20 Thoughts on the Election (and the Way Forward)

After spendings 48 hours in shell-shock mode, here are some initial reflections on what went wrong and how we can defeat Trumpism: Blame the Democratic Party establishment. Tuesday’s loss is what happens when you leave workers behind for decades, from Clinton’s NAFTA, to Obama’s austerity, to Schumer’s pivot to suburban professionals, to going scorched earth against Bernie’s movement in 2016 and 2020. Establishment Dems also royally screwed up this cycle: it was suicidal to embrace Biden’s candidacy despite his dementia and unpopularity. Pundits praised Pelosi and co. for eventually pushing Biden out, but it’s inexcusable that they didn’t do so a year earlier and allow for a real primary. The only chance the Dems had at winning in 2024 was by running someone outside of the Biden administration, probably someone like Gretchen Whitmer. (And though Bernie was too old this time around, it’s worth remembering that he won over exactly the people Harris struggled with: workers across the coun

After spendings 48 hours in shell-shock mode, here are some initial reflections on what went wrong and how we can defeat Trumpism: Blame the Democratic Party establishment. Tuesday’s loss is what happens when you leave workers behind for decades, from Clinton’s NAFTA, to Obama’s austerity, to Schumer’s pivot to suburban professionals, to going scorched earth against Bernie’s movement in 2016 and 2020. Establishment Dems also royally screwed up this cycle: it was suicidal to embrace Biden’s candidacy despite his dementia and unpopularity. Pundits praised Pelosi and co. for eventually pushing Bi