Sanders, AOC Rally To Motivate Democrats

Summary

Summary of "Sanders, AOC Rally To Motivate Democrats" – NPR Politics Podcast

Episode Title: Sanders, AOC Rally To Motivate Democrats
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Host: Susan Davis, Stephen Fowler, and Andrew Barkan
Podcast: The NPR Politics Podcast

---

1. Introduction

In the March 24, 2025 episode of The NPR Politics Podcast, hosts Susan Davis, Stephen Fowler, and Andrew Barkan delve into the recent nationwide rallies spearheaded by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). These events aim to galvanize the Democratic base against the current Republican administration led by President Donald Trump and influential figures like Elon Musk.

---

2. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez's Nationwide Rallies

Susan Davis kicks off the discussion by highlighting the collaboration between Bernie Sanders and AOC as they tour the country holding campaign rallies. The central message targets Republicans and criticizes President Trump’s policies and alliances with billionaires.

Susan Davis:
"Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez have hit the road. The duo is holding campaign-like rallies across the country with this message for Republicans and President Trump."
(Timestamp: 00:49)

Stephen Fowler adds context by sharing his recent experience attending a rally in Arizona:

Stephen Fowler:
"There was a lot of energy. There were a lot of people very fired up to be there... People have anger at what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing these first few months in office and also anger with Democrats for not really fighting and doing enough to push back against that agenda."
(Timestamp: 01:21)

---

3. Public Reception and Attendance

The episode discusses the significant turnout at these rallies, with over 34,000 attendees at a Denver event, surpassing any of Sanders' previous presidential run rallies. The enthusiasm reflects a broader discontent with both the current administration and perceived inaction within the Democratic Party.

Stephen Fowler:
"The campaign said over the weekend that an event they had in Denver had more than 34,000 people, which is larger than any rally that he did during his two presidential runs."
(Timestamp: 01:13)

---

4. The Role of Populism in the Democratic Party

Andrew Barkan explores Bernie Sanders' influence as a left-wing populist figure within the Democratic Party, despite his independent affiliation. He underscores Sanders' long-standing advocacy for economic populism and questions the future leadership within this movement as Sanders approaches 83 years old.

Andrew Barkan:
"This is a left-wing populism that's always been there beneath the surface, yet Democrats haven't quite been able to channel that to be able to win the White House, certainly not in the age of Trump."
(Timestamp: 04:14)

---

5. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Emergence as a Progressive Leader

Stephen Fowler highlights AOC's role as a progressive standard-bearer who balances principled messaging with pragmatic political strategies. Her approach contrasts with Sanders’ more traditional populism, positioning her as a potential leader for the next generation of Democrats.

Stephen Fowler:
"She's somebody who has emerged as this sort of progressive standard bearer, but from a more pragmatic standpoint where she's willing to work in a way that is not just for messaging and not just more attention grabbing principles."
(Timestamp: 05:33)

---

6. Comparisons to Past Political Movements

Andrew Barkan draws parallels between the current Democratic rallies and the Tea Party movement of 2010, noting the organic anger and grassroots mobilization. However, he points out that while the right successfully unified under a clear message, Democrats are still grappling with defining a cohesive vision.

Andrew Barkan:
"What we're really seeing is Democrats are struggling... what is that message? What is the vision going forward and who are gonna be the leaders that show up and that really get people inspired to come out and turn out."
(Timestamp: 08:20)

---

7. Internal Dynamics and Future Leadership

The hosts discuss internal criticisms within the Democratic Party, with figures like Sanders and AOC urging the party to adopt a more confrontational stance against Republican policies. They also touch upon Sanders' recent remarks suggesting the possibility of running as an independent, which could challenge the traditional two-party system.

Bernie Sanders (via Andrew Barkan):
"He suggested that people maybe not run as Democrats, that maybe they should run as independent candidates like himself."
(Timestamp: 11:15)

Andrew Barkan:
"This country is about alliances and, you know, for better or worse, it's built on a two-party system."
(Timestamp: 11:28)

---

8. Shift in Democratic Strategy and Messaging

Andrew Barkan cites an NBC poll indicating a significant shift in Democratic attitudes—from a preference for compromise with Republicans to a stance of holding firm to their positions, even at the expense of legislative progress. This reflects a broader trend of increased assertiveness within the party.

Andrew Barkan:
"Democrats have always been more likely to want compromise than Republicans were. April of 2017, 59% of Democrats said they want Democrats to make compromises with President Trump to gain consensus on legislation. March of 2025, 65% said stick to their positions, even if it means not getting things done in Washington."
(Timestamp: 12:16)

---

9. Conclusion

The episode concludes with the hosts emphasizing the importance of the current wave of activism and the need for the Democratic Party to harness the energy and anger of its base to achieve electoral success. They ponder the future of Democratic leadership and whether the party can maintain its momentum into the 2028 presidential election.

