The Political Scene | The New Yorker The Democratic Party’s Identity Crisis
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Aug 28, 2025 
Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to Pete Buttigieg, joins Clare Malone to tackle the Democratic Party's identity crisis. They explore how a decade of anti-Trump rhetoric has left Democrats reactive. Smith highlights the party's dwindling support from traditional allies like young voters and communities of color. They discuss the need for innovative strategies and authentic connections to regain trust, contrasting different approaches among rising leaders. The conversation emphasizes the urgency of rethinking messaging for future elections.
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Party Became Reactive, Not Visionary
- Democrats have oriented themselves around being anti-Trump and drifted out of the ideas business.
- Voters punished that reactive posture in 2024 and want a positive, substantive product.
Registration Isn't Enough
- Registering voters alone won't reverse Democrats' losses with working-class and non-college voters.
- The party must fix its message and get into persuasion, not just turnout.
Down-Ballot Shifts Revealed Deeper Faults
- Suburban and diverse NYC congressional districts shifted Republican over public-order, migration, and cost concerns.
- Those shifts signaled deeper problems beyond battleground-state analyses.
