Pod Save America: "What’s the Story We’re Telling? + Sen. Ruben Gallego"

Date: November 19, 2025
Location: CrookedCon (Live)

Overview

This episode features a dynamic, in-depth CrookedCon panel with leading Democratic strategists and storytellers—including Jen Psaki, Faz Shakir, Rebecca Katz, Liz Smith, and Adam Jentleson—hosted by Jon Favreau. The focus is on how Democrats should craft, communicate, and unify around a coherent political narrative heading into 2026 and 2028, particularly regarding affordability, culture, and the future of the party. The episode concludes with an extended, candid interview with Senator Ruben Gallego about winning coalition strategies, connecting with working-class and Latino voters, the importance of appearing as fighters, and lessons from both Congress and the campaign trail.

Timestamps below refer to key moments in the discussion and interview.

Main Themes

• Crafting a unifying Democratic narrative beyond buzzwords and issue silos
• The centrality of affordability and economic anxieties for voters
• Building and maintaining a "big tent" party with authentic candidates
• The challenge of messaging, governing, and overpromising
• Embracing both defensive and offensive strategies against Republican narratives
• Lessons from past legislative achievements and how to communicate success
• The need for risk-taking, boldness, and authentic connection to communities
• Senator Ruben Gallego's perspective on coalition-building, Latino voters, and fighting for the "good life"

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Democratic Narrative: Cohesion vs Slogans

[01:45] Jon Favreau:
Introduces the "story" Democrats tell—how issues must fit into a larger, persuasive narrative, not just isolated policies or slogans.

[04:10] Rebecca Katz:

• "A lot of different kind of Democrats won. And that's good... We need candidates who can authentically speak to the constituencies they're running to represent. And voters can smell bullshit."
• Emphasizes authenticity and first-person experience over generic messaging.

2. Affordability, the "Big Tent," and Local Tailoring

[04:56] Liz Smith:

• "We've got to let people run in a way that fits the communities they're trying to represent."
• Gives examples: Mamdani and Spanberger represent different wings, but both succeed authentically.
• Democrats should also "take on the status quo and the establishment shit that is not helping our party."

[06:45] Faz Shakir:

• Calls for concrete mandates: candidates must tell voters exactly what they'll do on affordability, not just run on anti-Trump sentiment.
• "I want people running with the sense that we're going to win this election, not on the backs of people hating Donald Trump and the corruption that he stands for. Yes, that. And when we get into office, there are two, three, four things that we are going to do to address affordability, and here's why, and here's how."

3. Governing, Messaging, and Lessons from Obama/Biden

[12:21] Jen Psaki:

• Policy must be "digestible"—not "opportunity agendas" or thousand-page bills, but priorities voters can understand.
• Gives the ACA as an example: "We talked about bending the cost curve and how the bill was going to do that. That was a terrible message because nobody understood what it was."
• "When [Obama] finally started talking about it as individual, incremental things, then it started to become more popular."
• Importance of translating success in office to perceived improvement in voters’ lives.

[15:13] Rebecca Katz:

• Critiques Democrats for lacking boldness after election wins. "We have a lot of people who are up there. They get power and they don't do anything with their power."
• Praises Mamdani for using his momentum and microphone to inspire further action.

4. Overpromising and Setting Voter Expectations

[16:05] Jon Favreau:

• Cautions about overpromising when future conditions (like a Trump veto) may block legislative progress: "We need an affirmative vision... but ... all the things that we promised... will not happen if we take back Congress, because Donald Trump will still be president for two more years..."

[16:56] Adam Jentleson:

• On strategy if Dems control Congress with a Republican president: "You can pass a lot of stuff with your Democratic majorities, send it over to the White House and let the White House, the Republican President, White House, block it. ... Show, don't tell. Show people what they could have if Democrats were in power."