Susan Davis:
"If you're gonna see primary challenges... that generally comes from the left. I mean, it could have the effect of moving the party even further to the left."
(Timestamp: 11:52)

Andrew Barkan:
"Anger is a good thing in politics because it's a big motivator to make people vote... Democrats have a real shift in attitude. They want to fight."
(Timestamp: 12:16)

---

Notable Quotes

• Stephen Fowler (01:21):
  "There was a lot of energy. There were a lot of people very fired up to be there... anger at what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing... anger with Democrats for not really fighting and doing enough."

• Andrew Barkan (04:14):
  "Bernie Sanders is 83 years old. He's probably not gonna be president. So who's this gonna be? His message is emblematic of the anger... who takes it to the next level."

• Stephen Fowler (05:33):
  "AOC is picking up that mantle [of populism] but transforming it in a way that I think will be a lot more relevant in the next two years and four years."

• Andrew Barkan (11:15):
  "This country is about alliances and... built on a two-party system."

• Andrew Barkan (12:16):
  "Democrats have always been more likely to want compromise than Republicans were... now they want to fight."

---

This episode of The NPR Politics Podcast provides an insightful analysis of the evolving dynamics within the Democratic Party, spearheaded by influential figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It underscores the challenges and opportunities the party faces in channeling its base's frustration into effective political action amidst a polarized political landscape.

Transcript

[Carvana Ad]

This message comes from Carvana. Sell your car the convenient way, enter your license plate or vin, answer a few questions and get a real offer in seconds. Go to Carvana.com today.

[Andrew Barkan]

Hi, this is Andrew Barkan in Oakland, California, where I just watched my sister Phoebe win the silver medal in the paraclimbing national championships.

[Susan Davis]

Wow. This podcast was recorded at 2:07pm on Monday, March 24.

[Andrew Barkan]

Things may have changed by the time you hear it, but my sister will.

[Carvana Ad]

Be training to join the Paralympics in three years. Here's the show.

[Susan Davis]

That's awesome. Congratulations.

[Andrew Barkan]

That's a great achievement.

[Susan Davis]

Hey there. It's the NPR Politics podcast. I'm Susan Davis. I cover politics.

[Stephen Fowler]

I'm Stephen Fowler. I cover politics.

[Andrew Barkan]

And I'm Domenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent.

[Susan Davis]

And today on the show, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez have hit the road. The duo is holding campaign like rallies across the country with this message for Republicans and President Trump.

[Stephen Fowler]

We're not going to allow you and your friend Mr. Musk and the other billionaires to wreak havoc on the working families of this country.

[Susan Davis]

I think by now he needs no introduction, but he was, of course, referring to Elon Musk. Stephen, you recently attended one of these rallies in Arizona. What was it like?

[Stephen Fowler]

It was different from what you would expect from a Bernie Sanders rally, but also the same in many ways. I mean, there was a lot of energy. There were a lot of people very fired up to be there, but it was also a lot of people that are not lifelong Bernie fans. The campaign said over the weekend that an event they had in Denver had more than 34,000 people, which is larger than any rally that he did during his two presidential runs. The event that I was at was a pretty full arena inside and outside on Arizona State's campus. And the two takeaways from people that I talk to were that there was this sort of anger at what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing these first few months in office and also anger with Democrats for not really fighting and doing enough to push back against that agenda.

[Susan Davis]

I'm curious about the people you talk to because I think one of the questions we all have is we're seeing these crowds at these rallies. Is is it mostly Democrats or is it vot all stripes or their independence? There are people just frustrated with the administration.

[Stephen Fowler]

One of the people that I did talk to is a volunteer at the rally. Her name was Clarissa Vella. And she said that, you know, Democrats need to do more. They need to get loud with their opposition. And, you know, this Bernie Sanders rally was the perfect example of letting people know they were there. But others that I talked to were people that were kind of. Bernie. Curious, but more looking for just somebody to have their voice.

[Susan Davis]

Domenico. It is pretty fascinating to me the role, the prominent role that Bernie Sanders continues to play. And I think it's worth noting that what he's doing here, it's sort of self appointed, right? Like, he's not doing this on behalf of the dnc. He wasn't like asked by Senate Democrats to go out and do this. He's taken it sort of upon himself to hold these rallies across the country. I guess it's sort of absurd how you see his role in the party right now with the caveat that he's actually not technically a Democrat.

