What do you stand for?
Charlie Kirk's killing has galvanized the right and filled it with the sort of fiery righteousness that threatens to push the United States past the tipping point. But never fear–another centrist liberal Democratic Party ticket is being carefully crafted for elections taking place three years from now.
The Democratic Party, whose unpopularity rivals Donald Trump's--really--may be paving the groundwork for a Harris-Buttigieg ticket in 2028 as its answer to the dire state of our democracy.
Kamala Harris' new book is making a splash for her admission that her first instinct was to pick a running mate in 2024 whose identity was a greater campaign talking point than their politics– someone like her--former Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, an openly gay liberal figure. Neither Harris nor Buttigieg represented the sort of bold progressive vision that could have presented a strong challenge to Trump. And now, speculations abound over Harris giving Americans a repeat performance in 2028, this time with Buttigieg by her side.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration sliding faster than ever into fascist authoritarianism, and openly engaging in threats to silence the president's critics on television. If the Democrats' only answer is that they are not Trump, they will lose again and again just like they have done so often in the past.
Tell us what you stand for, not just that you're against Trump!
If their platform doesn't center an explicitly economic justice agenda that holds wealthy billionaires accountable while ensuring Americans have their basic needs met, Democrats will lose.
If it doesn't center protections for the most vulnerable members of our society, who are constantly being scapegoated--people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, women--Democrats will lose.
It's not complicated. Here are a few ways in which state and city level solutions are being enacted:
New Mexico just became the first state in the nation to offer its residents free childcare.
Tulsa, Oklahoma just approved a reparations package for descendants of the Tulsa massacre, after generations of failed efforts.
California just passed a new law banning law enforcement agents including ICE from wearing masks.
If you just canceled your Disney subscription, outraged over Jimmy Kimmel's firing, spend your dollars on independent media instead. There are NO BILLIONAIRES here, ready to kiss the demagogue's ring. Only principled, unapologetically progressive solutions journalism.
FINALLY, did you know that in addition to my weekly television and radio shows, I write regular print columns for several media outlets?
Here my latest story for Truthout, based on interviews I've done with NeeNee Taylor of D.C. and Richard Wallace of Chicago:
And here is my latest syndicated column for the Independent Media Institute, based on my recent interview with Tariq Khan: