Podcast Summary: The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Episode: Can the Democrats Outfox Trump?
Date: September 14, 2017
Host: Dorothy Wickenden (Executive Editor, The New Yorker)
Guest: John Cassidy (Staff Writer and Political Columnist, newyorker.com)

Episode Overview

This episode examines President Donald Trump’s unexpected attempts at bipartisan cooperation with Democratic leaders, following a White House dinner with Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi. Dorothy Wickenden and John Cassidy discuss what these overtures mean for legislative priorities like DACA, tax reform, and infrastructure, and analyze how the Democratic Party and its various factions are responding—particularly in light of the coming midterm elections and intensifying debates over centrism and progressive policies like Medicare for All.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Bipartisan Overture and the DACA “Deal”

• Background: Trump hosted a meeting/dinner with Schumer and Pelosi regarding legislative cooperation, notably on DACA.

• DACA Developments (02:10–04:04):

  • After the meeting, Schumer and Pelosi announced a deal with Trump to preserve DACA without funding the border wall.
  • Trump denied any official deal via Twitter but hinted that negotiations were in progress.
  • John Cassidy notes, “Trump has been saying for a week or so now that, contrary to Jeff Sessions…he wants to make a deal to preserve the legal protections for the Dreamers.” (02:56)
  • The White House gave mixed signals post-meeting, heightening confusion and backlash from conservative media.

• Implications:

  • Major question: Will this lead to a broader shift toward bipartisanship, or is it a one-off maneuver?
  • Cassidy emphasizes potential resistance from “the conservative wing of the Republican Party” and wariness among Democrats about cooperating with Trump (04:04).

2. Strategic Calculation for Democrats

• Resistance vs. Cooperation (04:21–05:12):
  • Some Democrats argue for total opposition, mirroring Republican strategies during the Obama years.
  • Cassidy observes, “Pelosi and Schumer have got to be very careful here. If they’re seen to be sort of cooperating with Trump...there’ll be an enormous backlash from the grassroots of the party.” (04:21)
  • However, DACA is broadly popular among Democrats, so limited cooperation is unlikely to draw as much ire.

3. Infrastructure and Tax Reform

• Bipartisan Opportunities? (05:12–06:19):

  • Infrastructure is highlighted as a possible area for bipartisan deals, as it aligns more with Democratic priorities.
  • The real sticking point is Trump’s push for tax reform, which is likely to favor corporations and the wealthy.
    • “I don't think there's any sign that any Democrats are willing to go along with Trump on tax reform.” —John Cassidy (05:38)
  • Trump claimed his tax plan would not benefit the wealthy, which Cassidy calls “very surprising to the people who are working on the tax package…on Capitol Hill” (06:32), noting that all evidence points to the opposite.

• For the Middle Class? (07:26–08:41):

  • The administration contends tax cuts will ultimately trickle down to benefit the middle class, a “classic trickle down argument.”
  • Cassidy is skeptical, indicating only modest benefits for the middle class and substantial gains for the ultra-wealthy.

4. 2018 Midterms and Vulnerable Democrats

• Red-State Democrats in the Spotlight (08:41–10:22):
  • Discussion of Senate Democrats up for reelection in states Trump won (e.g., Heidi Heitkamp, W. Va.’s Joe Manchin).
  • Trump is courting these Senators hoping to peel off their votes for policy wins.
  • “If he can pick off even two or three Democrats, it would be a big win for him. So far at least there’s no sign of this succeeding.” —John Cassidy (09:17)

5. Progressive Momentum: Bernie Sanders and Medicare for All

• Sanders’ Influence Grows (10:52–13:21):

  • Bernie Sanders introduces a Medicare for All bill, now backed by 15 Senators—showing the Democratic Party’s shift left.
  • Cassidy: “It shows how Bernie is…helping to set the agenda in a way which I don’t think many people could have foreseen a year or two ago.” (11:09)
  • Polls show increasing public support for single-payer, though transition costs and fears about tax increases loom large.
  • Leadership (Schumer, Pelosi) remain cool, fearing Republican attacks in the midterms.

• 2020 Presidential Calculation (13:12–13:21):

  • Senators rumored to run in 2020 back Medicare for All to appeal to the progressive primary base, even as leadership eyes the broader, less liberal general electorate.

6. Centrism, Polarization, and Democratic Messaging

• The Limits of Centrism? (14:21–16:11):

  • Debate over whether the U.S. electorate’s supposed centrism still holds after Trump/Sanders.
  • Cassidy says, “Some people say that this theory of centrism is now outdated…and the Democratic Party should…be hyperpartisan, focus on getting out their base. And that’s the route to victory, especially in midterms.” (14:32)
  • Bipartisanship is popular in polls, but Democratic incentives lean towards mobilizing their own base.

• Messaging Trouble (16:11–17:36):

  • Democrats still lack a compelling message for the middle class.
  • “Bernie has one. Whatever you think about his politics, he has one. Hillary…nobody ever really understood or believed that she would help the middle class.” —Dorothy Wickenden (16:11)
  • Schumer’s “A Better Deal” slogan exemplifies this lack of clarity and punch.

• Looking Ahead:

  • Democrats’ likely 2018 midterm play is to focus on opposition to Trump, making the election a referendum on his presidency.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Cassidy on Party Risk and DACA:
  “Pelosi and Schumer are on firm ground when it comes to DACA…there won’t be any pushback from the Democratic grassroots because that’s big for Democrats. The question is, why is Trump doing it?” (04:21)
• Cassidy on Tax Reform:
  “From everything we know, Trump is basically not telling the truth here. This is going to be a plan which does cut the taxes on the rich…almost everybody who’s looked at the broad outlines of this package has said it’s going to favor the rich more than the poor.” (06:32)
• Wickenden on Democratic Messaging:
  “Bernie has one [a message]. Whatever you think about his politics, he has one. Hillary…nobody ever really understood or believed that she would help the middle class.” (16:11)
• Cassidy on the Future:
  “The central plan which Democrats have got—basically opposing Trump and making this a referendum on him—is actually likely to be a pretty successful one.” (17:36)

Key Timestamps

• 01:16 — Episode introduction; Trump’s bipartisan dinner with Schumer and Pelosi
• 02:10 — DACA developments, confusion over deal status
• 04:04 — Democratic strategy: resist or cooperate?
• 05:12 — Prospects for infrastructure and tax reform deals
• 06:32 — Trump’s contradictory claims on tax reform benefiting the wealthy
• 08:41 — Red-state Democratic Senators and their dilemma
• 10:52 — Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All and progressive momentum
• 13:12 — 2020 prospects and intra-party positioning
• 14:21 — Debate: Is centrism out of style in American politics?
• 16:11 — Democrats’ middle-class messaging challenges
• 17:36 — Looking ahead to midterms: opposition to Trump as the core strategy

Summary Tone and Takeaways

The episode’s tone is sober, analytical, and slightly skeptical—highlighting the chessboard maneuvers in D.C. while pointing out contradictions and strategic traps for both parties. The dialogue underscores Democratic hesitation about working with Trump, the risks and realities of selling deals to their base, and a split between progressive and establishment voices. The looming midterms serve as the backdrop for all decisions, with the party’s ability to rally and communicate effectively to the middle class shaping their prospects.