Podcast Summary: The Majority Report with Sam Seder Episode 2457 - Dems First Electoral Challenge & Schumer's Cratering Support w/ Ben Wikler & Ezra Levin Release Date: March 19, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 2457 of The Majority Report with Sam Seder, host Sam Seder delves into the emerging challenges facing the Democratic Party, particularly focusing on leadership issues within the Senate and the broader implications for upcoming elections. The episode features insightful conversations with two prominent guests: Ben Wickler, Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, and Ezra Levin, Co-founder and Co-Executive Director of Indivisible. Together, they explore the erosion of support for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the strategic battles in Wisconsin's pivotal elections, and the grassroots movements aiming to reshape Democratic leadership.

Discussion with Ben Wickler: The Wisconsin Battle

Timestamp: 26:04 - 35:31

Key Topics:

• Historical Struggles in Wisconsin: Ben Wickler outlines the Republican onslaught in Wisconsin over the past decade, highlighting Scott Walker's aggressive policies against unions and Medicaid, which led to significant Democratic setbacks.

  "What Scott Walker did when he came in, he said on the basis of a trumped up budget crisis that they needed to smash collective bargaining for public sector employees. That was Act 10."
  — Ben Wickler (27:30)

• Supreme Court Influence: The manipulation of Wisconsin's state Supreme Court played a critical role in cementing Republican control, with narrowly decided races tipping the balance towards conservative judicial leanings.

  "These Supreme Court races have been critical, and I made fighting in the Supreme Court races a top priority for me and for our work at the party."
  — Ben Wickler (31:10)

• Current Supreme Court Race: Wickler emphasizes the importance of the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Brad Schimmel, a Republican candidate backed by Elon Musk, and Susan Crawford, the progressive Democrat. This race is pivotal in determining the judicial and electoral landscape of Wisconsin for the next two decades.

  "If Brad Schimmel gets the deciding vote on our state Supreme Court, then we have serious risk of like serious election sabotage."
  — Ben Wickler (34:50)

• Elon Musk’s Involvement: Musk's unprecedented financial influence in the race raises concerns about external interference in judicial elections, potentially undermining democratic processes.

Discussion with Ezra Levin: Indivisible's Role and Schumer's Leadership Crisis

Timestamp: 46:35 - 74:07

Key Topics:

• Origin of Indivisible: Ezra Levin shares the foundational goals of Indivisible, established in response to the Trump administration's policies and the perceived vacuum in Democratic grassroots leadership.

  "We saw people all over the country were saying, gosh, what do we do? ... That's what we've been doing over the last eight years."
  — Ezra Levin (47:23)

• Impact on House and Senate Democrats: Levin critiques Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to adapt to the current political climate, arguing that his strategies do not align with the grassroots demand for more aggressive opposition to Republican initiatives.

  "Chuck Schumer misjudged the Republicans. ... he wants to cave, but he wanted to cave for a long term clean CR."
  — Ezra Levin (53:46)

• Grassroots Mobilization: Emphasizing the necessity of grassroots activism, Levin discusses Indivisible's efforts to galvanize local communities to pressure Democratic leaders to adopt more robust opposition tactics against Republican policies.

  "We have to reach people who believe in freedom, justice, democracy. ... we can out turn out Republicans in this race."
  — Ezra Levin (42:34)

• Call for Leadership Change: The conversation shifts to the growing sentiment within the Democratic Party calling for Chuck Schumer to step down as Senate leader. Levin outlines the procedural steps required for such a leadership change, highlighting the current lack of momentum.

  "We have nearly unanimity around this question. ... if you are in a Republican district, it’s really important for you to be organizing and showing that you're putting in the works."
  — Ezra Levin (71:31)

• Strategic Failures: Levin criticizes Schumer's handling of budget negotiations, suggesting that his inability to foresee Republican maneuvers has led to significant strategic missteps, weakening Democratic leverage.

  "He thought they were going to fail to get their bill through in the House ... He did not update his thinking when the facts on the ground changed."
  — Ezra Levin (53:46)

• Future Implications: The guests discuss the broader implications of Schumer's leadership on upcoming elections, emphasizing the need for a unified and proactive Democratic strategy to prevent further erosion of democratic institutions.

  "We have a 50-50 state of Wisconsin, the closest state in the country, and we're being outspent. ... if we win this election, it is going to say something powerful about our ability to put people power over the power of organized money in this country."
  — Ben Wickler (41:03)

Conclusions and Action Steps

Timestamp: 75:11 - 81:41

Key Takeaways:

• Voter Mobilization: Seder and his guests urge listeners to engage actively in the political process through phone banking, volunteering, and direct voter outreach to support Democratic candidates and challenge Republican dominance.

  "This is your one good voting law, which is, you know, a same-day voter registration. ... this is go time."
  — Ben Wickler (38:12)

• Leadership Accountability: Emphasis is placed on holding Democratic leaders accountable, particularly Chuck Schumer, to realign party strategies with the urgent needs of preserving democratic integrity.

  "If you are in a Republican district, it's really important for you to be organizing and showing that you're putting in the works."
  — Ezra Levin (69:21)

• Grassroots Empowerment: The episode underscores the power of grassroots movements in effecting change within the Democratic Party, advocating for a bottom-up approach to leadership and policy formulation.

  "Provide that pathway for them, encourage them to walk and cheer them on when they do. That is the pathway to getting any kind of change in the future."
  — Ezra Levin (70:24)

• Urgency of Action: The guests collectively highlight the pressing nature of the political challenges ahead, urging immediate and sustained action from Democratic supporters to counteract Republican strategies and safeguard democratic institutions.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ben Wickler (27:30):
  "What Scott Walker did when he came in, he said on the basis of a trumped up budget crisis that they needed to smash collective bargaining for public sector employees. That was Act 10."

• Ben Wickler (34:50):
  "If Brad Schimmel gets the deciding vote on our state Supreme Court, then we have serious risk of like serious election sabotage."

• Ezra Levin (47:23):
  "We saw people all over the country were saying, gosh, what do we do? ... That's what we've been doing over the last eight years."

• Ezra Levin (53:46):
  "Chuck Schumer misjudged the Republicans. ... he wants to cave, but he wanted to cave for a long term clean CR."

• Ezra Levin (71:31):
  "We have nearly unanimity around this question. ... if you are in a Republican district, it’s really important for you to be organizing and showing that you're putting in the works."

Final Thoughts

Episode 2457 of The Majority Report with Sam Seder provides a compelling analysis of the internal struggles within the Democratic Party, spotlighting the critical role of leadership and grassroots activism in shaping the party's future. Through the expertise of Ben Wickler and Ezra Levin, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the strategic imperatives facing Democrats as they navigate electoral challenges and strive to reclaim and reinforce democratic institutions against rising authoritarian tendencies.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been omitted to focus solely on the substantive discussions and insights provided by the guests.