Can democrats find their way out of the wilderness?

Summary

Consider This from NPR: Can Democrats Find Their Way Out of the Wilderness?

Episode Release Date: March 5, 2025

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Introduction

In the March 5, 2025 episode of NPR's "Consider This", host Juana Summers delves into the intricate challenges facing the Democratic Party amidst President Donald Trump's first six weeks in office. Titled "Can Democrats Find Their Way Out of the Wilderness?", the episode explores the multifaceted responses from Democrats, ranging from protest actions to strategic moderations aimed at regaining voter trust and preparing for the upcoming elections.

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Democratic Protests Against President Trump

The episode opens with a significant incident where Texas Democratic Representative Al Green was escorted out of the House chamber for heckling President Trump during his joint session address.

Juana Summers begins the discussion:

"Heckling a president during a speech isn't new. What was unprecedented Tuesday night...was a lawmaker being escorted out for such heckling." (00:00)

Matt Bennett, discussing the event, notes:

"We won the popular vote by big...Numbers and won counties in our country." (00:13-00:15)

Al Green's actions during the speech included waving his cane and vocally opposing Trump's claim of a voter mandate:

"You don't have a mandate to cut Medicaid." (00:20)

Other forms of protest included Democrats holding signs with slogans like "That's a lie" and "Musk steals," wearing pink to make statements, walking out during the speech, or skipping the event altogether. These actions symbolize Democrats' frustration with Trump's attempts to restructure the federal workforce, challenge the separation of powers, and alter the global order.

Juana Summers summarizes:

"This has been some Democrats approach to Trump's first six weeks in office as he's aimed to slash the federal workforce, tested the separation of powers, and reshaped the global order." (00:57)

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Moderate Democratic Responses

Amidst these protests, a notable shift toward moderate strategies was observed. Senator Alyssa Slotkin from Michigan, a centrist Democrat who won her seat in a Trump-carried state, presented a balanced critique of Trump's policies.

Alyssa Slotkin asserts:

"President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends...he's going to make you pay in every part of your life." (01:55)

However, she also emphasizes bipartisan cooperation on issues like immigration reform and government efficiency, citing Ronald Reagan as an inspiration:

"Republicans and Democrats should work together to fix America's immigration system." (02:10)

Slotkin’s speech aimed to resonate with moderates by highlighting shared values:

"Most Americans share three core beliefs. That the middle class is the engine of our country, that strong national security protects us from harm, and that our democracy, no matter how messy, is unparalleled and worth fighting for." (02:29)

Juana Summers reflects on these strategies:

"Consider this. Democratic moderates think they have an answer for Trump 2.0. What does their playbook look like?" (02:48)

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Challenges of Limited Democratic Power

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledges the Democrats' limited control over governmental levers:

"Republicans have repeatedly lectured America. They control the House, the Senate, and the presidency. It's their government. What leverage do we have?" (04:03)

This realization has driven Democrats to contemplate strategies not only for immediate pushback but also for regaining electoral momentum in future elections.

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Strategic Retreat and Democrat’s Playbook

A pivotal segment of the episode features an in-depth conversation with Matt Bennett, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank. He discusses the outcomes of a recent retreat organized to strategize Democratic responses.

Juana Summers inquires about the retreat’s atmosphere:

"What was the vibe like?" (05:15)

Matt Bennett responds:

"Three weeks into the Trump administration... the vibe was pretty downbeat... we did a lot of hard thinking about what we're saying to voters on cultural issues like immigration and crime and other things, and on the economy." (05:29-05:56)

Key conclusions from the retreat include the necessity for Democrats to reclaim the "battle for reasonableness," emphasizing relatability and addressing voters' genuine fears without alienating them.

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Reclaiming Reasonableness

Matt Bennett critiques the party’s current stance:

"Voters felt like first of all, that we had lost that battle for reasonableness... Democrats were offering chaos at the border, in the grocery store, on the streets." (06:03-07:15)

To rectify this, Bennett advocates for:

1. Contrasting Trump’s Unreasonableness: Highlighting the chaos wrought by Trump's policies versus Democratic proposals.

   "Instead of a scalpel, Musk is literally bringing a chainsaw to the federal government and cutting things that nobody voted to cut." (07:23)

2. Relatable Messaging: Communicating economic issues in accessible terms and addressing everyday concerns without dismissing voters' hardships.

   "Senator Slotkin's response was quite good. She talked about the economy in realistic and very simple terms." (07:15-08:33)

Bennett underscores the importance of presenting Democrats as the reasonable alternative, capable of restoring order without disregarding the electorate's struggles.

