WEBVTT 1 00:00:20.579 --> 00:00:23.800 Welcome to Pod Save America. I'm Jon Favreau. Today I'm 2 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:26.649 joined by my old friend and colleague David Plouffe, the 3 00:00:26.690 --> 00:00:29.390 former White House senior advisor to Barack Obama and as 4 00:00:29.429 --> 00:00:33.100 well as his 2008 campaign manager and a senior advisor 5 00:00:33.140 --> 00:00:38.259 to Kamala Harris's 107-day campaign. Plouffe's one of the smartest 6 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:41.600 and most committed people I've ever met in Democratic politics. 7 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:44.299 So when I saw that he published a piece in 8 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:47.340 The New York Times about the Democratic Party's new early 9 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:50.869 state calendar and how he thinks it will fundamentally reshape 10 00:00:50.909 --> 00:00:54.549 the 2028 primary, I had a million questions I wanted 11 00:00:54.570 --> 00:00:57.100 to ask him. I first got his thoughts on the 12 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:00.399 final stretch of the 2026 midterms and what he thinks 13 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:02.820 Democrats need to do to close the deal with voters 14 00:01:02.859 --> 00:01:05.219 and all the key states and races. And then we 15 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:08.560 dug into the 2028 primary, which, believe it or not, 16 00:01:08.909 --> 00:01:12.150 will basically begin the day after the midterms are over. 17 00:01:12.629 --> 00:01:15.849 We talked about the calendar, strategy, and he had some 18 00:01:15.870 --> 00:01:18.510 interesting things to say about some of the potential candidates 19 00:01:18.609 --> 00:01:23.230 like AOC, John Ossoff, and Kamala Harris. It was, as 20 00:01:23.299 --> 00:01:26.060 it always is with Pluff, a great conversation that I 21 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:28.500 could have kept going for hours. We'll get to it 22 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:30.760 in a minute, but before we do, please consider becoming 23 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:33.620 a paying subscriber to Friends of the Pod. Subscribers get 24 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:36.459 access to ad-free episodes of this show, Pod Save America, 25 00:01:36.540 --> 00:01:38.780 and all of your favorite Crooked Pods, as well as 26 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:43.719 special subscriber-exclusive shows like our extra episode of Pod Save America, 27 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:46.480 Pod Save America Only Friends, where this week Lovett and 28 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:49.719 Dan broke down Darlene Graham's win in South Carolina and 29 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.170 lots more. If you want to check it out and 30 00:01:52.209 --> 00:01:56.049 get access to even more newsletters, discounted CrookedCon tickets, all 31 00:01:56.090 --> 00:01:58.579 kinds of good stuff, head on over to crooked.com slash 32 00:01:58.609 --> 00:02:02.799 friends to subscribe. All right, here's David Plouffe. David Plouffe, 33 00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:04.159 welcome back to Pod Save America. 34 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:06.840 Mr. Favreau, it's always good to be with you. 35 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:09.180 You too. I looked at last time you were on 36 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:13.490 was January and you and Pfeiffer talked about the Democratic brand, 37 00:02:14.030 --> 00:02:19.289 which has now been completely rehabilitated. But I was going 38 00:02:19.310 --> 00:02:22.849 to ask like, Now that the first ballots are set 39 00:02:22.870 --> 00:02:25.789 to go out next week, how much progress do you 40 00:02:25.830 --> 00:02:27.969 think the party has made over the last seven months 41 00:02:28.569 --> 00:02:30.710 in trying to fix some of the problems you and 42 00:02:30.750 --> 00:02:33.900 Dan talked about, you've written about? Put it another way, 43 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:37.740 like how much of the Democrats' relatively strong political position 44 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:41.580 right now would you say is attributable to Donald Trump's 45 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:45.280 incredibly weak political position and how much is the party's 46 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:46.419 actually done some improvement? 