Fetterman is younger and he was out in front on passing the budget before Chuck. I would not frame this as an age issue. This is, IMO, an issue of understanding Trump and all his current MAGA admin are literal criminals and they are actively working to destroy the US constitution. The DEMS need to fight this. This is not about protecting LGBTQ or gay marriage. It is but it is so so so much more. It is about free speech, protection from illegal search, religious freedoms, etc. It is about social security and education and who are political friends are. The dems have so much to work with and they are failing. I mean seriously why the fuck are they not out there every day with a photo of a J6 taken on J6 beating the shit out of a cop and saying this is .... Trump said beating officer ... was ok and let him out/gave him a pardon. The DEMS IMO have been failing since they let this slide.
Good point. MAGA showed the same damn video of some random vandals at a BLM protest to tar all Dems. We are in a propaganda war and it's time we engaged in it.
I was ready to shut it down, until I saw this. After the special elections, we should be in a stronger position to control the narrative and the outcome of the next CR vote.
Off topic, but JVL mentioned about a week ago that The Bulwark was hiring someone to explain complex policy. If that person was named, then I missed it. Does anyone know who it is? I’m curious.
Two things can be true at once: the Democrats would have been hurt more by a shutdown than Trump and Republicans, and Democratic leadership needs to change. In the long term I think Schumer will have been vindicated in not shutting the government down, knowing that his actions will have given the jolt to Democrats that they have needed to get new leadership.
Thanks for validating! I hope more people will slow their roll and give Schumer some support. He didn’t get this far in his career by misreading the room.
I agree with Lauren Egan. The older Democrats are completely taken aback by the current situation. The dynamics of the fight have changed, and they seem unsure of how to respond. If Harry Reid were still around, I believe he would have been able to navigate this new challenge effectively. While Schumer was effective in the past, the rules of the game have changed. I think it would be best for the country if he stepped aside now.
We're going to hear Bernie and AOC here in Tempe, AZ. on Thursday. I have a feeling it's going to be raucous. The "let Trump be Trump" of JVL makes so much sense despite the damage entailed. How else will MAGA learn? If Dems leap in, as they do after almost every GOP presidency, to repair the economy, then MAGA will say, "Oh, well, everything is still working so I guess Trump is pretty good after all." We may all sink together but at least only the cult members will say Trump is doing great.
James Carville has been saying lie back and let Trump and Company do themselves in since Trump's Inauguration, as is often mentioned by JVL, Tim, Sarah, Sam, etc.
It's looks and vibes and only two people have it - AOC and Bernie. AOC would win his seat easily thanks to name recognition and an ability to speak to people where they are.
Why are we still doing things the old way - a speech as a response to the fake SOU - what a tired idea - why not a comedy sketch or something creative?
My anger at Schumer is DEFINITELY because he voted for the bill. Has nothing to do with how he is presenting. AOC should primary him. Dick Durbin also needs to be primaried. They all need to be primaried. They 100% completely dropped the ball.
I watched this interview, a short time ago, after reading and watching videos by "Bulwarkians" --including Lauren's reasoned essay-- and other sources I respected. And after days of something nagging at me, after listening to this extended interview, I changed my mind regarding one of the two propositions, as I see them. Did Schumer make the wrong decision on whether or not to shut down the government; and secondly, should he step down from his minority leadership?
I believe he needs to step down. Immediately. Although Friday would have been preferable. It has nothing to do with his physical, mental or emotional health. Schumer, like me, is a Boomer. And some of us have seemingly won the good genes lottery! And we've even matured as well as aged, and developed a modicum of wisdom (speaking for myself, slow and hard won.) Schumer is smart, knowledgeable and skilled but he doesn't know how to do PR, strategic planning, capturing audiences in the ATTENTION Age, etc. etc. I needn't go on, because just about everyone reading this can list all that I haven't mentioned.
There is no time to waste. There is no time for ego. Joe Biden's fatal flaw may have been what led to the collapse of our system of government and our world as we knew it. So tragically ironic.
What I've changed my mind about, is the surety I had that Schumer had made the wrong decision and that his reasoning was hyperbolic, or even worse, irrelevant to the outcome of what Musk and Trump, Inc. could and would destroy. My impulse was that we needed to finally stand up to Trump, even if it meant shutting the government down!
When Trump thanked Schumer, that seemed to be definitive proof that Schumer had been wrong. But that's what nagged me. Trump is personality disordered; has, at best, an average IQ, and his brain isn't able to process the written word (I have a Master's Degree in reading remediation and to earn it we did clinical course work.) But Trump is instinctively cunning. It would be fair to speculate that his "primitive" brainstem is particularly agile. His cunning knew that his praise would be taken as proof that Schumer had really screwed up and aided him, whom they so "unjustly" despised. (We know that Trump lives in the world of mirror images and projections.)
