10 Changes Democrats Must Make
If they ever want to win national elections, Democrats must do these 10 things
I’ve argued for changes and reforms to American democracy on multiple occasions. Those have largely been in the context of presidential power and the peaceful transition of power, but now we need to assess changes within one of the major political parties themselves — the Democrats.
They are a political party in search of a soul. A wayward son. A lost puppy.
Democrats must return to first principles. They must accept and encourage criticism, which many people did not want to hear ahead of the 2024 election even though they needed it. Few appreciated my critiques of Kamala Harris even though they turned out to be correct.
When you look closely, it’s fairly easy to see how Donald Trump won the 2024 election, and it’s not because everyone who voted for him is racist, misogynistic, or xenophobic. Sure, some within his coalition are all of those things, but the vast majority of Trump-voting Americans are not. They simply liked his straightforward messaging while disliking the Democrats’ identity politics and unclear (often patronizing) positions.
If the Democrats want to get back on track, rediscover their soul, and win national elections again, they must make these 10 changes.
1. Working class people must be the focus
This goes beyond unions. Democrats must return to America’s heartland and actually talk to people. Hit the pavement and dirt roads. Understand the practical challenges people face in their day-to-day lives.
Simultaneously, Democrats must demonstrate — in detail — how Donald Trump’s tax policies are not benefiting working class people. How the Trump tax cuts skewed to the rich, and how they were expensive and eroded the U.S. tax base (adding to America’s debt).
So if Trump tries to extend his 2017 tax cuts, Democrats must be ready to campaign against them with working class people as the target audience.
2. End identity politics
It’s possible to fight for equal rights and equal opportunities without pushing specific identities to the forefront. This only serves to divide the American people instead of bringing them together.
The mandated or pressured use of acronyms.
Extreme stances on transgender issues like government funding for prisoner sex changes (which was an incredibly effective Trump ad).
These are just a few examples of why so many on the right have a persuasive case that many Democrats suffer from a “woke mind virus.” It must be cured.
Rahm Emanuel said it best: “When the woke police come at you, you don’t even get your Miranda rights read to you.”
3. End cancel culture and extreme language policing
On a related note to identity politics, Democrats must develop thicker skins. If Ben Shapiro or another far-right commentator wants to speak on campus, let them. Many Democrats didn’t have problems with student protestors who disrupted campus life to protest against Israel (and also defend, in some cases, Hamas).
It must work all ways.
Democrats cannot claim to be pro-free speech, but only their version of free speech. The party must return to the days when the ACLU defended actual Nazis and their right to speak.
The extreme language policing, microaggressions, and sensitivities must stop. We need to debate with one another without tip-toeing on eggshells.
If Democrats cannot make this cultural shift, it’s going to be hard for them to win another national election.
4. End the elitism and condescension
Stop calling Trump supporters “garbage” or a “basket of deplorables.”
Stop talking down to people, as former President Barack Obama did during the campaign to black men, criticizing any of them who might even consider voting for Trump.
Meet people on their terms.
Democrats used to be the party of empathy, fighting for the poor and disadvantaged, and convincing people with superior arguments, not condescension.
It’s wild to me that Democrats have become the party of elites - a majority of rich, white, and well-educated voters all vote Democrat. While many minority groups, white and non-college educated, and ultra-wealthy voters voted for Trump.
Democrats must descend from the safety of their ivory towers, bring their noses down a few notches, and look the average and underserved Americans in the eyes while asking — how can we make your lives better?
5. Democracy does not pay
Speaking of privilege, the whole “threat to democracy” rhetoric aimed at Donald Trump this past election cycle was all from a position of privilege, as I recently discussed. Folks who don’t have to worry about the prices of food, housing, and gas can afford to worry about nebulous and academic concepts like “democracy.”
Show voters in swing states how you will make their lives more economical and sustainable. How they won’t have to worry about unforeseen medical bills or rampant inflation.
We all must realize that democracy does not pay. While many of the arguments about the threats Trump poses may be true, those arguments are secondary at best to practical issues that impact their own lives.
6. Never say “defund the police” again
Like the “threat to democracy” slogan, another anthem that must go into the wastebin of history is “defund the police.” James Carville said it best:
“Defund the police is the three stupidest words in the English language.”