47 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:50.009 I think all of it almost is attributable. to Donald 48 00:02:50.030 --> 00:02:52.270 Trump and the fact that they're in power. So listen, 49 00:02:52.930 --> 00:02:55.090 there is, to be an optimist for a minute, we've 50 00:02:55.110 --> 00:02:57.620 got some great candidates out there that I think are 51 00:02:58.030 --> 00:03:00.680 kind of defining for people in their own way what 52 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:03.360 a Democrat can be in 2026. So that's great. But 53 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:05.759 the party writ large, obviously, you just look at the numbers. 54 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.800 I mean, we have, you know, we've got a massive problem. 55 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:12.639 And listen, I don't know yet, neither do you, no 56 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:16.210 one can know for sure what's going to happen this November. But, 57 00:03:16.250 --> 00:03:19.509 you know, it could be more like 2006, potentially atmospherically. 58 00:03:20.009 --> 00:03:21.409 And so the question is, are we going to take 59 00:03:21.449 --> 00:03:23.469 full advantage of that? We would take more advantage of 60 00:03:23.550 --> 00:03:25.870 it if our brand was stronger. But I think what 61 00:03:25.889 --> 00:03:28.409 we're going to see is candidates in certain places have 62 00:03:28.449 --> 00:03:31.669 begun to show us the way forward here about what 63 00:03:31.710 --> 00:03:35.120 a Democratic offering can be in 2026. So and that's 64 00:03:35.129 --> 00:03:36.439 going to be the important thing to look at is 65 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:39.360 when we see after the election and look at the data, 66 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.560 the Democrats who overperform kind of the mean are Even 67 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:44.860 though this should be a fairly good year for us, 68 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.300 we're going to have people overperform that. And to understand 69 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.219 why is going to be really important going forward. 70 00:03:49.530 --> 00:03:52.090 So I know to a large extent this depends on 71 00:03:52.150 --> 00:03:55.030 the race, but what do you think the frontline House 72 00:03:55.169 --> 00:03:58.430 and Senate candidates in the most competitive races have to 73 00:03:58.469 --> 00:04:01.530 do in the next 60-ish days that they haven't done 74 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:03.009 yet to close the deal with voters? 75 00:04:03.610 --> 00:04:05.909 Well, I think in most of these races, you're going 76 00:04:05.930 --> 00:04:08.009 to have five, six, seven percent of people who are 77 00:04:08.030 --> 00:04:10.750 still undecided. So you've got to make the case to them. 78 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:14.460 And I think what's interesting is I think the case 79 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:17.259 against the Republicans is largely set in stone. You've got 80 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.920 to continue to remind people of this and particularly for 81 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:23.290 some of these incumbent House Republicans and incumbent Senate Republicans, 82 00:04:23.370 --> 00:04:26.110 make sure they own all the downside of Trump. You've 83 00:04:26.129 --> 00:04:28.610 got to tie them to higher prices and health care 84 00:04:28.629 --> 00:04:31.550 and all the things people obviously are very upset about. 85 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.639 But I think the candidates I think will do the 86 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:40.160 best are able to convince people that they are not 87 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.339 just a flawed alternative, that there's actually something that they 88 00:04:43.420 --> 00:04:46.060 offer that might be interesting and new and exciting to people. 89 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:48.720 Then you've got to focus on turnout and make sure 90 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:51.680 that we're getting strong enough turnout. And I think in 91 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:54.500 the red states, particularly in center races, but this is 92 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.930 true in some of the outer edge house races, you know, 93 00:04:56.949 --> 00:04:58.790 we all see the polls. Maybe they're all bullshit, but 94 00:04:58.829 --> 00:05:01.089 let's say they're accurate. And, you know, we've got people 95 00:05:01.149 --> 00:05:05.769 in states like Iowa, in Texas, in Alaska, you know, 96 00:05:06.250 --> 00:05:08.730 who are winning, but they're still at like 46, 47, 48. 97 00:05:08.730 --> 00:05:11.769 And I always remind people, like when we see a 98 00:05:11.829 --> 00:05:14.300 poll that has a Democrat at 47 and a Republican 99 00:05:14.310 --> 00:05:17.500 at 42, yeah, it's better than the alternative, but that's 100 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:21.300 89% of the vote. What's happening to the other 11%? 