Progressives are facing down a seeming disconnect over what’s politically achievable in Washington and what wins elections back home. On one hand, they’ve won major policy battles from the White House to Capitol Hill this month, moving Democrats beyond what many thought was possible to accomplish under President Biden. On the other, they’ve struggled to…
Author: Hanna Trudo
Progressives hail Biden for action on student loans
Progressives are praising President Biden’s plan on student loans, arguing the move to provide $20,000 in relief to Pell Grant recipients in particular is a real step toward helping the most needy deal with crippling college debt. Biden is canceling up to $10,000 in debt for those making less than $125,000 annually in addition to…
Democrats grapple with possibility of Cheney 2024 bid
Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-Wyo.) strong signal that she may run for president has Democrats talking about what a pro-democracy, anti-Trump conservative candidate could do to President Biden’s political future. Cheney, who lost the same House bid she easily won last time, delivered an impassioned concession speech about the dangers of reelecting the former Republican president…
How this populist Democrat is taking on Ron Johnson in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has experienced its share of political wildcards: being snubbed by Hillary Clinton, handing Donald Trump and Joe Biden victories, and hosting a COVID-19 debacle at the Democratic National Convention. Now, Democrats are hoping for another surprise in the making: a populist millennial senator. Democrats have gone all-in on Mandela Barnes, the state’s 35-year-old lieutenant…
Q&A: Ro Khanna is the progressive who wants to transport Democrats to the future
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) was feeling good. The progressive congressman saw President Biden’s signing of the CHIPS and Science Act Tuesday as just one of several legislative victories in the Democrats’ arsenal heading into the midterm elections. Some of those accomplishments, he believes, can help bring about a new vision for the party, where innovation…
Five signs progressives are in danger of losing influence
Progressives finally got some relief after moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) agreed to back Democrats’ expansive economic and climate legislation this week. And while the uproar over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade also helps their cause, as indicated by a recent rejection of further restrictions in Kansas, their road to success…
Americans are unhappy with politics. But a third party faces an uphill battle
Democrats are unhappy with President Biden. And a number of Republicans are fed up with their party’s standard bearer, former President Trump. But are disenfranchised voters mad enough to consider going for a third party? The idea may be tempting to voters for a few reasons. Polls show Democrats are looking for a leader other than Biden,…
How Fetterman is taking on Oz with an ‘irreverent,’ extremely online campaign
John Fetterman doesn’t want to be just another white guy from the Midwest promoting populism. He wants to be the reason Pennsylvania has two Democrats in the Senate, and he’s willing to do the most to get there. Accusing the competition of carpetbagging? Fine. Enlisting a reality TV star for laughs? Great. Fetterman’s quest to…
Warren returns to campaign spotlight
Wisconsin. Michigan. And soon Pennsylvania. Just over three months before the midterms, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is coming out from behind the scenes — and doing it in some of the most closely watched states in the country. The liberal lawmaker has kept a relatively low profile since suspending her presidential bid to endorse Joe…
Warren to head fundraiser for Fetterman in Pennsylvania
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is heading to Pennsylvania — a top general election battleground — to stump for Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman. The Massachusetts senator will attend a fundraiser for Fetterman, the state’s lieutenant governor, who is competing against Republican Senate nominee Mehmet Oz in the closely watched battle for the upper chamber. The…