Even if many Democrats who shouted these words from the mountains of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 were not literal when they said it, countless Democratic politicians have struggled to explain and distance themselves from the literal meaning of these words ever since.
Unlike Donald Trump, who has a band of loyalist followers who excuse his extremes, Democrats do not have that luxury. People hang onto everything they say.
So when crime was rising around the country in 2020 and 2021, many blamed extreme statements and subsequent calls to defund police departments across America. In my home city of New York, some of the mayoral candidates like Maya Wiley called for extreme measures like replacing NYPD officers in the subway with mental health experts and social services.
It’s possible to support police officers while supporting justice and civil rights. Democrats must find that balance and stick to it.
7. Talk to young men
Over the next 4 years, this must be a priority. I tried on multiple occasions to highlight that Democrats were losing young men and that Donald Trump was connecting with them through an all out media blitz, from podcasts to YouTube channels.
Kamala Harris’s team did her a huge disservice by convincing her not to go on Joe Rogan. His audience is primarily men, with a large number of young men.
Democrats must also do a better job of supporting creators that represent their messaging. Whether that’s in long form or short form video, or through the written word.
This is the new media now. Newsletters, podcasts, TikTok, etc. are how people connect.
They don’t connect as well via The New York Times or The Washington Post or even Fox News.
Democrats must show up more on the new media where people hang out that may not always agree with them. Have the difficult conversations. Be transparent.
If they can do this, they will win over far more than just young men.
8. Stop supporting terrorist groups like Hamas
While Democrats should seek to win groups they’ve lost, they should aim to lose certain groups they’ve won. Folks like Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib should have no place in the Democratic Party when she makes antisemitic remarks or excuses terrorist groups like Hamas.
Anyone who thinks like this or acts in support of it must be condemned. Not canceled. Not silenced. But condemned with stronger rhetoric.
It’s possible to support Palestine, hold Israel accountable, and strive for peace in the Middle East all at the same time. We should be able to hold contradictory ideas in our heads where we’re simultaneously pro-Palestine and pro-Israel.
Anyone who wants to support the extremes, whether it’s in favor of Hamas or in favor of an extreme right wing government in Israel, should not have a seat at the table. Let them yell from the cheap seats.
9. Celebrate meritocracy
We should always make seats available for the high achievers in America. I recently made a video on one of the Biden Administration’s biggest mistakes — alienating Elon Musk in 2021.
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This was part of a broader effort by the Biden administration not to support burgeoning technologies and industries. I never understood it.
From Lina Khan’s FTC policing anticompetitive behavior by effectively preventing all formers of merger and acquisition to Gary Gensler’s SEC stifling crypto in the United States while giving no guidance, the Biden Administration failed some of the greatest innovators in the country.
Instead of making it harder to innovate and achieve in America, we should make it easier. We should be celebrating entrepreneurs and risk takers, not preventing them from selling or merging their successful startup or launching an innovative crypto project.
These actions by the Biden Administration created an anti-entrepreneur reputation. That should never be the case in America. The Democrats must return to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs flourish.
10. Term limits for Congress
Overall, the Democrats suffer from too many members of their old guard staying in power for too long. Nowhere is this more clear than in Congress. The likes of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have overstayed their welcome.
The same could be said of the Mitch McConnells and Chuck Grassleys on the Republican side.
Now you might argue that these folks keep winning elections and that we should let the people decide. I would agree if incumbents did not enjoy the massive statistical advantage they currently have in reelection campaigns. They almost never lose.
We should change this for all parties in America. We need to ensure there are fresh perspectives and voices on a continuing basis.
I’m not sure what the exact term limit should be for Congress, but there needs to be one. The majority of Americans would likely agree.
Perhaps it’s the first piece of bipartisan legislation the Democrats can offer in the new Republican-led Congress.
Democrats must get back to the basics if they want to win national elections again. Step one is holding themselves accountable.
Have you seen these videos?
Matt Gaetz needs the Attorney General appointment, but probably not for the reason you think:
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A review of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker, which recently turned 50 years old! I also wrote about it here.
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Thanks for reading and watching!
I think there should be 11: end lawfare. It’s the ugliest thing I’ve witnessed in politics and turned so many ppl off.