101 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:23.240 And so for these candidates, you have to focus on that. 102 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:25.600 And the good ones know this, which is, let's say 103 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:28.769 in that scenario, most of that 11% is going to 104 00:05:28.790 --> 00:05:31.220 go to the Republicans. in some of these tough places. 105 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:34.040 So you've got to figure out where's the 3% of 106 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:37.350 that 11% that's out there that I can bring home. 107 00:05:37.449 --> 00:05:40.089 So that really is the focus, I think, of all 108 00:05:40.110 --> 00:05:42.490 of these candidates is, and I think it's going to 109 00:05:42.529 --> 00:05:45.209 require in some of the toughest districts and toughest Senate states, 110 00:05:45.589 --> 00:05:48.709 it can't just be anti-Republican vote. That is why we're 111 00:05:48.730 --> 00:05:50.970 in the position we're in, and it's a great position. But, 112 00:05:51.009 --> 00:05:53.589 and this is where like a James Tallarico, maybe we'll 113 00:05:53.610 --> 00:05:57.600 see this with an Osborne in Nebraska, a Turek, these 114 00:05:57.660 --> 00:06:01.629 candidates who are exceptional candidates. you know, have the ability 115 00:06:01.750 --> 00:06:04.000 to get that extra one or two percent because of 116 00:06:04.069 --> 00:06:06.480 who they are, not just because they're a Democrat. 117 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:08.579 Yeah, this kind of leads to my next question, which 118 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:13.240 is I saw this week Troy Jackson released his first ads. 119 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:17.519 They were like positive bio spots. Abdul El-Sayed mixed it 120 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:21.230 up with Jesse Waters on Fox. I saw some people say, 121 00:06:21.290 --> 00:06:24.129 you know, these candidates shouldn't do all that much to 122 00:06:24.170 --> 00:06:27.149 make the race about them. Everything should be about trying 123 00:06:27.250 --> 00:06:31.240 to tie their opponents to Donald Trump. obviously, everyone has 124 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:33.959 to do a little bit of both. But what is 125 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:35.480 your sense of the right balance there? 126 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:38.949 Well, I think sort of atmospherically, most of these Republican 127 00:06:38.990 --> 00:06:42.629 candidates are already paying the price for being in Donald 128 00:06:42.649 --> 00:06:45.470 Trump's party and for a lot of them doing his bidding. So, 129 00:06:45.490 --> 00:06:47.560 of course, over the next few weeks, and you're going 130 00:06:47.569 --> 00:06:50.139 to want to continue to remind people of that. And, 131 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:52.000 you know, the most interesting way to do that, I think, 132 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:55.199 is to bring forward voters and voices who can speak 133 00:06:55.250 --> 00:06:57.470 to that. Particularly people who said, listen, I voted for 134 00:06:57.490 --> 00:06:59.350 this person in the past, or I voted for Donald Trump. 135 00:06:59.389 --> 00:07:02.350 I can't do it anymore. I've switched. But I think 136 00:07:02.430 --> 00:07:05.629 to get, again, I'm very focused on states where, and 137 00:07:05.649 --> 00:07:08.439 in the Senate in particular, you know, this is hostile 138 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:12.040 political territory for us. So I do think you've got 139 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:15.339 to give people comfort that you're an alternative that they 140 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:18.720 can trust. So it's a blend. But I think it's 141 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:21.519 always important in campaigns, John, and you know this very well, like, 142 00:07:21.850 --> 00:07:23.610 You've got to step back and say, what's the thing 143 00:07:23.670 --> 00:07:28.079 that voters already know? And so then how do we 144 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:31.579 reinforce that? But where's the opening where we can introduce 145 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.639 new arguments? Some of those may be new ways to, 146 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:36.699 you know, refresh the argument against Republicans. But I think 147 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:40.430 Democrats have to. And so when I see Jackson and 148 00:07:40.569 --> 00:07:43.990 Abdul Al-Sayed and Turek and Rob Sander and all these people, 149 00:07:44.310 --> 00:07:46.350 you know, going into hostile places to do interviews, that's 150 00:07:46.389 --> 00:07:49.449 what you have to do. I really, really believe that's 151 00:07:49.490 --> 00:07:52.230 the case because we're at a point now where anybody 152 00:07:52.290 --> 