5. “Naming the Enemy" and Building Trust

[22:23] Jen Psaki & [23:33] Rebecca Katz:

• Stress need to tie positive agendas to exposing Republican corruption.
• "It's important to tie your proactive agenda...with what the other guy or gal is not doing. Because they don't care about you, they care about themselves." (Psaki)
• Naming villains (e.g., "crony of the week"), pointing out corporate self-enrichment, and contrasting with Democratic values.

6. Defensive and Offensive Messaging: Immigration, Crime, Culture Wars

[28:23] Jon Favreau:

• Notes the GOP will set the terms for some national debates (crime, immigration), challenging Dems to respond effectively.

[29:32] Rebecca Katz & [30:04] Adam Jentleson:

• On chaos: "You know what voters hate? Chaos. They don't like chaos. Like, they want things normal and good." (Katz)
• On immigration: Democrats shouldn't shy from tough topics; must be able to pivot from defense (secure borders, law and order) to offense (arguing raids hurt safety).

[31:55] Liz Smith:

• On winning the immigration argument: Lead with the common-sense value—"We need a secure border"—then pivot to humane, pragmatic arguments.

[33:56] Faz Shakir:

• Argues Democrats need to own enforcement powers responsibly, not shy away from wielding authority, whether in immigration, economic regulation, etc.

7. Authenticity, Risk-Taking, and Campaign Strategy

[38:20] Jen Psaki:

• Urges candidates to ignore generic national talking points and wasteful campaign activities (e.g., lengthy questionnaire responses) in favor of local authenticity.

[43:58] Jon Favreau & Adam Jentleson:

• Discusses how interest group pressure and Democratic primary dynamics can push candidates into unpopular positions; calls for candidates to show backbone and prioritize big-picture wins.

8. Vision for 2028: What’s Beyond Affordability?

[50:04] Jon Favreau:

• Asks what should define the Democratic affirmative vision alongside economic issues, citing past party leaders who combined economic focus with higher-order values—community, democracy, reform.

[51:01] Adam Jentleson:

• Proposes Democrats stand for "ending poverty in the richest nation in the world," especially as AI and economic shifts accelerate.

[53:13] Faz Shakir:

• Offers a broader call: "Society around us is in a period in this Greatest country on earth in cultural decay..." Proposes a "sense of calling you into service," and "democracy in an economic sense."

[55:19] Liz Smith:

• Connects the need for economic inclusion, moral leadership, and spiritual longing for community.

9. What Makes a Fighter – and What Kind of Fighter?

[61:13] Jon Favreau:

• Panelists agree Democrats must be fighters, but Liz Smith cautions: "It's not just fighting for fighting sake... I want to see like productive fighting, not just performative fighting."
• Rebecca Katz echoes that backbone and belief inspire turnout and success.

Senator Ruben Gallego Interview: Coalition, Authenticity, and Fighting for the "Good Life"

[64:02] Gallego joins for an extended, audience-energizing interview, bringing practical, campaign-tested insights.

Key Takeaways

Winning Coalition:

• "The winning coalition that we've had for years came back together...working class voters join with Latinos with African Americans and swing suburban women and men and they all came out..." ([64:47])

Why Latinos Swung Back:

• Affordability was still an issue, and "you're racially profiling and going after abuelitas."
• "Working class Latino families...heard that what was gonna happen if Trump won has not happened. And then now you're racially profiling and going after abuelitas..." ([65:14])

What’s Missing from Dem Messaging:

• Democrats talk about survival, not the “good life”: “I talked to them about really living a good fulfilling life and that the Democrats are gonna fight for you to have the good fulfilling life...that way you can spend time with your kids, you can take a vacation, you can relax.” ([68:49])

Policy Focus:

• "Fighting, number one, matters. Number two, picking the right opposition and not being afraid of doing that..." ([71:24])
• Concrete solutions over abstractions, e.g., promising wages that people can "live and thrive under." ([71:54])

Risk-Taking:

• Describes running innovative, unconventional campaign events (boxing matches, pickleball tournaments) to reach diverse communities. ([74:42])
• "You can't be afraid. We are not the popular party anymore. ... We need to work to get votes." ([75:57])
• Cites Donald Trump's “no tax on tips” proposal as an example of unapologetic, bold campaigning. ([77:54])

Communicating Democratic Success:

• Criticizes Democratic hesitancy and fear of failure: "Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Be bold." ([80:55])

Big Tent & Not Dodging the Hard Questions:

• "When we say we're part of a big tent, we have to mean we're part of a big tent." ([81:55])
• Republican leaders don’t shy away from support—even for extreme local candidates.