No one expected Trump to use reverse psychology. Therefore, perhaps Schumer's decision to keep the government open was correct? That Trump had counted on the shutdown. If I had any money to bet on my suspicions, I wouldn't. But sometimes the most unpopular decision turns out to have been the correct one. What I would put money on, had I any, is that Schumer truly believes what he says he believes. He definitely is not the person to lead the party since minutes into Trump's "crowning." But that doesn't mean his instincts that have guided him for decades, as Nancy Pelosi's have guided her, are wrong. And yes, Pelosi adamantly disagrees with his decision. Which would have left me doing a coin toss, but for Trump's "tell."
Even if Schumer made the correct decision, for argument's sake, he couldn't have handled it more poorly. And because of that, we are again distracted, and at least momentarily misdirected. There will be protesters at all of Schumer's book tour stops. And he and his publishing company could have delayed the tour. Actually, thinking as I'm writing, that is additional proof that Schumer's convictions and decision, right or wrong, were sincere. You don't do something like this, days before you begin your book tour, to the very people who might attend your reading and perhaps buy your book. Your target customers.
This brings me to a broader question. What percentage of those among us, educated anti-Trumpers, anti-Maga, allowed our desire to "DO SOMETHING NOW!" diminish our critical thinking?
How many of us are open to considering the possibility? And, for my own personal edification, or at least curiosity, did Trump's approval of Schumer's decision nag at you?
Good job Lauren. On the podcasts, tell Sam Stein not to interrupt so much.
"“It will haunt him,” the member said."
God, I hope so.
Fetterman is younger and he was out in front on passing the budget before Chuck. I would not frame this as an age issue. This is, IMO, an issue of understanding Trump and all his current MAGA admin are literal criminals and they are actively working to destroy the US constitution. The DEMS need to fight this. This is not about protecting LGBTQ or gay marriage. It is but it is so so so much more. It is about free speech, protection from illegal search, religious freedoms, etc. It is about social security and education and who are political friends are. The dems have so much to work with and they are failing. I mean seriously why the fuck are they not out there every day with a photo of a J6 taken on J6 beating the shit out of a cop and saying this is .... Trump said beating officer ... was ok and let him out/gave him a pardon. The DEMS IMO have been failing since they let this slide.
Good point. MAGA showed the same damn video of some random vandals at a BLM protest to tar all Dems. We are in a propaganda war and it's time we engaged in it.
Listen before you judge…
I was ready to shut it down, until I saw this. After the special elections, we should be in a stronger position to control the narrative and the outcome of the next CR vote.
https://jaketapper.substack.com/p/schumer-calls-his-shutdown-vote-an?r=2kv6ai&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=audio-player
Off topic, but JVL mentioned about a week ago that The Bulwark was hiring someone to explain complex policy. If that person was named, then I missed it. Does anyone know who it is? I’m curious.
Who amongst Senate Ds has the most nous and the least radical winged-ness?
The Republicans have an age problem too, starting with trump.
Two things can be true at once: the Democrats would have been hurt more by a shutdown than Trump and Republicans, and Democratic leadership needs to change. In the long term I think Schumer will have been vindicated in not shutting the government down, knowing that his actions will have given the jolt to Democrats that they have needed to get new leadership.
Ya know…I was all for the shutdown, then I saw this:
https://jaketapper.substack.com/p/schumer-calls-his-shutdown-vote-an?r=2kv6ai&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=audio-player
Thanks for validating! I hope more people will slow their roll and give Schumer some support. He didn’t get this far in his career by misreading the room.
There was also an excellent podcast by Simon Rosenberg in support of Schumer. I just can’t find it at the moment. 🤔
I agree with Lauren Egan. The older Democrats are completely taken aback by the current situation. The dynamics of the fight have changed, and they seem unsure of how to respond. If Harry Reid were still around, I believe he would have been able to navigate this new challenge effectively. While Schumer was effective in the past, the rules of the game have changed. I think it would be best for the country if he stepped aside now.
#ChuckChuck
Young or old—the Democratic Party handled things ineptly to let Donald Trump back in the White House!
I pray in the coming months they understand this and make profound changes. Not trying to win majorities in '26 to stop Trump is unconscionable.
Great writing, Lauren.