00:07:54.949 who's truly undecided about who to vote for, whether to vote, 153 00:07:55.410 --> 00:07:57.699 it's kind of already baked in that they're very unhappy 154 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:00.399 with Donald Trump and the Republicans. So I'm not suggesting 155 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.160 you don't continue to remind them that, but that's just 156 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:06.759 a fact. And again, I think when we look post-election, 157 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:10.779 the people who overperformed the average Democrat are going to 158 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:14.379 be people who built a relationship with their voters based 159 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:16.000 on who they are, what they're offering. And by the way, 160 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:18.879 particularly where they're different from not just Republicans, but the 161 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:21.199 Democratic Party and the status quo. Those are the candidates 162 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:22.930 that I think they're going to do the best this November. 163 00:08:23.019 --> 00:08:26.670 Well, I've been thinking about this because it's tough for 164 00:08:26.730 --> 00:08:29.949 these congressional candidates, at least, to really run on much 165 00:08:29.990 --> 00:08:32.769 of a positive agenda when Donald Trump is going to 166 00:08:32.809 --> 00:08:35.720 be president for another two years because You don't want 167 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:38.269 to get into the situation where you overpromise something that 168 00:08:38.309 --> 00:08:40.049 you just– people know that you're not going to be 169 00:08:40.070 --> 00:08:43.659 able to deliver. But like– and obviously the party hasn't– 170 00:08:43.809 --> 00:08:45.409 and maybe that will change, but I don't think so. 171 00:08:45.429 --> 00:08:48.490 There's been no sort of contract with America or even– 172 00:08:48.529 --> 00:08:52.159 I feel like in 06 there was like an anti-corruption agenda. 173 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.419 What do you think about that? Like is it just 174 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.519 race by race and people talking about individual things that 175 00:08:58.539 --> 00:09:00.539 they can do either in the next two years or 176 00:09:01.029 --> 00:09:02.629 beyond that? Or how does that work? 177 00:09:03.009 --> 00:09:06.730 I think it's very individualized. So I think a national, listen, 178 00:09:06.769 --> 00:09:09.379 I think national Democrats should go on a cruise somewhere 179 00:09:09.409 --> 00:09:11.659 where there's no cell service and no ability to do 180 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.919 interviews and let the candidates take the stage. And by 181 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:17.960 the way, listen, if you look historically, I mean, the 182 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.200 contract for America actually, you know, as you know, we've 183 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:23.980 been through this. When you win, you get to say 184 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:27.220 why you won. And when you lose, obviously everything sticks 185 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:30.039 to you. But the contract with America was not why 186 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.840 they won. I mean, the exit polls back in 94 187 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:35.340 suggested that it was not a core reason that people voted. 188 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.960 And the six for six, I think that's what it 189 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:39.779 was called in 06. Like, that's not why Democrats won. 190 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.470 So I just think at the end of the day, 191 00:09:43.169 --> 00:09:45.789 we should give, particularly when you've got a brand problem 192 00:09:45.909 --> 00:09:49.110 as acute as we do, let's just give the individual 193 00:09:49.190 --> 00:09:51.909 candidates or like small businesses, you know, let them do 194 00:09:51.970 --> 00:09:54.490 what they think is best. Some of them may have 195 00:09:54.529 --> 00:09:57.879 very specific policy agenda. Some of them may focus on corruption. 196 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:00.419 Some of them may be more about their biography and 197 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:03.500 kind of their values. So let them do their thing 198 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:06.580 because the overhang of the party, like, so right now, 199 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:09.139 like to have Chuck Schumer and Democrats out on the 200 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:10.769 steps saying, here's what we're going to do when we 201 00:10:11.090 --> 00:10:14.830 gain power, that would be political malpractice of like historical proportions. 