Podcast Summary: "Young Democrats vs. the Gerontocracy" | On with Kara Swisher

Release Date: June 16, 2025
Host: Kara Swisher
Guests: Congressman Greg Cassar, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, Amanda Littman

Introduction

In this episode of On with Kara Swisher, host Kara Swisher delves into the ongoing crisis within the Democratic Party, focusing on the generational shift and the challenges posed by an aging congressional body. She is joined by three prominent young Democrats:

• Congressman Greg Cassar: Represents Texas's 35th district, Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus since January 2025, and an active participant in the "Fight the Oligarchy" tour alongside Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

• Congresswoman Sarah McBride: The sole representative of Delaware, formerly a state senator, and the first openly transgender elected official in Congress. She has navigated significant discrimination, including legislative attempts to exclude her from using the Capitol’s women’s bathroom.

• Amanda Littman: Co-founder of Run for Something, an organization dedicated to supporting young, diverse progressives in down-ballot races. Since 2017, it has assisted nearly 1,500 candidates across 49 states and D.C.

The Crisis in the Democratic Party

Kara Swisher opens the discussion by addressing the Democratic Party's internal struggles, particularly the generational divide. Referencing a Washington Post op-ed by Dana Milbank, she highlights the prevalence of phrases like "Democrats need to" and "Democrats must," signifying ongoing disarray within the party.

Key Quotes:

• Kara Swisher (05:38): "I'd like each of you to complete the phrase Democrats need to. Democrats should and Democrats should not."

• Sarah McBride (05:30): "Democrats should fight smart. Democrats should not shed imperfect allies."

Democratic Strategy and Messaging

The guests offer their perspectives on what Democrats should prioritize to address the party's crisis:

• Sarah McBride emphasizes the importance of prioritizing bold economic policies and avoiding the abandonment of imperfect allies. She believes that focusing solely on social issues like LGBTQ rights and abortion, while essential, has marginalized the party's broader economic agenda in the eyes of many voters.

  Key Quote:

  • Sarah McBride (05:38): "Democrats should not shed imperfect allies and need to prioritize bold economic policy."

• Amanda Littman discusses the necessity of embracing new leaders capable of navigating the modern media landscape and discarding outdated playbooks that no longer serve the party's objectives.

  Key Quote:

  • Amanda Littman (05:49): "Democrats should embrace new leaders who can fight smarter in the modern media environment."

• Greg Cassar underscores the urgency of reconnecting with working-class voters by addressing their daily concerns and confronting the real issues harming their livelihoods, rather than being perceived as defenders of the status quo.

  Key Quote:

  • Greg Cassar (06:12): "We must reconnect with people and not think that just dumping a bunch of money on folks right near an election is going to win us people's trust back."

Generational Divide in Congress: The Gerontocracy

The conversation shifts to the demographics of Congress, highlighting that Millennials now constitute 15% of the House, with only one Gen Z representative, while 120 members are over 70 years old. This aging congressional body is seen as a barrier to addressing issues central to younger generations.

• Amanda Littman criticizes the reluctance of older Democrats to support younger candidates, arguing that the "gerontocracy" lacks the necessary skills and resilience to tackle contemporary political battles effectively.

  Key Quote:

  • Amanda Littman (29:10): "The older leaders... have neither the skills nor the stomach to wage the war we need in this moment."

• Sarah McBride advocates for structural changes, such as term limits for senior members and committee chairs, to facilitate a natural influx of younger leaders into Congress.

  Key Quote:

  • Sarah McBride (30:56): "I think that clearly we should have some structural changes in how we decide who is in positions of leadership and committees and for how long."

Competitive Primaries and Internal Party Dynamics

Discussing the importance of competitive primaries, Amanda Littman emphasizes that they are crucial for selecting the best candidates and fostering a dynamic, responsive party. She warns against incumbent complacency and highlights the need for internal party competition to bring fresh voices and perspectives.

Key Quote:

• Amanda Littman (32:11): "Competitive primaries are good... They are how the cream of the crop rise to the top."

Greg Cassar adds that focusing on open-seat races allows the party to avoid internal conflicts and better position itself in swing districts.

Key Quote:

• Greg Cassar (33:44): "We determine who the Democratic Party's gonna be in the swing seats... In these primaries, you decide what kind of party we wanna be."

Bipartisanship vs. Partisanship

Sarah McBride shares her experiences as a transgender Congresswoman, navigating bipartisan efforts despite facing significant opposition and personal attacks. She argues that bipartisanship is essential for effective governance and combating the rising tide of polarization that can open the door for authoritarianism.