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Internal Dynamics and Party Unification

The episode addresses the inherent diversity within the Democratic Party, particularly the divide between moderates and progressives. A clip from Senator Tim Kaine underscores this dynamic:

"I don't believe in organized political parties. That's why I'm a Democrat." (08:47-08:50)

Matt Bennett acknowledges the challenges in achieving party unity:

"We're never gonna be unified the way Republicans are... we're always gonna have a very progressive wing and a more moderate wing." (09:02-09:49)

Despite acknowledging the lack of uniformity, Bennett emphasizes the potential for cohesion around core arguments opposing Trump's agenda:

"We can rally around some core arguments that we can make about where Trump wants to take us versus where we should be headed." (09:02-09:49)

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Conclusion: Navigating the Path Forward

The episode concludes by highlighting the strategic imperatives for Democrats:

• Distinctive Contrast: Clearly delineating the differences between Democratic policies and Trump's approach.
• Relatable Communication: Engaging with voters on issues that directly impact their lives in an understandable manner.
• Core Unity: While embracing internal diversity, finding common ground to present a united front against the current administration.

Juana Summers wraps up:

"Consider this. Democratic moderates think they have an answer for Trump 2.0. What does their playbook look like?" (02:48)

This episode of "Consider This" offers a comprehensive examination of the Democratic Party's strategic crossroads, underscoring the delicate balance between protest and pragmatic policy-making essential for regaining political ground in a tumultuous political landscape.

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Notable Quotes

• Juana Summers: "Heckling a president during a speech isn't new. What was unprecedented Tuesday night...was a lawmaker being escorted out for such heckling." (00:00)

• Alyssa Slotkin: "President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends...he's going to make you pay in every part of your life." (01:55)

• Matt Bennett: "We won the popular vote by big...Numbers and won counties in our country." (00:13-00:15)

• Matt Bennett: "We can rally around some core arguments that we can make about where Trump wants to take us versus where we should be headed." (09:02-09:49)

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Production Credits

• Produced by: Alejandra Marquez Hansen, Conor Donovan, and Jeffrey Pierre
• Edited by: Courtney Dorning
• Executive Producer: Sammy Yenigun

For an ad-free experience, Amazon Prime members can listen to "Consider This" through Amazon Music or support NPR’s journalism by subscribing to Consider This Plus at plus.NPR.org.

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Juana Summers]

Heckling a president during a speech isn't new. What was unprecedented Tuesday night, as President Trump addressed the nation in a joint session of Congress, was a lawmaker being escorted out for such heckling.

[Matt Bennett]

We won the popular vote by big.

[Tim Kaine]

Numbers and won counties in our country.

[Juana Summers]

Texas Democratic Representative Al Green stood up after Trump said voters gave them a mandate when they elected him last fall. Greene waved his cane as he yelled at the president. You don't have a mandate to cut Medicaid. House Speaker Mike Johnson gave warnings.

[Matt Bennett]

Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and to cease any further disruptions.

[Juana Summers]

And when that didn't work, Greene was removed from the House chamber.

[Matt Bennett]

The chair now directs the Sergeant at Arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber.

[Juana Summers]

This was one of several ways Democrats pressed protested the president's speech last night. They also held signs throughout the speech with phrases like, that's a lie or musk steals. Many wore pink to try to make a statement. Some walked out during the speech. Others skipped the event altogether. This has been some Democrats approach to Trump's first six weeks in office as he's aimed to slash the federal workforce, tested the separation of powers, and reshaped the global order. Democrats don't control any of the levers of power, so they protest. But we also saw a different approach Tuesday night.

[Alyssa Slotkin]

My dad was a lifelong Republican, my mom a lifelong Democrat. But it was never a big deal because we had shared values that were bigger than any one party.

[Juana Summers]

For their response to Trump's address, Democrats chose a senator who won last November in a state that Trump carried. Alyssa Slotkin is a centrist from Michigan. She framed Trump's agenda as an attack on the middle class.

[Alyssa Slotkin]

President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends. He's on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America. And to do that, he's going to make you pay in every part of your life.

[Juana Summers]

But she also said Republicans and Democrats should work together to fix America's immigration system. She cited Ronald Reagan approvingly and even agreed with Trump that the government should run more efficiently, though she strongly criticized his chaotic approach. It was a speech aimed squarely at.

[Alyssa Slotkin]

Moderates because whether you're from Wyandotte or Wichita, most Americans share three core beliefs. That the middle class is the engine of our country, that strong national security protects us from harm, and that our democracy, no matter how messy, is unparalleled and worth fighting for.

[Juana Summers]

Consider this. Democratic moderates think they have an answer for Trump 2.0. What does their playbook look like? From NPR, I'm Juana Summers.

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[Juana Summers]

It'S consider this from npr. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged last month that Democrats don't have much power.

[Matt Bennett]

Republicans have repeatedly lectured America. They control the House, the Senate, and the presidency. It's their government. What leverage do we have?