202 00:10:15.309 --> 00:10:17.750 So I think we should just, that's my view anyway. 203 00:10:17.950 --> 00:10:22.220 I think, and it particularly when We do have, not universally, 204 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:25.360 but there are some really strong candidates for the Senate 205 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:28.259 and for the House running who I think are, again, 206 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:32.259 showing us what a new version of Democratic offering can be. 207 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:36.750 That's quite exciting. And I think their biggest challenge right 208 00:10:36.789 --> 00:10:39.470 now is the Democratic Party brand. So let's not do 209 00:10:39.690 --> 00:10:41.870 anything to make that more complicated for them. 210 00:10:42.149 --> 00:10:45.669 What are some of the biggest unforced errors that Democrats 211 00:10:45.710 --> 00:10:47.759 could make in the next 60 days that worry you? 212 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:51.000 Well, I think it is. You know, I don't think 213 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.500 there's going to be a national agenda, but a national agenda. 214 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:58.259 I think having a lot of discussion about the hearings 215 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:00.740 that we're going to have when we take over would 216 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:04.480 be problematical. And I this can sound like I'm kidding. 217 00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:07.409 I'm not like I just think national Democrats should go 218 00:11:07.490 --> 00:11:12.649 in hiding and let these individual candidates prosecute their case. 219 00:11:13.009 --> 00:11:14.669 And by the way, that's important because we know Donald 220 00:11:14.710 --> 00:11:16.690 Trump's not going to go into hiding. Right. So he's 221 00:11:16.710 --> 00:11:19.500 going to continue to be out there. He's going to cause... 222 00:11:19.269 --> 00:11:21.779 By the way, this ad campaign he's talking about running 223 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:24.539 with all of his money, that's going to be pro-Trump ads. 224 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:27.460 Phenomenally stupid. I think, although, John, you should always step 225 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:31.299 back and say, is there something they see that maybe 226 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.980 we don't see? And the only thing I can think 227 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.080 about is it may help them with turnout a little bit. 228 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:37.210 But all those candidates now are going to have to 229 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:40.690 answer to Donald Trump running ads... on all the things 230 00:11:40.710 --> 00:11:43.629 that are upsetting voters in their states and districts. So 231 00:11:44.049 --> 00:11:45.929 that's the other thing I think about it. Like, let 232 00:11:46.289 --> 00:11:49.600 him kind of dominate nationally. Let's make sure we're quiet nationally. 233 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:51.679 And let's let some of these great candidates have the 234 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:55.039 best environment we can imagine in these closing weeks. And 235 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:57.340 as you know, people start voting in about five to 236 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:59.360 six weeks. So this isn't a two-month question. 237 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:04.440 Well, on the Dem side, like, the discourse and the coverage, 238 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:08.230 I think, has been dominated for the last couple weeks, 239 00:12:08.370 --> 00:12:10.840 months about this, like, And this is partly because of 240 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:14.460 the primaries and partly because of Republicans. This like DSA 241 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:20.090 left versus center left establishment narrative. Like how much do 242 00:12:20.110 --> 00:12:23.230 you think that or how much do you worry that 243 00:12:23.269 --> 00:12:25.980 that might affect the outcome of the midterms? Or is 244 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:29.080 this just an insider thing that most voters are never 245 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:30.919 going to really pay attention to? 246 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.159 My view, and it's based a little bit on research 247 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:38.539 I've seen, but also instinct, is it's very much the latter. 