Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content #418 - A Future for Democrats
75 snips
Jun 2, 2025 
Congressman Ritchie Torres, the first openly LGBTQ elected official from the Bronx, joins the discussion on the future of the Democratic Party. He shares how his upbringing in public housing shaped his political passion. The conversation dives into the influence of far-left ideologies, governance challenges, and the rise of antisemitism. Torres discusses the importance of free speech on campuses, the impact of AI on job markets, and potential Democratic candidates for 2028, urging a pivot towards constructive governance over mere messaging.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Richie Torres's Political Origin
- Richie Torres grew up in Bronx public housing with severe poverty and poor living conditions.
- He started as a tenant organizer and became the youngest NYC Council member at 25, later a Congressman.
Progressive Politics Radicalization
- Progressive politics radically shifted left from 2014 to recent years, with positions growing more extreme.
- What was once reform became calls for open borders, defunding police, and BDS movements.
Far Left’s Role in Trump’s Rise
- The far left pushed Democrats too far, fueling Trumpism by alienating the working class on immigration and inflation.
- Biden’s delay in border enforcement showed pandering to far-left activists' influence over policymaking.