On a political level, Democrats have succeeded in painting Republicans as mean and unfeeling stewards of American decline. But Trump may win on policy nonetheless, as a gang of Democrats prepares to squander their leverage based on a vague assurance.
Riding on the public’s pervasive economic anxiety and its substantial but not quite so widespread fury and fear of Trump’s trashing of American democracy, the Democrats won big from coast to coast in this week’s elections.
On Election Day, the soaring cost of power was a key factor in several races, including those in Georgia, Virginia, and New Jersey. Democrats have a plan that can match their economic populist rhetoric.
Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral win is encouraging on many levels: New York City didn’t submit to a campaign of flagrant bigotry from disgraced two-time loser Andrew Cuomo, billionaires’ money failed, and Americans, particularly young ones, can still be politically inspired by a good candidate with a good message.
This week brought down the curtain on the initial, pre-Trump years of the 21st century, with the death of Dick Cheney and, today, Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that this would be her final term in Congress.
The Prospect’s Weekly Roundup:
The Democrats’ Big Night
David Dayen and editor-at-large Harold Meyerson analyze the big winners and the key issues in the 2025 elections. You can catch the Weekly Roundup live every Fridayat12:30 PM ET/9:30 AM PT, or watch it back anytime on our YouTube channel.
The American Prospect