[Andrew Barkan]

Yeah, I love that he's an independent slash Democrat because it's sort of his little minor protest against the, you know, the sort of mod Dems, you might call them, of the Democratic Party to say that they need to stand for something else. And what we're talking about is a left wing populism that has really grown within the Democratic base. You know, Bernie Sanders is 83 years old. He's probably not gonna be president. So who's this gonna be? Right? I mean, his message certainly is emblematic of the anger that a lot of people are feeling toward the Trump administration on the left. And they want someone to voice that frustration and feel like they're a leader who has a vision for a way forward. Bernie Sanders certainly has that. But who is gonna be the person who maintains that voice? Who takes it to the, you know, next level, to the next generation, so to speak.

[Susan Davis]

Yeah, it's interesting to me with Bernie Sanders too, because forever, I mean, he's always been very consistent in his messaging, but he was the voice of economic populism. And the Democratic Party and Donald Trump and the Republican Party have sort of laid claim to that mantle.

[Andrew Barkan]

Right.

[Susan Davis]

Like Bernie Sanders, you don't as much associate with a lot of the socially progressive causes of the left. He was really always anchored in a more economic argument about the middle class and the working class.

[Andrew Barkan]

Absolutely. I mean, he's an economic warrior, you know, I mean, how many people can hear Bernie Sanders saying billionaires in their heads? Right? I mean, it's just what his message has always been. It's been the exact same for 50 years, really. And a lot of people saw him as fringe, you know, some 15 years ago or so. And now his message is really mainstream. And we really have this war of populists in the United States in politics here. Now we have this right wing sort of extremist version in the White House currently. And you have this left wing populism that's always been there beneath the surface, yet Democrats haven't quite been able to channel that to be able to win the White House, certainly not in the age of Trump.

[Susan Davis]

Steven, I'd love to also get a sense of what the reception was like for Ocasio Cortez on the opposite end of that spectrum. She's only 35. She's seen as sort of potentially this rising leader in the party. What was her message?

[Stephen Fowler]

She's somebody who has emerged as this sort of progressive standard bearer, but from a more pragmatic standpoint where she's willing to work in a way that is not just for messaging and not just more attention grabbing principles. And so it's this sort of interesting evolution where you have Bernie Sanders, who has been saying the same thing for half a century, and then you have Ocasio Cortez coming in and kind of picking up that mantle, but transforming it in a way that I think will be a lot more relevant in the next two years and four years and kind of this shift in politics we're seeing.

[Andrew Barkan]

I also think it's really interesting, you know, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, for as much as the right wants to stereotype her as one thing or another or being too extremist, too far left, she has done a really kind of impressive job in understanding leadership and understanding politics and trying to understand the inside game, which is actually something that Bernie Sanders has never actually wanted to partake in. So she's trying to use that message on the outside that's similar to Bernie Sanders while also, you know, kind of understanding the inside game and of course, being a little bit more online than the 83 year old Bernie Sanders. And if we're in a time when the extremes, quote, unquote, are what matters, maybe the energy of the left or right, maybe this, you know, idea that moderating is what wins is something that has passed us by a little bit in this era.

[Susan Davis]

All right, let's take a quick break. More in a moment. Public Media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts. Perks like sponsor free listening, bonus episodes, early access and more. So start supporting what you love [e-mail].

[Brittany Luce]

Oh, hey there. I'm Brittany Luce. And I don't know, maybe this is a little out of pocket to say, but I think you should listen to my podcast. It's called It's Been a Minute and I love it. And I think you will too. Over the past couple months, over 100,000 new listeners started tuning in. Find out why. Listen to the It's Been a Minute podcast from NPR today.

[Carvana Ad]

These days there's so much news, it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. The Consider this podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this podcast from NPR.

[Susan Davis]

And we're back. And D'Amico, I'm curious to get your take on this because I have seen some people liken what is happening at these rallies and the people showing up to the Tea party movement in 2010 where there was sort of an uprising in the electorate and people started showing up to these town hall meetings all over the country. And there was a real organic sense of anger going through the country. Do you see that happening on the left or is it too soon to know?

[Andrew Barkan]

Yeah. And that real organic anger was really on the right. You know, I wouldn't say it was throughout the country as a groundswell against Democrats, but there was certainly a groundswell among conservatives to unify on a message. It sort of evolved from this economic message into really what was a cultural movement that really led to Trump being president. And you know, this could be the start of something like that if you have enough people with the message that seems to resonate with enough people. And I think right now that's where Democrats are struggling is what is that message? What is the vision going forward and who are gonna be the leaders that show up and that really get people inspired to come out and turn out. And you know, the Democratic base right now is really looking for people to channel their frustration.