[Juana Summers]

So as they think about how to try to push back on Trump, Democrats are also thinking about how to win the next election. What's the case they want to make? That's a question that Matt Bennett and his fellow moderate Democrats tried to answer at a recent retreat. Bennett is the executive vice president for public affairs at Third Way. That's a centrist Democratic think tank. When I spoke to him earlier today, I asked him if he thought that Democrats protests during the joint address were effective.

[Matt Bennett]

I really don't. Look, I share their passion. I understand their anger. And I share the anger. I feel it every single day. I just don't think that's what we need to be doing as a party right now. Because I think ultimately our job is to win back the votes of voters that left us, the people that either stayed home or voted for Republicans in 2024. And I really don't think that those kinds of displays are what those voters are looking for. They're looking for a party that that is more reasonable in their view than Trump and the Republicans. I think we have an opportunity to win that battle, but probably not through displays like that.

[Juana Summers]

I want to turn now to the retreat that you helped organize in February. You got a group of moderate Democrats together for a day and a half. And I understand that was a group that included some elected officials, consultants, folks who worked on campaigns, and a couple of words. What was the vibe like?

[Matt Bennett]

Well, look, it was, you know, three weeks into the Trump administration. So the vibe was pretty downbeat. I think everybody there was fairly grim and clear eyed about the depth of the hole that Democrats find ourselves in at the moment. So we did a lot of hard thinking about what we're saying to voters on cultural issues like immigration and crime and other things, and on the economy. And I think we all agree that we have work to do in both areas.

[Juana Summers]

Give us a sampling of what some of those conversations were like among you and your fellow Democrats.

[Matt Bennett]

Well, I think one thing that we concluded was voters felt like first of all, that we had lost that battle for reasonableness, that somehow Donald Trump, who in my view at least is the most unreasonable national figure maybe in the history of American politics, beat us and was able to argue that he would restore order. Where the Democrats were offering chaos at the border, in the grocery store, on the streets, now we have a huge opportunity because he is not restoring order, he is bringing chaos of his own. But we can't rely on that to win. We've got to make sure that voters don't think that we're completely out of touch with how they live their lives, with their values and what they believe is important. So we can't simply minimize their fears about immigration or about or about crime. And we can't talk to them about the economy and just say, look, the macroeconomic numbers are great when many people are living right close to, to the edge and just trying to keep body and soul together. And I think that is where Democrats fell short as a party, not individual candidates, but as a party. And that's where we must improve.

[Juana Summers]

I've heard you say several times that your party appears to have lost the battle for reasonableness. How does it win it back?

[Matt Bennett]

Well, some of that is contrast. And I think what we must do is make clear that what Trump is doing now is deeply unreasonable. And as Senator Slotin pointed out last night, I think very effectively the kinds of reforms that he promised might be good, but the kinds of cuts that he's bringing are not. Instead of a scalpel, Musk is literally bringing a chainsaw to the federal government and cutting things that nobody voted to cut. Nobody went to the polls and voted to stop research in Alzheimer's or cancer. Nobody wanted to cut the park Service employees that clean the bathrooms or air traffic controllers or veterans who are trying to help other veterans in crisis. No one voted for that. And Democrats must make sure that people understand that that's what they're getting in the second Trump term. So setting the contrast is vital. And then talking about the issues that people care about in ways that they can really relate to, I think is also very important, which is, again, why I thought Senator Slotkin's response was quite good. She talked about the economy realistic and very simple terms, and we've got to keep that up.

[Juana Summers]

At the same time, we have noted that you come from a more moderate perspective. There are progressives in your party who might disagree with some of what you've said. I want to play you a cut of tape. It is from Virginia's Democratic senator, Tim Kaine. He spoke to my colleague Michelle Martin this morning. I think it was Will Rogers who.

[Tim Kaine]

Said, I don't believe in organized political parties.

[Juana Summers]

That's why I'm a Democrat.

[Tim Kaine]

We pride we pride ourselves on being iconoclastic and individualistic.

[Juana Summers]

MATT Bennett, it's sort of a funny line, but I do kind of wonder, can the party marshal the discipline to reach out to voters with a unified.

[Matt Bennett]

We'Re never gonna be unified the way Republicans are. I mean, they've kind of become cultish. They just leapt their feet and cheered no matter what Trump said last night, including when he was making absurd and insulting comments about one of their colleagues. So, no, we're never gonna have that kind of slavish uniformity that Republicans under Trump have got. And as Jesse Jackson said decades ago, the Democratic Party needs two wings to fly. We're always gonna have a very progressive wing and a more moderate wing. But I think we can rally around some core arguments that we can make about where Trump wants to take us versus where we should be headed. And so, no, we won't speak with one voice, but I think we can be more unified than we are.

[Juana Summers]

That was Matt Bennett. He's the executive vice president for public affairs at Third Way. Matt, thank you.

[Matt Bennett]

Thank you.

[Juana Summers]

This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Hansen, Conor Donovan and Jeffrey Pierre. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Juana Summers. Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to Consider this sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get consider this [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.