: real world. 133 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: But the. 134 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 3: Thing that I think we need to acknowledge is that 135 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 3: you know it depending on when we say you can't 136 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: fight the last war, right, And so we can't just 137 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 3: say okay, well now it's all it's all the economy. 138 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: So there we go. 139 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 3: We know our message. It may be Yeah, the chances are, 140 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 3: what with what this president is doing on the economy, 141 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 3: we're going to be talking about the cost of living 142 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 3: and the threat to the American dream a year from now. 143 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 2: But you got to be open. 144 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: You got to actually approach human beings with an open 145 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 3: mind and say, like, where where are you right now? 146 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 3: I think this is important? But what's important to you? 147 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 3: And I think candidates that actually go into their own 148 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: communities and listen and go to places where people don't 149 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 3: agree with them, yeah, and just sit and talk to 150 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 3: people are going to be way better off than someone 151 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 3: who's just listening to like a consultant in Washington who's 152 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 3: fighting the last war. 153 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: Yep, you're so smart, you're so common sense, you're so normal. 154 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 2: Will you run the low bar now? Will you run 155 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: for president? Oh? God? I think. 156 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 3: Look, I got here like one minute ago to the Senate. 157 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 3: I think, and by my tracking, there's like twenty nine people. 158 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 3: I have a spreadsheet of like twenty nine people who 159 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: say they're running for president. Yeah, And I think, to me, 160 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 3: what's important and what I'm trying to do is say, Okay, 161 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 3: I don't know what's going to happen in twenty eight. 162 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 3: But I do know that the profile of the Midwestern Democrat, 163 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 3: of those practical, reasonable folks in the middle of the 164 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 3: country who don't always get a lot of airtime in 165 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 3: the party, like you know, we're not all from New 166 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: York in California, needs some elevating. So I was personally 167 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 3: spending my time saying, you know what, I'm going to 168 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 3: go to Wisconsin, to Pittsburgh, to Kansas, to Missouri to 169 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 3: you know, Ohio. I'm going to go to these places 170 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 3: and elevate the candidates who win in my part of 171 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 3: the country. Because if we want to win generally in 172 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 3: twenty twenty eight and push back on what this president 173 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: you know who is by my accounting, not necessarily giving 174 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: up power, right, I mean, let's be honest about what's 175 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 3: happening here, but who is committed to having him or 176 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 3: his ilk continue in power. I want to do what 177 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 3: I can to elevate the part of the country that 178 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 3: you always need in a national election, but somehow we 179 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 3: always ignore in between elections. 180 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: That's not a no. We're gonna finish with an exit pole. 181 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 1: Our exit poll is three questions of varying degrees of seriousness. 182 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: The first is favorite movie about politics. 183 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 3: God, I don't like movies about politics. 184 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: Oh Wag the Dog. Great, that's a great movie. 185 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 3: Sometimes I believe sometimes I think I live in a 186 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 3: VEEP episode. Yes, I am living in one and so, 187 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 3: but that's not a movie, that's TV. 188 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 2: Who's the person on the other side of the aisle 189 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 2: you like? 190 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: I really like John Curtis, who's a fellow freshman. He 191 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 3: replaced Mitt Romney. We served in the House together in 192 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 3: the problem Solver's Caucus, and he's just you know, I 193 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: don't agree with a lot of his votes, but he 194 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 3: is a decent human being and I learned from him. 195 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 2: Great. And finally, how do we save our democracy? 196 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 3: First of all, it's kind of like everything. You got 197 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 3: to admit you have a problem if you want to recover. 198 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 3: And I think, you know, I gave a speech a 199 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: week ago or a week and a half ago that 200 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: I never thought i'd give. That we need to say 201 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: out loud what this president is doing, putting together secret 202 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 3: lists of domestic terrorist organizations, deploying you know, law enforcement 203 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 3: and military in ways that we've never seen in American streets, 204 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 3: and saying aloud that he may not leave power. Yep, 205 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 3: we need to say that out loud and then come 206 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 3: at that with a strategy or else we're just whistling 207 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 3: past the graveyard. 208 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: Yes, Alyssa slock In, thank you so much for joining us. 209 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: We really appreciate it. Good to see you you too. Okay, well, 210 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: that was a great conversation. Another great conversation. I love 211 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: these convos on talking politics. 212 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: Don't go anywhere. 