" But it might be better to see this as a period of transition, with a brighter day for Democrats coming into focus. " A very slow transition for some...especially when the other party is moving much faster.
The other party is also making mistake after mistake...! They have proven once again that they can no longer govern. It's up to the Democrats and Democratic leadership to clearly make that point. It's going to be tough. The Republicans have already showed that they will lie, cheat or steal to stay in power. I believe that "greed" can be used against them.
I think we have to reckon with House leadership. They are relatively young, but not particularly charismatic and haven't shown much fighting spirit. That said, I agree, we do have lots of young, charismatic Dems waiting in the wings.
Re: @cebber There is more to that than just leadership goals or a list of platform ideals. What Democrats need is to harness culture in ways that can handle PR issues. A perfect example what not to do is the inept reaction at Sydney Sweeney: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/08/08/sydney-sweeney-republicans-win-media-ecosystem-00497761 It's shown that the right was able to exploit the issue because culture is upstream of politics. And Democrats need to accept free speech and not criticize it in ways that creates a Streissand Effect, especially without having an alternative model. People keep saying they need a liberal Joe Rogan, when he's not even funny. They need a 30 year old Austin Powers or Charlies Angels. Not like a 50 year old Leonardo DiCaprio, who, isn't impressing anyone.
As I understand it, Texas Dems don't have to stay away "forever," they have to stay away until the deadline passes to change the rules ahead of an election. (I forget, and can't relocate, exactly when that is, but I believe it's November or December? Still a long time but hardly indefinite.)
This is about polling. Grateful for the look at Talarico and a possible Dem revival. And…why are we reading only about bad polling and not the elections we've won this year? I'm not known for my political optimism; yet can Democrats actually look at where we're getting some traction? No one's claiming this isn't a flat-out disaster of unbelievable proportions. It could take generations to recover what we've lost, no less build something better than that--and that's if we fight back vigorously and effectively enough, given not only a fascist executive and its Congressional, technology, business, academic, legal collaborators,** and, the Dred Scott Court, Part 2. Yes, Trump has gotten further since January than Viktor Orban did in a year. No one's pretending otherwise. In the meantime, people may hate the brand, but they seem to like the candidates, even in special elections, where Dems are winning in double digits (Meidas). We won even in Florida and Oklahoma. As many have noted, the current blast of BS from the White House/DC Mar-a-Lago and Co. is a response to MAGA panic.**And holding strong for those who haven't collaborated, whether it's Costco, Harvard, WilmerHale, leading civil rights attorneys, the 3 Justices, those fighting in Congress and on the Bench, AGs, mayors, governors, city councils, church leaders, etc., to say nothing of courageous former Federal employees, teachers, librarians, business people, workers and unions, mutual aid leaders, grassroots participants, your neighbors protesting, calling, postcarding, etc. and others living in and contributing to the U.S. And the Canadians.
While advocating for "young" Democrats might be a good or even necessary thing..if the young Democrats are worth a damn. But framing the issue as "young versus old" is not a good thing. Or maybe it's impossible to get voters to pay attention to issues that matter and need to be led by appeals to something like racism.
i would hate to have to explain what i mean by "something like racism"... since "racism" itself is a political meme that worked for awhile until it created its own backlash.
please note that "racism" in quotes as a political meme is not racism as an ugly aspect of human nature that we almost tamed in the sixties until we overreached.
Whenever I see Talarico I flash on reruns from the 1950s. He is savvy about social media but he isn't a Ricky Nelson. More like that nice Unitarian minister who offers you iced tea at a party.
It's an important point - it's the party leadership and methods that so many are dissatisfied with, and the diluting/weakening of the policies. More people/voters are ready for the party to move to the left, and get new leaders who can move faster, speak more directly, and push harder.
Dems need to pick a new senate minority leader. Schumer is not a good face for the party.
Another great column, Paul.
I love Talarico! The fact that he is a TRUE Christian seeking ordination will be a real challenge to the Republican Evangelicals.
What if Trump calls some kind of "national emergency" and cancels the election? I've been worried about that from day one. Who's going to stop him?