248 00:12:38.710 --> 00:12:41.549 Like the people that will decide the Iowa governor's race 249 00:12:41.610 --> 00:12:44.870 and the Iowa Senate race in Clinton, Iowa, or in Decorah, Iowa, 250 00:12:44.909 --> 00:12:49.129 you think they're talking about this democratic divide or in Toledo, Ohio? 251 00:12:49.429 --> 00:12:53.879 Absolutely not. And so in those states, you've got Amy Acton, 252 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:56.399 you've got Sherrod Brown, you've got Turek, you've got Sand, 253 00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:59.330 just to use those examples. who are defining what the 254 00:12:59.409 --> 00:13:02.990 Democratic offering is in this election. They're not focused on 255 00:13:03.029 --> 00:13:05.350 what happened in those states, even though Michigan's close to them, 256 00:13:05.389 --> 00:13:07.649 like what happened in the Michigan primary, what's happening in 257 00:13:07.690 --> 00:13:10.009 New York City. They're just not focused on that. Now, 258 00:13:10.529 --> 00:13:13.950 I think our presidential race, not in the general election, 259 00:13:13.970 --> 00:13:15.879 but in the primary, yeah, that's going to be a 260 00:13:16.129 --> 00:13:19.200 really big piece of it, is what are people looking for? 261 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:21.399 And I happen to believe it'll probably be more about 262 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:25.379 the person, their biography, their values, their performance than ideology. 263 00:13:25.730 --> 00:13:27.549 but that'll be part of it. So I really do 264 00:13:27.590 --> 00:13:29.669 not think, and by the way, if the Republicans want 265 00:13:29.690 --> 00:13:31.889 to go spend a bunch of time saying, well, what 266 00:13:31.909 --> 00:13:37.090 you're really electing is democratic socialists, have at it. Because 267 00:13:37.110 --> 00:13:40.049 I don't think that blanket message to me works at all. 268 00:13:40.210 --> 00:13:41.970 I think the best thing they can do is try 269 00:13:42.009 --> 00:13:46.389 and indict the individual Democrats running in states or districts 270 00:13:46.409 --> 00:13:48.149 to the best of their ability. But I think there's 271 00:13:48.169 --> 00:13:50.129 going to be a limitation to that as well, because listen, 272 00:13:50.629 --> 00:13:54.230 people are really fucking upset out there and they are 273 00:13:54.490 --> 00:13:57.450 ready to to switch, even though they don't like their 274 00:13:57.570 --> 00:14:00.149 option to switch to. They like some of the individual Democrats, 275 00:14:00.190 --> 00:14:02.889 not the Democratic Party. And so for me, this is 276 00:14:02.950 --> 00:14:04.990 the challenge for us over the next number of years 277 00:14:05.049 --> 00:14:07.649 and even decade, is we have to get that brand 278 00:14:07.669 --> 00:14:11.269 stronger so that we reliably win more elections in more 279 00:14:11.330 --> 00:14:14.970 places so that we can have sustained power and control 280 00:14:14.990 --> 00:14:18.549 the White House and the Senate. This is existential. And 281 00:14:18.669 --> 00:14:24.399 whatever happens in this election, we should not think Or 282 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:27.889 get overly confident that we fixed our problems because we haven't. 283 00:14:28.350 --> 00:14:31.809 Yeah. No, that's going to be important because clearly the 284 00:14:31.830 --> 00:14:34.149 Biden folks thought that in 22 because the midterms were 285 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:38.399 better than expected. Any long shot races in the midterms 286 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.860 you think that would it be worth investing more in 287 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:42.279 right now that people should have their eye on? 288 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:45.120 Well, the question would be, I mean, you you were 289 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:49.190 I mean, you were in Obama's Senate office in 2006, right? 290 00:14:49.309 --> 00:14:49.529 Mm hmm. 291 00:14:50.009 --> 00:14:52.580 Okay. And, you know, I was very involved in that election, 292 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.460 did a lot of work for Rahm in the DCCC. And, 293 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:56.840 you know, that was the election where there were people 294 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.919 who won an election. 295 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.720 I remember. 296 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:02.340 That the DCCC hadn't supported. That surprised the heck out 297 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.500 of everybody. So is that possible this time? I think 298 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:07.750 it's probably less possible in the House just because there 299 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.149 are so few real competitive districts. But, you know, is 300 00:15:11.190 --> 00:15:13.090 it possible that we could win some House races that 301 00:15:13.110 --> 00:15:15.570 Trump won by 12, 14 points? I guess it's possible. 