Former House Democratic Leader and Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, discusses her childhood, challenges as Speaker, building consensus, and politics and power in this entertaining podcast.
Growing up in a political family, Nancy Pelosi learned the importance of public service and providing assistance to those in need.
Understanding the power of counting and building consensus has been instrumental in Nancy Pelosi's political career.
Deep dives
Growing up in a Political Family
Nancy Pelosi shares her experience growing up in a political family with her father and brother both serving as the mayor of Baltimore. From a young age, she was exposed to the world of public service and had a strong sense of responsibility to other people. Living in Little Italy, Baltimore, Pelosi was always surrounded by people seeking help, and she learned the importance of providing assistance and support to those in need.
Power of Counting and Building Consensus
Pelosi emphasizes the importance of understanding the power of counting and using it to one's advantage in politics. In order to succeed in passing legislation and achieving goals, it is crucial to know the numbers and what constitutes a favorable outcome. Pelosi's experience in securing votes and building consensus has been instrumental in her political career. She recognizes the significance of unity within her diverse caucus and describes herself as a 'weaver,' bringing together the various threads of her party's members to create a strong fabric of support for their initiatives.
Challenges of Bipartisanship and the Role of the Speaker
Pelosi reflects on the challenges she faced as the Speaker of the House, working with Republicans to reach bipartisan agreements. While she believes in the importance of bipartisan cooperation, she criticizes the lack of respect and cooperation from some Republican members. Pelosi argues that President Obama projected his goodness and decency onto others and hoped for greater bipartisanship, which was not reciprocated. She emphasizes the need for public awareness of the obstructionism in Congress and the importance of holding elected officials accountable for their actions.
This week, we’re revisiting a 2015 interview with Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Then serving as House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi spoke with David about her childhood in Baltimore, her tenure as Speaker of the House and all of its challenges, the key to building consensus, and politics and power.
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