" But it might be better to see this as a period of transition, with a brighter day for Democrats coming into focus. " A very slow transition for some...especially when the other party is moving much faster.
The other party is also making mistake after mistake...! They have proven once again that they can no longer govern. It's up to the Democrats and Democratic leadership to clearly make that point. It's going to be tough. The Republicans have already showed that they will lie, cheat or steal to stay in power. I believe that "greed" can be used against them.
I replied your thread but accidentally not to this thread: https://paulwaldman.substack.com/p/what-if-the-democratic-party-is-primed/comment/143565630
I think we have to reckon with House leadership. They are relatively young, but not particularly charismatic and haven't shown much fighting spirit. That said, I agree, we do have lots of young, charismatic Dems waiting in the wings.
Re: @cebber There is more to that than just leadership goals or a list of platform ideals. What Democrats need is to harness culture in ways that can handle PR issues. A perfect example what not to do is the inept reaction at Sydney Sweeney: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/08/08/sydney-sweeney-republicans-win-media-ecosystem-00497761 It's shown that the right was able to exploit the issue because culture is upstream of politics. And Democrats need to accept free speech and not criticize it in ways that creates a Streissand Effect, especially without having an alternative model. People keep saying they need a liberal Joe Rogan, when he's not even funny. They need a 30 year old Austin Powers or Charlies Angels. Not like a 50 year old Leonardo DiCaprio, who, isn't impressing anyone.
As I understand it, Texas Dems don't have to stay away "forever," they have to stay away until the deadline passes to change the rules ahead of an election. (I forget, and can't relocate, exactly when that is, but I believe it's November or December? Still a long time but hardly indefinite.)
YES!
This is about polling. Grateful for the look at Talarico and a possible Dem revival. And…why are we reading only about bad polling and not the elections we've won this year? I'm not known for my political optimism; yet can Democrats actually look at where we're getting some traction? No one's claiming this isn't a flat-out disaster of unbelievable proportions. It could take generations to recover what we've lost, no less build something better than that--and that's if we fight back vigorously and effectively enough, given not only a fascist executive and its Congressional, technology, business, academic, legal collaborators,** and, the Dred Scott Court, Part 2. Yes, Trump has gotten further since January than Viktor Orban did in a year. No one's pretending otherwise. In the meantime, people may hate the brand, but they seem to like the candidates, even in special elections, where Dems are winning in double digits (Meidas). We won even in Florida and Oklahoma. As many have noted, the current blast of BS from the White House/DC Mar-a-Lago and Co. is a response to MAGA panic.**And holding strong for those who haven't collaborated, whether it's Costco, Harvard, WilmerHale, leading civil rights attorneys, the 3 Justices, those fighting in Congress and on the Bench, AGs, mayors, governors, city councils, church leaders, etc., to say nothing of courageous former Federal employees, teachers, librarians, business people, workers and unions, mutual aid leaders, grassroots participants, your neighbors protesting, calling, postcarding, etc. and others living in and contributing to the U.S. And the Canadians.
While advocating for "young" Democrats might be a good or even necessary thing..if the young Democrats are worth a damn. But framing the issue as "young versus old" is not a good thing. Or maybe it's impossible to get voters to pay attention to issues that matter and need to be led by appeals to something like racism.
i would hate to have to explain what i mean by "something like racism"... since "racism" itself is a political meme that worked for awhile until it created its own backlash.
please note that "racism" in quotes as a political meme is not racism as an ugly aspect of human nature that we almost tamed in the sixties until we overreached.
Talarico is very good at calling out the hypocrisy of the Republicans in the Texas legislature.
https://www.tiktok.com/@jamestalarico/video/7499293556947864874?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7495791305978627627
Whenever I see Talarico I flash on reruns from the 1950s. He is savvy about social media but he isn't a Ricky Nelson. More like that nice Unitarian minister who offers you iced tea at a party.
It's an important point - it's the party leadership and methods that so many are dissatisfied with, and the diluting/weakening of the policies. More people/voters are ready for the party to move to the left, and get new leaders who can move faster, speak more directly, and push harder.
Does Talarico seem like someone who would move the party to the left?
Maybe he's more valuable on the communication part than the moving left part? What are your thoughts?