The Bulwark Podcast Lis Smith: Dems Need to Burn Down the Party Establishment
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Aug 8, 2025 
Lis Smith, a savvy Democratic strategist and author of "Any Given Tuesday," discusses how a nationalized Democratic Party has struggled in red states. She highlights the need for candidates to embrace diversity in their campaigns and calls for a cleanup of undesirable figures like Andrew Cuomo. Smith also critiques the administration for its treatment of transgender service members and warns against deceptive political action committees. Overall, she advocates for new leadership that resonates with communities across the political spectrum.
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Celebrities Joining ICE For Pay
- Lis Smith was embarrassed seeing Dean Cain volunteer for ICE and joked about a childhood poster of him.
- She noted many celebrity hires likely took $100,000 signing bonuses to join ICE.
Use Law-Enforcement Language On Immigration
- Lis Smith advises Democrats to adopt law-enforcement language on immigration to win trust.
- Frame ICE raids as making communities less safe and undermining policing cooperation.
Call Out Trans Military Retirement Cruelty
- Call out the Air Force decision to deny retirement to longtime trans service members as cruel.
- Use clear moral language and demand dignity for veterans who served honorably.