[Susan Davis]

And Steven, it does seem like part of the message that is coming from people like Sanders and Ocasio, Cortez, and I'd even put former vice presidential candidate Tim Walls in this bucket is a lot of their message is about internal criticism of the Democratic Party, that the Democratic Party broke down and they're part of the problem.

[Stephen Fowler]

Yeah. I mean, after an election where there was a sort of shellacking at the Senate and the White House and the House, you know, there is a lot of introspection. There's a lot of finger pointing. You know, I've been covering the changes within the Democratic Party and in the race for the Democratic National Committee chair, there was a little bit of circumspection pointing the finger at former President Biden. But now there is this mobilizing factor of it seems there is a clear opponent in Elon Musk and the Doge effort to restructure the government. I think it's less sort of like calling out the party in public and more being like, look, this is the eye on the prize, this is the target. Let's all get on the same page to do it. I mean, I interviewed Bernie Sanders after his rally and I asked him, you know, why now is your message about oligarchy seeming to have a little bit of a different reaction? And he said, yeah, I think for some people it was an abstraction. But he said, looking at the three richest people in this country standing behind Donald Trump at his inauguration, talking about Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, he said, people get it a lot more. And so now I think what you're seeing with the Democratic Party is just pushing people towards kind of the same page and the same goal of like, look, it's not just an idea. Here's the reality of what we're facing.

[Susan Davis]

Bernie Sanders also made a bit of an eye popping comment recently in which he suggested that people maybe not run as Democrats, that maybe they should run as independent candidates like himself, which I'm not sure leaders of the Democratic Party would love to hear him say that.

[Andrew Barkan]

Nope. Because this country is about alliances and, you know, for better or worse, it's built on a two party system. And really, we haven't seen third party candidates really be able to gain steam nationally. And that's where the real issue comes in. Especially if you're going to have one side that's, you know, 38 to 45% totally unified, and you're split among yourselves on the other majority, then that's, that's a recipe for losing.

[Susan Davis]

Look, if Democrats lost in 2024, in part because the country thought that their views were too far left on certain issues, certainly social issues. But when these kind of things happen, if you, if you're gonna see primary challenges, for instance, in the Democratic Party, that generally comes from the left. I mean, it could have the effect of moving the party even further to the left. To your point, Domenico, that the old conventional wisdom that you win at the middle might just not be true anymore.

[Andrew Barkan]

Yeah. I'm not sure if this movement to moderation is really going to be something that Democrats are able to do, especially when you've got this kind of anger. And I have to say, anger is a good thing in politics because it's a big motivator to make people vote. And it's certainly important to have this kind of activism and strength and unity among the base in a midterm election, because that's how you really win elections, is to have that kind of motivation and energy. Because fewer people vote in midterm elections than in presidential elections. They're gonna have to figure it out in the 2028 presidential election, what's gonna happen. But what we've really seen among the Democratic Party is a real shift in attitude. And I think that an NBC poll that came out earlier this month really kind of summarizes what that shift has been. Democrats have always been more likely to want compromise than Republicans were. April of 2017, 59% of Democrats said they want Democrats to make compromises with President Trump to gain consensus on legislation. March of 2025, 65% said stick to their positions, even if it means not getting things done in Washington. That is a 55 point net shift. So what they want right now is they want to fight.

[Susan Davis]

All right. We're going to leave it there for today. I'm Susan Davis. I cover politics.

[Stephen Fowler]

I'm Stephen Fowler. I also cover politics.

[Andrew Barkan]

And I'm Domenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent.

[Susan Davis]

And thanks for listening to the NPR Politics podcast.

[Andrew Barkan]

Singapore is one of the busiest cities in the world, but biologist Philip Johns is fascinated by a different inhabitant on the island, otters.

[Stephen Fowler]

At rush hour downtown, the otters would swim toward each other and there are literally tens of thousands of people who.

[Carvana Ad]

Are on their way to work.

[Andrew Barkan]

How ideas, emotions and creatures coexist. That's next time on the TED Radio Hour. From npr.

[Tonya Moseley]

This is Tonya Moseley, co host of Fresh air. You'll see your favorite actors, directors and comedians on late night TV shows or YouTube. But what you get with FRESH AIR is a deep dive. Spend some quality time with people like Billie Eilish Questlove, Ariana Grande, Stephen Colbert and so many more. We ask questions you won't hear asked anywhere else. Listen to the FRESH AIR podcast from NPR and whyyy.