302 00:15:15.629 --> 00:15:17.269 I think the surprises will be in the Senate. 303 00:15:17.389 --> 00:15:17.509 Mm-hmm. 304 00:15:18.029 --> 00:15:20.889 What's so exciting about the Senate, now, Senate control is 305 00:15:20.909 --> 00:15:23.190 going to be really hard because this is hostile territory, 306 00:15:23.710 --> 00:15:25.769 but boy, we're taking a lot of shots on goal 307 00:15:25.809 --> 00:15:28.659 this year. We've got a lot of races. We can 308 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.379 lose most of them and still win. The question is, 309 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:35.919 in South Dakota, in Montana, in Nebraska, are there going 310 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:38.360 to be some surprises? Those would be like, if we 311 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:40.169 win any of those, we're going to have a year 312 00:15:40.210 --> 00:15:44.759 probably as good as 2006. But you know, Alaska, Iowa, Ohio. 313 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:47.210 By the way, we're now used to saying how competitive 314 00:15:47.230 --> 00:15:50.230 like Iowa is and Ohio is. I mean, these are 315 00:15:50.350 --> 00:15:51.629 deep red states right now. 316 00:15:51.789 --> 00:15:53.049 Yeah. 317 00:15:53.230 --> 00:15:55.649 And so, you know, let's not forget that, you know, 318 00:15:55.730 --> 00:15:58.990 particularly like if Sherrod Brown wins, having just lost, I mean, 319 00:15:59.070 --> 00:16:00.700 you know, that's going to be 10 to 12 percent 320 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:05.580 of the electorate behaving completely differently from 24 to 26. 321 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:08.769 So I think there could be some Senate race surprises. 322 00:16:09.129 --> 00:16:12.419 And again, I think that the people who might pull 323 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:16.620 those races off, they might have just got 48% in 324 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:20.960 this good environment for Democrats. It's because enough voters said, 325 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:23.639 they're a different kind of Democrat, or that's a person 326 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.759 I can trust, or that I'm excited or interested in 327 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:28.210 that person. And that's where I think the surprises will 328 00:16:28.250 --> 00:16:28.500 come from. 329 00:16:36.889 --> 00:16:40.110 Pot Save America is brought to you by Z Biotics Pre-Alcohol. 330 00:16:40.730 --> 00:16:43.220 I want to tell you guys about a new game-changing 331 00:16:43.250 --> 00:16:45.480 product I use before any night out with drinks. It's 332 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:50.200 called Pre-Alcohol by Z Biotics. Z Biotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink 333 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:53.340 is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented 334 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:57.830 by PhD scientists to break down acetaldehyde, which I can't pronounce, 335 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.590 but it doesn't matter. 336 00:16:58.610 --> 00:17:00.070 Yeah, because it's broken down already. 337 00:17:00.090 --> 00:17:02.269 You don't like it either. It's a byproduct of drinking alcohol. 338 00:17:02.629 --> 00:17:06.170 Pre-Alcohol produces an enzyme that is designed... break down this 339 00:17:06.250 --> 00:17:08.710 byproduct that we can't pronounce. What you do is you 340 00:17:08.730 --> 00:17:10.809 make pre-alcohol your first drink of the night, you drink 341 00:17:10.849 --> 00:17:15.180 responsibly enough, and then you enjoy your next day. ZBiotics 342 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:18.480 has sold more than 14 million bottles, wow, and earned 343 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:21.059 the trust of thousands, including us. I literally will not 344 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.779 have a drink without a ZBiotics. It is a game 345 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:27.609 changer for me. As you all know, as you get older, 346 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:30.890 your body does not do as good a job digesting alcohol, 347 00:17:30.910 --> 00:17:34.599 which means A very calm, casual night out can punish 348 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:39.049 you the next day. ZBiotics has solved that problem for me. 349 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.230 I cannot recommend it enough. 350 00:17:40.809 --> 00:17:41.349 Give it a shot. 351 00:17:41.789 --> 00:17:44.549 Try for yourself today, and if you're unsatisfied, they'll refund 352 00:17:44.569 --> 00:17:49.539 your entire order. No questions asked. Head to zbiotics.com slash crooked. 