213 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: After the break, we come back, maybe a little male 214 00:11:54,080 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: and then my political hot take, and we're back with 215 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: talking politics. But before we get to my mini mono, Lauren, 216 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: do we have any mail? 217 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: We do. 218 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 4: We have a listener from Georgia, Nassim, who loves the 219 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 4: Talking Coffee episode good, but is responding to your conversation 220 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 4: with ram Emanuel on Talking Politics. She really liked this 221 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 4: question you posed, quote, where's the thing that is going 222 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 4: to bind progressives and moderates all over the country around 223 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 4: some common ground so they can run together as a 224 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 4: party and not against each other. She's a voter in 225 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 4: Georgia and the divisions and the Democratic Party are incredibly 226 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 4: frustrating because it is in part what gave us the 227 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 4: current administration. She goes on, progressives are too focused on 228 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 4: culture wars and puritan politics, and this is not a 229 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 4: winning strategy. The New York City mayoral race has highlighted 230 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 4: to me is that progressives can be won over with 231 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 4: a message on classism. This is where I think moderates 232 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 4: can bridge the gap. I'm not suggesting a Democratic socialist 233 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 4: should run in the next presidential election, but that a 234 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 4: moderate should focus their messaging around classism, at least for 235 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 4: their primary and in the general election, Dems could focus 236 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 4: on three issues max impacting people's money, kids, and possibly 237 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 4: safety because most people care about those issues. I'm not 238 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 4: sure what their slogan should be, but these are some 239 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 4: ideas that come to mind. What do you think. 240 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: I think we have really smart listeners. Yes, that's a 241 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: really smart take. Yeah, I'm not just saying that because 242 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: she flattered me, but that is really smart. And if 243 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: you look at Republicans, I mean, they're all united, they're 244 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,079 Speaker 1: all they all get in line, and if they don't, 245 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: they end up like me, on the outside of the 246 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: party right either because we leave or they kick us out. 247 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: I'm not saying Dems should do that, but I think 248 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: it's imperative that progressives and moderates stuff running against each 249 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: other totally if Democrats are going to win again, and 250 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: I'm glad that she agrees. I think that gives me 251 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: some hope that people aren't stuck in these internecine battles 252 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: with each other and they get the stakes. 253 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: The stakes are you gotta win. 254 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: If you want to change things that are going on, 255 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: you have to win elections. 256 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 4: And I love what Senator Spockin said about like there 257 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 4: can be diversity within the party, of course, represents where 258 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 4: you live and who your people are. 259 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: But you've got to unite around an agenda. 260 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: And I think what I've been noting and talking about 261 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: for a while now, at least since twenty twenty four, 262 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: is that Democrats don't seem to have an agenda to 263 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: unite around. They can be on disparate ends of the 264 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: liberal spectrum, but you need an agenda to unite around 265 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: a thing that they can all go out and say, 266 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: we all care about affordability, we all care about X, 267 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: y Z. We might have different ways to approach it 268 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: as progressives or democratic socialists or moderates, but we all 269 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: agree these are the things we need to accomplish for 270 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: the American people. So I hope they get there and 271 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: honestly this week, and I'll get into it in my 272 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: mini mono. So we gave me some hope. So before 273 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: we get into it, thank you Nasim for that question. 274 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: And please email us at Off the Cup Cup with 275 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: two p's at gmail dot com. Questions, comments, criticism. It 276 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: can be about politics, it can be about coffee, it 277 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: can be about our Off the Cup mental health interviews 278 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: with celebrities. 279 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 2: I want to hear it. 280 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: And maybe we'll even do it on the show. Okay, 281 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: here is my hot take of the week. 282 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 2: And it was a very busy week. 283 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: The week was dominated by an election that saw huge 284 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: Democratic wins. It was a sweep of the biggest races. 285 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: They won in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia, and California. 286 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: Now look, those states aren't read by any means, but 287 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: Trump and Republicans were certainly hoping they could rub a 288 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: win or two in Democrats face this week, and they can't. 289 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 2: But were they all a. 290 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: Referendum on Trump? That's the question everyone is sort of 291 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: asking and wrestling with. 292 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 2: My answer is yes and no. 293 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: I think it goes without saying that in this the 294 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: first time most voters had a chance to cast a 295 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: vote since twenty twenty four, there was some correcting for 296 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: those Democratic losses. I think nearly a year of Trump's 297 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: I would say absolutely disastrous second term, where we had 298 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: those self defeating Doge cuts, troops storming American cities, illegal 299 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: ice rates and kidnapped things, a huge tariff blunder that 300 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: Trump is still trying to make work and save face 301 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: on a looming recession. A party that wants to take 302 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: health care and benefits away from millions of Americans, the 303 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: Epstein disaster, the longest government shut down in history, a 304 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: dysfunctional Congress, a president more concerned with avenging personal grievances 305 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: than solving americans problems. 