Bad Faith Episode 492 - Running to Beat Pelosi (w/ Saikat Chakrabarti)
Jul 17, 2025
Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to AOC and co-founder of Justice Democrats, discusses his bold campaign against Nancy Pelosi for the San Francisco congressional seat. He shares insights on the challenges of progressive politics within the Democratic Party and the need for innovative grassroots strategies. Saikat reflects on successful campaign tactics, the pressing issues of housing affordability, and the importance of community engagement. His journey highlights a transformative vision aimed at mobilizing disenfranchised voters against the establishment.
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From Tech to Progressive Politics
- Saikat Chakrabarti transitioned from tech to politics after realizing tech wasn't solving inequality and climate issues.
- He worked on Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign and helped launch the Green New Deal with AOC as her chief of staff.
Democratic Party Inertia
- The Democratic Party avoids big, clear messages and prefers local issues, losing ground to Republican national narratives.
- This inertia and money-raising focus hinder progressive legislative action and adapting to urgent crises.
Campaign With Tangible Promises
- Run campaigns with tangible promises that voters can directly relate to and feel empowered by.
- Build a slate of candidates who can collectively deliver on those promises for more impact.