Kaivan Shroff and I have a spirited debate and conversation about the present and future of the Democratic Party, which I argue needs to abandon corporate money, AIPAC and embrace more Mamdanis.
I think Kaivan is right. The rest of the country is not NYC. We Dems are terrible communicators. Both of you are right in we did not trumpet how bad this bill was really was. We should have beat that drum with a list, incessantly! We cannot run on “Trump is horrible. We are not him”. It didn’t work last time, it won’t in the future. We need a heck of a lot of protests & work on election manipulation from Republicans. I don’t think it is so “out there” to think Musk helped Trump win with a lot more than money. I’m a Dem & just feel we just don’t do enough or really anything when Trump commits outrage after outrage! I just read an idea of a roving group of photographers, journalists, lawyers etc. To follow ICE raids & photograph their illegal behavior. Yes, I can see what could go wrong but at least it’s an idea about how to stop them or make it real for the average voter.
I live in NM, a corrupt oil and gas industry state. Here in Albuquerque, a progressive candidate Alex Uballez is running for mayor. He was a US Attorney appointed by Biden that Trump fired, and he is our best chance for a more equitable city. He is an alternative to the incumbent Tim Keller who is tied to the very corrupt police department. After all, our governor Lujan Grisham and Keller invited the National Guard to "help" the Albuquerque police department. Our state police assist I.C.E. raids and most democrats take money from oil and gas. One of our representatives Gabe Vasquez voted for more I.C.E. funding and voted against impeaching Trump.
Wajahat you are absolutely correct it is time for the Democratic Party to move back to the left, for the last 50 years the party has been moving to right and the center is currently right of the Reagan platform! It is time to put the working people first! Tired of all of the ass kissing of billionaires. Kavian is way to young he doesn't understand how far right the country has moved. It is time for a working class movement which is exactly what Bernie and AOC stand for and exactly why I want so many more like them in office!
My gawwwd, hearing Kaivan trip over himself to sell us on the milquetoast DNC party line is agonizing and so disingenuous. The Progressive platform is a PROVEN WINNER across the country (NOT just NYC), but the old guard, establishment Democrats will ALWAYS demonize Progressivism/Democratic Socialism because it flies in the face of their corporate, AIPAC and billionaire donors. The only salient difference between the Republicans and Democrats is (weak and tone-deaf) performance, and voters can SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT. Centrism does not WORK. Waj is 100% correct, the only way to win is to MOVE LEFT and have the national party fully support a Progressive platform, instead of continuing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! The Democrats stopped working for the people a long time ago, just like the Republicans did.
I live in New York City, but grew up in Detroit where a lot of Palestinians live. I personally believe the Palestinians desert land just like the Jewish communities. Why do some believe one should have what they want and not others? Everyone deserves what others believe they should have. As an African woman who was born in USA because my ancestors was stolen to this country for free labor.
The first people of the world came from the Continent of Africa. Knowing history is importance not the garbage some individual here want to teach BS. of the individual who stole this land in my opinion. Others will have their opinions and are entitled to it. Knowing truth history and not garbage that makes others feel good. My 2 cents for the day.
Mamdani got the young vote out which is why he won the primary. He has some great ideas, but saying he is going to make NYC affordable is not the same thing as doing it. Lowering rents means landlords do not have $ to service and repair their property. Free subways means the MTA has less income to upgrade the system. Everyday problems of public safety, the homeless and immigrant problems, picking up garbage, repairing streets, etc. will override making the city affordable and have to be addressed first. You keep talking about Cuomo, but need to address Sliwa who has always been an advocate of public safety and helping the poor, He had a big kickoff event in Staten Island last week, and the Republicans there emphasized Mamdani as a socialist/communist. He may be and underdog compared to Cuomo, but could surprise everyone.
Senate Majority Leader Mamdani is a phrase that scares the donor billionaire parasite class. So their going to put up every road block to stop him and any real left winger from gaining any sort of power.
Wajahat...thank you for all you do every single day! 💙
One of my favorite independent news sites-thank you for all you do!
I wrote a long email to Hakeem Jefferies.
Ii asked him why he accepts cover donation and hasn’t endorsed Mamdani.
I think Kaivan is right. The rest of the country is not NYC. We Dems are terrible communicators. Both of you are right in we did not trumpet how bad this bill was really was. We should have beat that drum with a list, incessantly! We cannot run on “Trump is horrible. We are not him”. It didn’t work last time, it won’t in the future. We need a heck of a lot of protests & work on election manipulation from Republicans. I don’t think it is so “out there” to think Musk helped Trump win with a lot more than money. I’m a Dem & just feel we just don’t do enough or really anything when Trump commits outrage after outrage! I just read an idea of a roving group of photographers, journalists, lawyers etc. To follow ICE raids & photograph their illegal behavior. Yes, I can see what could go wrong but at least it’s an idea about how to stop them or make it real for the average voter.
I live in NM, a corrupt oil and gas industry state. Here in Albuquerque, a progressive candidate Alex Uballez is running for mayor. He was a US Attorney appointed by Biden that Trump fired, and he is our best chance for a more equitable city. He is an alternative to the incumbent Tim Keller who is tied to the very corrupt police department. After all, our governor Lujan Grisham and Keller invited the National Guard to "help" the Albuquerque police department. Our state police assist I.C.E. raids and most democrats take money from oil and gas. One of our representatives Gabe Vasquez voted for more I.C.E. funding and voted against impeaching Trump.
Wajahat you are absolutely correct it is time for the Democratic Party to move back to the left, for the last 50 years the party has been moving to right and the center is currently right of the Reagan platform! It is time to put the working people first! Tired of all of the ass kissing of billionaires. Kavian is way to young he doesn't understand how far right the country has moved. It is time for a working class movement which is exactly what Bernie and AOC stand for and exactly why I want so many more like them in office!
I respect Wajahat and what he is doing here. At this point, it feels like we can tell them but we can't understand it for them.
My gawwwd, hearing Kaivan trip over himself to sell us on the milquetoast DNC party line is agonizing and so disingenuous. The Progressive platform is a PROVEN WINNER across the country (NOT just NYC), but the old guard, establishment Democrats will ALWAYS demonize Progressivism/Democratic Socialism because it flies in the face of their corporate, AIPAC and billionaire donors. The only salient difference between the Republicans and Democrats is (weak and tone-deaf) performance, and voters can SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT. Centrism does not WORK. Waj is 100% correct, the only way to win is to MOVE LEFT and have the national party fully support a Progressive platform, instead of continuing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! The Democrats stopped working for the people a long time ago, just like the Republicans did.
This was infuriating. I can't even listen to a centrist democrat without wanting to pull my hair out.
I live in New York City, but grew up in Detroit where a lot of Palestinians live. I personally believe the Palestinians desert land just like the Jewish communities. Why do some believe one should have what they want and not others? Everyone deserves what others believe they should have. As an African woman who was born in USA because my ancestors was stolen to this country for free labor.
The first people of the world came from the Continent of Africa. Knowing history is importance not the garbage some individual here want to teach BS. of the individual who stole this land in my opinion. Others will have their opinions and are entitled to it. Knowing truth history and not garbage that makes others feel good. My 2 cents for the day.
I agree with you Waj. I am very tired of the centrists. They actually give me a headache. That is why I don’t give $ to the DNC.
Never again.
Mamdani got the young vote out which is why he won the primary. He has some great ideas, but saying he is going to make NYC affordable is not the same thing as doing it. Lowering rents means landlords do not have $ to service and repair their property. Free subways means the MTA has less income to upgrade the system. Everyday problems of public safety, the homeless and immigrant problems, picking up garbage, repairing streets, etc. will override making the city affordable and have to be addressed first. You keep talking about Cuomo, but need to address Sliwa who has always been an advocate of public safety and helping the poor, He had a big kickoff event in Staten Island last week, and the Republicans there emphasized Mamdani as a socialist/communist. He may be and underdog compared to Cuomo, but could surprise everyone.
I think the question should be “How can the American Electorate Better Educate itself on Political Gamesmanship”?
Agree with Mr. Ali totally!
Good discourse. I like hearing you guest’s opinions without so many loud interruptions please.
Senate Majority Leader Mamdani is a phrase that scares the donor billionaire parasite class. So their going to put up every road block to stop him and any real left winger from gaining any sort of power.