Health Care as Core Cause:

• “If we aren’t here to provide and protect affordable health insurance, what is our cause? What are we going to say to the voter about why you should elect us?” ([84:02])

Lessons from Pelosi:

• Cites Pelosi’s momentum-focused leadership: “Momentum wins the day. Indecisive kills or gets you killed.” ([88:48])

On Use of the Military and Trump's Threats:

• "If you turn the military against U.S. citizens ... the U.S. military is going to lose its stature..." ([91:20])
• Military division for political reasons would "make us weaker because it's just going to internally divide us as a country." ([93:00])

How Democrats Should Win Moving Forward:

• "[Do] things that make people like us and do things that make people trust us. That's all you got...simplest thing in the world." ([95:09])
• "Be likable...be honest and earnest...be who your authentic self is." ([96:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rebecca Katz: "Voters can smell bullshit. Right. And we have to know that when you're talking about it, you have to have first person experience." ([04:10])
• Jen Psaki: "One of the things that was decided collectively ... was that we were gonna talk about [the ACA] as 'bending the cost curve.' ... That was a terrible message because nobody understood what it was." ([13:40])
• Faz Shakir: "We need this kind of [media] ecosystem such that when we're governing, ... we have to be talking to the people in power, brought along in the journeys of what are you trying to do? Why are you trying to do it? And help them animate the stories about their accomplishments." ([21:17])
• Liz Smith: "Democrats don't have control of anything in Washington right now, but they're sure as hell winning a fight over health care costs." ([18:17])
• Rebecca Katz: "We have to be able to name an enemy. ... One of the things Senator Gallego was saying was about how as we're dealing with health care costs ... they're pitting the middle class against the working class and they're getting everyone mad at each other when you still have the bosses taking millions." ([23:33])
• Faz Shakir: "Society ... is in a period ... of cultural decay because we see so much selfishness and greed and exploitation in every damn corner of this economy and in politics..." ([53:13])
• Sen. Ruben Gallego: "How did we win? ... People that were mad about the overreach of this president ... and they're pissed about things being more expensive. That is not going to go away going into 2026. So just keep the focus, right?" ([95:09])
• Gallego (on campaign authenticity): "If you're like a little, you know, weirdo like me, then do go that route. ... Be likable and ... be who your authentic self is." ([96:53])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cohesive Democratic Narrative: 01:45–06:39
• Affordability & Big Tent: 04:10–08:59
• Governing & Communication Challenges: 12:21–15:13
• Overpromising & Voter Trust: 16:05–19:52
• Narrative vs Republican Messaging: 28:23–33:18
• Immigration & Enforcement: 29:32–35:45
• Risk-Taking in Campaigns (Gallego): 74:42–77:54
• Health Care as Core Cause: 84:02–87:47
• Leadership Lessons from Pelosi: 88:48–90:37
• How Dems Win in 2026: 95:09–97:26

Conclusion

This robust live episode serves as both a Democratic strategy session and a call to return to authentic, values-based, and locally-grounded storytelling. It acknowledges voters’ anxieties, the pitfalls of past messaging, and the urgency of uniting for popular, actionable causes—especially affordability and trust. Senator Gallego’s segment grounds this theory in gritty campaign experience, underlining the power of simplicity, boldness, and fighting not just for survival but for the “good life.”

Memorable takeaway:
"Do things that make people like us and do things that make people trust us. That's all you got... simplest thing in the world." — Ruben Gallego ([95:09])