Where do the Democrats go from here?

4 snips

Dec 4, 2024

The podcast delves into the soul-searching within the Democratic Party after a tough electoral loss. It questions their strategy moving forward, especially with Trump in office. The controversial pardon of Hunter Biden sparks debate among party members, complicating efforts to reshape the party's image. There's also a focus on reconnecting with working-class voters and adapting strategies to appeal to diverse demographics. Leadership dynamics and potential new candidates like Ben Wickler add to the intrigue as the party navigates its future.

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INSIGHT

Parallels with Trump

Biden's justification for the pardon mirrors Trump's defense against indictments: a politicized justice system.
This weakens the Democrats' attacks on Trump and may impact Biden's legacy.

ANECDOTE

Biden Pardons Son

Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, despite previous claims he wouldn't.
This action, seemingly contradicting his past statements, has drawn criticism and raised questions about his motives.

INSIGHT

Mixed Reactions from Democrats

Some Democrats criticize Biden's pardon, while others on social media support it, claiming unfair targeting.
This highlights the normalization of Trump-like rhetoric in political discourse.

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It’s been one month since Kamala Harris lost the US presidential election and soul-searching within the Democratic Party has already begun as the party prepares for opposition.

It’s not yet clear how Democrats intend to approach the next four years with Trump in office. Will they work with or against him? And how do they shape a new pitch to American voters?

The fallout continues from Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter. Gavin Newsom is the most senior Democrat to publicly criticise the president’s decision, and now Donald Trump is arguing the case against him should be thrown out too. Where does this leave Biden’s reputation?

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent

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This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dan Ehrlich. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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