Key Quote:

• Sarah McBride (16:01): "Bipartisanship, whether you like it or not, has to be part of a presidential systems process to prevent the kind of frustration that Donald Trump has been able to exploit for political gain."

Use of Social Media and Digital Communication

The guests discuss the pivotal role of social media in modern politics. Amanda Littman highlights the importance of authentic, personality-driven communication to engage younger voters effectively. She criticizes the Democratic Party's historical lack of compelling messengers who can break through the digital noise.

Key Quote:

• Amanda Littman (13:14): "You need a messenger who can do so really compellingly. And I think Greg and Sarah are incredible examples of that."

Greg Cassar and Sarah McBride further stress the need for Democrats to adapt their communication strategies to meet voters where they are, utilizing social media platforms to maintain constant engagement rather than treating digital communication as a mere campaign tool.

Key Quotes:

• Greg Cassar (36:38): "We've got to be able to go and communicate with folks on their phones and in non-traditional ways and to do that we've gotta be willing to break through and not do the same old stuff we always did."
• Sarah McBride (46:51): "Political strategy is now influenced by, if not dictated by, social media... We have to start having conversations that we used to have behind closed doors, out in public."

Addressing Identity Politics

The discussion also touches upon the balance between representing diverse identities and maintaining a focus on broad economic and social issues. Greg Cassar and Sarah McBride argue that economic agendas should take precedence, ensuring that social issues do not overshadow the party's commitment to improving the lives of all constituents.

Key Quote:

• Greg Cassar (25:03): "If somebody doesn't talk about it, the Republicans certainly bring it up. It's a deliberate strategy."

Sarah McBride (40:33): "We have to make sure we're communicating in a way where we're heard the way we want to be heard."

Future Vision: Empowering the Next Generation

In the concluding segment, the guests envision a transformed Democratic Party led by Millennials and Gen Z leaders:

• Amanda Littman predicts that new leadership will bring authenticity, transparency, and a focus on tangible issues like housing, childcare, and cost of living, making politics more relatable and hopeful.

  Key Quote:

  • Amanda Littman (57:14): "Leadership that is more authentic, more transparent... delivers on the issues people genuinely care about."

• Greg Cassar warns against complacency post-midterm victories, advocating for continuous evolution to prevent future setbacks and maintain momentum against adversarial forces.

  Key Quote:

  • Greg Cassar (58:06): "We just can't have these folks in charge for that long. We just can't."

• Sarah McBride emphasizes the importance of open, authentic communication and the potential healing effect it can have on the national body politic, fostering a more inclusive and engaged democracy.

  Key Quote:

  • Sarah McBride (60:36): "A new generation that is sharing themselves and their journey publicly is going to allow all of us to sort of rediscover what it means to do the hard work of democracy."

Conclusion

Kara Swisher wraps up the episode by highlighting the critical insights shared by her young Democratic guests. The conversation underscores the need for the Democratic Party to embrace generational change, prioritize working-class issues, leverage modern communication tools, and foster internal competition to rejuvenate the party’s image and effectiveness. The collective optimism among the guests suggests a hopeful path forward, contingent upon the party’s willingness to adapt and evolve in response to contemporary political landscapes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Greg Cassar (06:12): "We must reconnect with people and not think that just dumping a bunch of money on folks right near an election is going to win us people's trust back."

• Sarah McBride (05:38): "Democrats should not shed imperfect allies and need to prioritize bold economic policy."

• Amanda Littman (29:10): "The older leaders... have neither the skills nor the stomach to wage the war we need in this moment."

• Sarah McBride (16:01): "Bipartisanship... has to be part of a presidential systems process to prevent the kind of frustration that Donald Trump has been able to exploit for political gain."

• Amanda Littman (13:14): "You need a messenger who can do so really compellingly. And I think Greg and Sarah are incredible examples of that."

• Greg Cassar (25:03): "If somebody doesn't talk about it, the Republicans certainly bring it up. It's a deliberate strategy."

• Sarah McBride (60:36): "A new generation that is sharing themselves and their journey publicly is going to allow all of us to sort of rediscover what it means to do the hard work of democracy."

This episode provides a comprehensive examination of the Democratic Party's internal challenges and the imperative for young leaders to spearhead transformative change. It offers valuable insights into how the party can realign itself to better represent and resonate with a diverse, younger electorate in an increasingly complex political environment.