Podcast Summary: “How Senate Dems Can Fight” Featuring Senator Tammy Baldwin

What a Day, hosted by Jane Coaston from Crooked Media, delivers a comprehensive and insightful discussion with Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin on December 12, 2024. The episode, titled “How Senate Dems Can Fight,” delves into strategies Democratic senators can employ to counteract the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, especially in light of the recent 2024 elections.

Introduction

Jane Coaston opens the episode by addressing the looming inauguration of Donald Trump and the Democrats' need to reassess their strategies following the 2024 midterm elections. With only 39 days left before the transition, there is a pressing need to understand what went wrong for Democrats and how to rectify these issues to regain control in the forthcoming 2026 elections.

Key Topics and Discussions

1. Immediate Legislative Priorities Before the Holiday Recess ([02:10] - [02:46])

Senator Baldwin outlines the three primary objectives the Democratic Senate aims to achieve before Congress adjourns for the holidays:

• Government Funding: Ensuring the government remains operational by securing necessary funding.
• Judicial Appointments: Advancing President Biden’s nominations for federal judgeships to reinforce judicial priorities.
• Filling Vacancies: Addressing critical vacancies on important boards and commissions to maintain governmental functionality.

“We want to keep the government open. We want to fund the government... I want to get as many Biden nominated judges on the federal bench as absolutely possible.” ([02:10])

2. Countering Trump’s Cabinet Picks ([02:59] - [07:19])

Jane Coaston brings up President Trump’s unconventional nominations for significant government roles, highlighting the challenge Democrats face in opposing these picks without sufficient power. Senator Baldwin responds by emphasizing the importance of:

• Full Vetting: Insisting on comprehensive evaluations, including FBI background checks.

  “We can make sure that we're insisting on full vetting, including FBI background checks.” ([02:59])

• Committee Scrutiny: Preparing to scrutinize nominees thoroughly during committee hearings to expose any misalignments with Democratic values.

  “Are they qualified? But secondly, are we going to be able to work together to make sure... these are the type of priorities that I’m gonna look at.” ([03:55])

• Bipartisan Collaboration: Engaging with Republican colleagues who may share concerns about certain nominees to build a united front.

  “I’m also reaching across the aisle as we get more and more information about these nominees.” ([04:09])

3. Engagement with Republican Nominees ([05:18] - [06:26])

Senator Baldwin discusses her proactive approach to interacting with Trump’s cabinet nominees:

• Meeting Nominees: Plans to meet with nominees like Sean Duffy to assess their suitability and willingness to collaborate.

  “I will be meeting with Sean Duffy... it’s gonna be an interesting discussion.” ([05:22])

• Selective Support: While some nominees may earn her support, like Duffy, others such as Mr. Hegseth and Cash Patel raise significant concerns.

  “I think there’s a good chance with somebody like Sean Duffy... but there are many who I am very concerned about.” ([05:55])

  “I would say Mr. Hegseth and Cash Patel. Those are two that I’m extremely concerned about.” ([06:16])

4. Strategic Approaches for Confirmation Hearings ([06:42] - [07:19])

As confirmation hearings approach, Baldwin emphasizes the need for Democrats to rigorously question nominees on critical issues to prevent the confirmation of those who do not align with Democratic values.

“We need to use the process that we have to really make the record and pin down these nominees on critical issues.” ([06:42])

“Some of these folks have very troublesome records... We need to bring that out.” ([07:19])

5. Collaboration with the Trump Administration ([07:19] - [08:17])

Despite partisan differences, Senator Baldwin acknowledges areas where bipartisan cooperation is possible, such as:

• Buy America: Championing provisions that support American manufacturing and infrastructure.

  “I consider myself a big champion of Buy America.” ([07:23])

• Carried Interest Loophole: Advocating for closing tax loopholes that benefit wealthy individuals and corporations.

  “He always claimed that he wanted to close the carried interest loophole. I’d love to see that closed.” ([07:23])

6. Reflecting on Electoral Success in Wisconsin ([08:17] - [09:39])

Addressing Democrats' struggles in the 2024 elections, Senator Baldwin shares insights into her successful campaign in Wisconsin:

• Constituent Engagement: Emphasizing the importance of listening to voters and addressing their concerns directly.

  “I have a strategy of trying to get everywhere around the state and to listen deeply, listen and then deliver for the people of my state.” ([08:35])

• Building Relationships: Maintaining strong relationships across the state to secure broad-based support.

  “I built relationships across the state over many years.” ([08:35])

Key Quotes

• Senator Tammy Baldwin on Vetting Nominees:

  “We can make sure that we're insisting on full vetting, including FBI background checks.” ([02:59])

• On Addressing Troubling Nominees:

  “Some of these folks have very troublesome records... We need to bring that out.” ([07:19])

• Encouraging Democratic Action:

  “Breathe. Seriously. I understand that anxiety is real... We also have to work as hard as we can in the midterm elections to flip the House back to Democratic control.” ([09:52])

Concluding Insights

Senator Baldwin provides a roadmap for Senate Democrats aiming to counter the incoming Trump administration’s policies and appointments. Her focus centers on rigorous nominee vetting, strategic bipartisan collaboration, and reinforcing Democratic values through legislative processes. Additionally, she underscores the necessity for Democrats to reconnect with voters by addressing their immediate concerns and maintaining strong constituent relationships—strategies that contributed to her electoral success in a pivotal swing state like Wisconsin.

Moreover, Baldwin's message to listeners underscores resilience and proactive engagement: “We do have to take care of ourselves so that we're strong to fight... make sure that everyone is crystal clear that he promised a lot of things in this last election, and he is breaking his word.” ([09:52])

This episode serves as a crucial guide for those interested in understanding the internal strategies of the Democratic Senate in navigating the challenges posed by a Trump presidency and preparing for future electoral battles.