Very impressed with Mayor Mamdani’s handling of the 9/11 anniversary - this is a masterclass in how to behave like a true leader.

Observation: the audience for non-MAGA mass media (NYT, CNN, ABC etc.) is mostly Dem-leaning. These media pursue clicks & virality even as they try to maintain journalistic standards, and that often means flogging the “Dems in Disarray” narrative. Not a conspiracy, but a perverse incentive.

What can Americans do to support the Canadian economy through the trade war?

MAGA media exists to reinforce MAGA identity, promote MAGA talking points, sell ads that grift off the MAGA audience and please the Mad King. It feels like the emphasis on the last point is ramping up.

Unlimited campaign cash flowing into MAGA probably can't sway voters via TV ads, but we should be worried about "dirty tricks". Money (and complicit social media algorithms) can amplify fringe ideas and feed the MAGA narrative that Dems are out of touch with "real Americans". Be wary.

Disappointed to see Mamdani spending energy on "arrest Netanyahu" - maybe this is what elements of his base want, but I'd think most NYC voters care more about other things.

The presumption is that Cornyn, Cassidy etc. "play ball" with MAGA to preserve their future as GOP lobbyists. But in an autocracy, why does anyone need to lobby Congress at all? If the only power resides in the WH, then only having the Mad King's ear matters.

MAGA is a movement with strong beliefs, purity tests and an identity. Dems are a broad & fractious coalition, even if some of our factions want us to be a movement. We should not try to win intra-Dem debates with bullying or shaming, nor should we expect everyone to fall in line on every topic.

IMO it is obvious that Ken Martin should lose his job. Why hasn’t this happened yet? We Dems want to be seen as serious, decisive people who deserve voters’ trust to run things; let’s show that we are by dealing with this situation ASAP vs dithering over it.

We’ve all heard that it’s better to be lucky than smart. IMO, in Iran, Trump is just betting on being lucky - he hopes that regime collapse or some other unlikely-but-possible event will save him.

We Dems need to remember that we're a coalition, not a movement. And state parties should measure themselves on how many offices at every level are held by Dems in their states.

Maybe just wishful thinking but it feels like Trump has lost control of the narrative. He hasn't said much since the "end" of the war - just whining about NATO, the NY Times and CNN.

When back in power in Congress, could Democrats create some forum encouraging cities, states, universities, banks, law firms and other institutions to unite in solidarity against MAGA threats?

No Kings Boston Common!

Voters used to worry about deficits and accept that higher taxes are needed to support higher spending. Are we now conditioned to ignore links between spending, deficits and taxation? When Dems call for higher taxes, will this be seen as responsible or simply as a populist attack on the wealthy?

Workshopping three Dem priorities: Restore the American Dream; Fix What's Broken; Stop the Chaos, Corruption & Cruelty. IMO if we can stay out of the weeds and avoid culture war head-to-head battles, we should win all over.

The MAGA regime has demonstrated again & again that it is constrained by neither justice nor truth. Can we truly believe that any election result or judicial decision will cause them to surrender power?

Our battle with MAGA is very different from anything in our recent past, which is why many (especially political media) struggle to frame it properly. This is not about our policies over their policies - it is a fight to protect pluralism, pragmatism, rationality and rule of law from extremists.

Thinking today that the time & energy invested in political bickering between highly engaged & online center-left and progressive folks would be better spent listening to the concerns that drove Biden (20)-Trump (24) voters in purple states.

Dem campaigns need to proclaim loudly and convincingly that we are ready to take on the powerful to make people’s lives better. This is what we’re about - not a promise of returning to pre-Trump politics or vague pledges to bring about social & racial justice.

We need to think seriously about post-MAGA policies: comprehensive reforms to protect our democracy and a major rebuild of the social compact. This can’t be done either with nostalgia for the Obama years or populist slogans; we need a thoughtful policy plan and a campaign built around it.

After MAGA, we must massively reform our government as well as build a new social compact for the modern era. This is not a job for gerontocrats, and it won't be accomplished if we are still refighting the 2016/2020 primaries.

Mixed feelings on "The Cave". But we face a MAGAfied GOP that does not care how much pain they inflict on the American people, and that intends to hold onto power via gerrymandering and voter suppression rather than winning free & fair elections. We are playing a long game here.

The essence IMO of the political “double standard” is that if you are dumb & destructive, you can still succeed, but if your agenda is constructive, you need to be competent & smart to pull it off.

Too many political figures seem trapped in pre-2024 ideas, attitudes and battles, even as MAGA authoritarianism becomes entrenched. All of us, and leaders especially, need to put old grievances aside and focus on saving our democracy.

Ugh. The Schumer wing recruits a septuagenarian whose priority is to preserve the filibuster. The Sanders wing recruits a wholly unvetted populist who apparently didn't realize that he has a Nazi tattoo. Given the two, I pick Mills, but in such a critical time why can't we do better?

No Kings Boston!

Post No Kings, we must IMO move towards a soft economic boycott, especially of the tech giants. Buy less from Amazon, keep your phone longer, shop local as much as possible. CEOs need to see that their cowardice is bad for business.

IMO, political power can’t make people think or believe different things. Our campaigns need to focus on better jobs, lower costs and safer streets for all Americans, and when we win, we need to deliver. Most voters are exhausted by culture wars, class wars and grievance.

If we all cut spending by just 10%, it would send a message to business and political leaders. This Christmas, why not give the gift of resistance?