353 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:54.380 Code crooked for 15% off your first order. That's zbiotics.com 354 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.240 slash crooked. Code crooked for 15% off. 355 00:17:58.109 --> 00:18:00.390 Pod Save America is brought to you by HIMSS. ED 356 00:18:00.450 --> 00:18:02.539 is more common than guys talk about. The good news, 357 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:06.500 getting real treatment is simple, and through HIMSS, it's 100% online. 358 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:10.119 HIMSS connects you with licensed healthcare providers online, giving you 359 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:13.720 simple access to legitimate ED treatment options from home. No 360 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:17.019 awkward appointments, no pharmacy lines. Just complete a simple online 361 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:19.799 intake and a provider will review your information to determine 362 00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:22.660 if treatment is right for you. If prescribed, your treatment 363 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:26.769 ships directly to your door. That includes Sidenafil, also known 364 00:18:26.849 --> 00:18:29.569 as generic for Viagra, available through HIMSS at up to 365 00:18:29.569 --> 00:18:31.970 95% less than the brand name version. And if that 366 00:18:32.029 --> 00:18:34.029 option isn't right for you, there are additional treatment options 367 00:18:34.069 --> 00:18:36.509 available so you can find what works best for your body. 368 00:18:36.849 --> 00:18:40.150 It's straightforward, transparent, and designed to make getting care feel easy. 369 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:43.740 To get simple online access to personalized, affordable care for 370 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:47.819 ED and more, visit HIMS.com slash crooked. That's H-I-M-S dot 371 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:51.319 com slash crooked. HIMS.com slash crooked. Not available in all 372 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:54.349 50 states. Prescription required. See website for details, restrictions, and 373 00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:57.769 important safety information. Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra. 374 00:18:57.809 --> 00:19:02.269 Viagra is a registered trademark of Vietris Specialty LLC. HIMS 375 00:19:02.329 --> 00:19:05.390 is not affiliated with or endorsed by Vietris. 376 00:19:08.869 --> 00:19:09.049 All right. 377 00:19:09.089 --> 00:19:12.309 Let's talk about, uh, the 2028 primary, uh, which basically 378 00:19:12.349 --> 00:19:18.940 begins the day after the midterms. Uh, when people ask 379 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.180 me what I think about 2028, I always say it's, 380 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:23.859 it's really hard to know anything until we know who 381 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:26.359 the candidates are and the order of the early States. 382 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:30.710 So now we know the calendar, South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, 383 00:19:30.750 --> 00:19:33.789 New Mexico, Michigan, Virginia. Uh, and you just wrote a 384 00:19:33.809 --> 00:19:36.269 New York times piece about this. Um, You called it 385 00:19:36.289 --> 00:19:39.589 the most consequential primary shakeup in decades. I feel like 386 00:19:39.589 --> 00:19:42.630 you could have written another 5,000 words on this, which 387 00:19:42.630 --> 00:19:43.700 is why I wanted to. 388 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:45.539 Have you on. I did, but they cut them out. 389 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.069 I figured. 390 00:19:46.069 --> 00:19:46.990 Yeah, I could tell. 391 00:19:46.990 --> 00:19:50.440 But like big picture, when you sit down to plan 392 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:53.519 your presidential campaign, if you're one of these candidates, what 393 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:57.119 are the most important differences to consider between the old 394 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.980 map and the new map? 395 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:02.799 Well, first of all, if you'll grant me this, I 396 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.640 hope they spend a lot of time thinking about whether 397 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.819 they should fucking run or not. 398 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.259 Yeah. 399 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:06.859 Like. 400 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.079 No, I... Like. 401 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:13.069