306 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 2: I think a lot of people are totally over. 307 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: This, even people who might have voted for him in 308 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four out of pure frustration with a Democratic 309 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: party that just didn't seem to get it well. I 310 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: think they're saying, this isn't what I voted for at all. 311 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: So these votes for Mom, Donnie and span Berger and 312 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: Cheryl and Prop fifty in California were in part about 313 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 1: sending a message shoring up a blue wall of defense, 314 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 1: even if it's just around your district, your city, or 315 00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: your state, It was a way of saying, we might 316 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: not have a majority in Washington, but we're going to 317 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: make sure our city, our state isn't taken over by 318 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: Trump too. 319 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: So if I'm Republicans. 320 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: Today, I'm worried about the midterms, absolutely, but I also 321 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: think this was about something else, and two things can 322 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: be true at the same time. 323 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 2: These races were. 324 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: Laser focused on the top issues that mattered to the 325 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: most amount of people. 326 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 2: Okay, as I. 327 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 1: Just said with Senator Slockin, these races were focused on affordability, 328 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: quality of life, childcare, transit, housing, energy costs, public safety. 329 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: All of these candidates met voters where they are, and 330 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: oftentimes Democrats meet voters where they wish they were, where 331 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: they want them to be. They focus on the issues 332 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: they wish voters cared about the most, issues like climate change, democracy, 333 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: social issues. It's coming from a good place and those 334 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: issues do matter to people. But if they're not the 335 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: top issues, it just doesn't serve Democrats well. And in 336 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four we saw this disconnect acutely. Democrats really 337 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: wanted issues like democracy. January sixth, Trump's racism xenophobia projects 338 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, Women's and trans rites. Democrats wanted these 339 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 1: things to be the things that mattered the most to 340 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: the most voters, but they wearrn't. And voters were telling 341 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,400 Speaker 1: us what they cared about over and over and over again, economy, crime, 342 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: and immigration. And what did Biden and Harris and Democratic 343 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: leaders do. They told us the economy was good, crime 344 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: was down, there was no migrant crisis. That's political malfeasance. 345 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: They looked voters in the eye, they said, the things 346 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: you think our problems are not and we want you 347 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: to care about these other things instead. Malfeasance, malpractice. They 348 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: didn't deserve to win. 349 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 2: Now. 350 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: As I mentioned, sometimes the issues that Democrats want to 351 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: matter and the issues that do. 352 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 2: Matter line up, they overlap. 353 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: Like I said in twenty twenty two, Democrats really wanted 354 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: abortion in democracy to matter in the midterms, and they did. 355 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 1: But that's partly because abortion access and voting access were 356 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: literally on the ballot in states across the country. But 357 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: when you can't pay rent, or pay for health insurance, 358 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: or get a good job, you may feel like you 359 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: literally can't afford to care about democracy. And look, as 360 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: much as I care about democracy, if you don't understand that, 361 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: people can't always afford to do that, then you are 362 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: sitting from a very privileged place. What Mom, Donnie and 363 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: the moderates in New Jersey and Virginia figured out, and 364 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: it was not rocket science, was that they have to 365 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: meet voters where they are, not where they want them 366 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: to be. It's super simple, it's pretty obvious. It's hugely effective. 367 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: If Democrats can do that over the next year, they'll 368 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: win back seats in the midterms, mark my words. 369 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 2: And that's the name of the game. Guys. 370 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: If you want to take away Trump's power, and he's 371 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: got a ton of it right now, you have to 372 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: win elections. You don't do it with sit ins or 373 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: long speeches on the House floor. You do it by 374 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: winning elections period, take back the majority, take away some 375 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 1: of his power. These elections this week were a literal 376 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: roadmap of how to do it. Run to solve the 377 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: problems voters are telling you they have, not the problems 378 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: you think they should be worried about. It's a good week. 379 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: I'm hopeful, guys. Between people like Alissa's lock in and 380 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: we talk rum a manual here before, I'm feeling good 381 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: about where Democrats can go. And I gotta be honest, 382 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: I haven't felt good about that since twenty twenty four, 383 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: not at all. 384 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 2: So let's enjoy this. 385 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: Moment of optimism because I'm sure it will be short lived. 386 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: Okay, that's all for me. We'll see you next time. 387 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: Don't forget to write us at Off the Cup Cup 388 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: with two b's at gmail dot com. 389 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: If you have questions or comments, Thanks for tuning in and. 390 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: Go check out Talking Coffee and are Off the Cup episodes. 391 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:40,159 Speaker 1: Bye Off the Cup is a production of iHeart Podcasts 392 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: as part of the Reason Choice Network. 393 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 2: If you want more, check out the other Reason. 394 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,160 Speaker 1: Choice podcasts Spolitics with Jamel Hill and Native Land Pod. 395 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: For Off the Cup, I'm your host, Si Cup. Editing 396 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: and sound design by Derek Clements. 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