Holding Out for a Hero
A disconnect has occurred between Democratic constituents and their leadership. Many are asking "where are our leaders?".
As Elon Musk wages an ongoing coup against our government institutions, and President Trump abandons our allies across the globe, a need arises for a vocal and unyielding opposition.
Yes, Republicans, or the MAGA party as I now refer to them, have unified control of our government (House, Senate, Presidency). This means Democrats have a lot less leverage than before November of last year, but it doesn't mean they're without options. The Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives (218 seats to Democrats' 215), which virtually inhibits them from ramming their agenda through Congress without the occasional support from a handful of Democrats. They picked up many more seats in the Senate, allowing for the confirmation of most, if not all of Trump's cabinet nominees, even without the help of Dems. The Republican Party, with a trifecta of government control, should be forced to own their agenda and pass it alone. What is needed from Democrats is the formation of a true opposition party. The people sent them to Washington to fight, not sit around hand-wringing and posting platitudes on social media.
Moreover, why did a handful of Democrats help approve some of Trump's cabinet nominees (such as Bessent for Treasury)? And why is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries currently on a book tour, instead of leading mass protests, or getting into some "good trouble" like the late Rep. John Lewis? Why is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posting about the price of eggs, when the systems that were built to protect the vulnerable are being ripped to shreds or completely eradicated? Why are the only Democratic voices speaking truth to power the young, progressive Representatives like AOC, Jasmine Crockett and Maxwell Frost?
Read any comment thread on Rep. Jeffries or Sen. Schumer's BlueSky accounts and you'll see a chorus of angry Americans, demanding they do more to protect us, or to step aside so someone willing to so can step up.
It's increasingly clear that the Democrats in top leadership positions still think we're playing by the old political rulebook. They're convinced, it seems, that we just have to hold out until the 2026 midterms to regain some semblance of control of the levers of government. What they aren't being honest with the American people about, or are too delusional to understand, is we may not have fair elections in 2026. President Trump has announced his intent to seize power over the US Postal Service and potentially privatize it, which could give him the ability to stop the delivery of mail-in ballots, or shutter post offices in traditionally Democratic urban or rural areas. In fact, Trump has recently spoken about his desire to restrict voting to paper ballots and in-person voting, while tightening voter ID laws. This is just one of hundreds of institutional attacks the current administration is waging that Democrats are failing to publicly fight against in any meaningful way.
"Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel, Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor
At townhalls across America this week, thousands of constituents have been speaking out and demanding more of their representatives in Congress. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R, WI) faced a particularly angry crowd on Friday, as he spoke favorably about the Executive Orders ending both birthright citizenship (which is illegal and being litigated) and federal DEI programs. Rep. Paul Tonko (D, NY) faced an energized audience, demanding he lead direct action to protest the current administration.
People are justifiably enraged over the endless drip of anti-Democratic actions taken by the Trump administration and his unelected lackey Elon Musk, and it's clear the current Democratic leadership is not meeting the moment with the fervor the public demands. The question now is whether those leaders will step up and do what is necessary to push back against this authoritarianism, or whether they should be compelled to resign and lift up younger voices into positions of power. I call for the latter. If they are unable to do the job we elected them to do, with the resources we provide through our tax dollars, they need to step aside and let those who are willing lead.
To contact your elected representatives and demand action, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.