We're going to hear Bernie and AOC here in Tempe, AZ. on Thursday. I have a feeling it's going to be raucous. The "let Trump be Trump" of JVL makes so much sense despite the damage entailed. How else will MAGA learn? If Dems leap in, as they do after almost every GOP presidency, to repair the economy, then MAGA will say, "Oh, well, everything is still working so I guess Trump is pretty good after all." We may all sink together but at least only the cult members will say Trump is doing great.
James Carville has been saying lie back and let Trump and Company do themselves in since Trump's Inauguration, as is often mentioned by JVL, Tim, Sarah, Sam, etc.
It's looks and vibes and only two people have it - AOC and Bernie. AOC would win his seat easily thanks to name recognition and an ability to speak to people where they are.
Why are we still doing things the old way - a speech as a response to the fake SOU - what a tired idea - why not a comedy sketch or something creative?
My anger at Schumer is DEFINITELY because he voted for the bill. Has nothing to do with how he is presenting. AOC should primary him. Dick Durbin also needs to be primaried. They all need to be primaried. They 100% completely dropped the ball.
NYTimes (54 min interview with Schumer)
Chuck Schumer on Democrats, Antisemitism and His Shutdown Retreat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAn0MvTFktU
I watched this interview, a short time ago, after reading and watching videos by "Bulwarkians" --including Lauren's reasoned essay-- and other sources I respected. And after days of something nagging at me, after listening to this extended interview, I changed my mind regarding one of the two propositions, as I see them. Did Schumer make the wrong decision on whether or not to shut down the government; and secondly, should he step down from his minority leadership?
I believe he needs to step down. Immediately. Although Friday would have been preferable. It has nothing to do with his physical, mental or emotional health. Schumer, like me, is a Boomer. And some of us have seemingly won the good genes lottery! And we've even matured as well as aged, and developed a modicum of wisdom (speaking for myself, slow and hard won.) Schumer is smart, knowledgeable and skilled but he doesn't know how to do PR, strategic planning, capturing audiences in the ATTENTION Age, etc. etc. I needn't go on, because just about everyone reading this can list all that I haven't mentioned.
There is no time to waste. There is no time for ego. Joe Biden's fatal flaw may have been what led to the collapse of our system of government and our world as we knew it. So tragically ironic.
What I've changed my mind about, is the surety I had that Schumer had made the wrong decision and that his reasoning was hyperbolic, or even worse, irrelevant to the outcome of what Musk and Trump, Inc. could and would destroy. My impulse was that we needed to finally stand up to Trump, even if it meant shutting the government down!
When Trump thanked Schumer, that seemed to be definitive proof that Schumer had been wrong. But that's what nagged me. Trump is personality disordered; has, at best, an average IQ, and his brain isn't able to process the written word (I have a Master's Degree in reading remediation and to earn it we did clinical course work.) But Trump is instinctively cunning. It would be fair to speculate that his "primitive" brainstem is particularly agile. His cunning knew that his praise would be taken as proof that Schumer had really screwed up and aided him, whom they so "unjustly" despised. (We know that Trump lives in the world of mirror images and projections.)
No one expected Trump to use reverse psychology. Therefore, perhaps Schumer's decision to keep the government open was correct? That Trump had counted on the shutdown. If I had any money to bet on my suspicions, I wouldn't. But sometimes the most unpopular decision turns out to have been the correct one. What I would put money on, had I any, is that Schumer truly believes what he says he believes. He definitely is not the person to lead the party since minutes into Trump's "crowning." But that doesn't mean his instincts that have guided him for decades, as Nancy Pelosi's have guided her, are wrong. And yes, Pelosi adamantly disagrees with his decision. Which would have left me doing a coin toss, but for Trump's "tell."
Even if Schumer made the correct decision, for argument's sake, he couldn't have handled it more poorly. And because of that, we are again distracted, and at least momentarily misdirected. There will be protesters at all of Schumer's book tour stops. And he and his publishing company could have delayed the tour. Actually, thinking as I'm writing, that is additional proof that Schumer's convictions and decision, right or wrong, were sincere. You don't do something like this, days before you begin your book tour, to the very people who might attend your reading and perhaps buy your book. Your target customers.
This brings me to a broader question. What percentage of those among us, educated anti-Trumpers, anti-Maga, allowed our desire to "DO SOMETHING NOW!" diminish our critical thinking?
How many of us are open to considering the possibility? And, for my own personal edification, or at least curiosity, did Trump's approval of Schumer's decision nag at you?
“did Trump's approval of Schumer's decision nag at you?” Yes, it did. I hate that I have to try to get in his twisted mind.
it seems pretty clear to me that Chris Murphy is the one to take leadership