Following harsh criticism from members of his own party, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended his position on Sunday, stating that permitting a government shutdown by rejecting the GOP’s spending bill “would be 10 or 20 times worse” than supporting it. He might have a valid point. However, as we watch Donald Trump aggressively reshape government operations, it seems that Democratic leadership is adopting a “resist nothing” approach, inadvertently empowering the president and his allies, such as Elon Musk, to act even more audaciously. Simultaneously, major American institutions, which might have taken a stand against Trump previously—like Columbia University and the prominent law firm Paul Weiss—have capitulated this past week to his threats.
In light of these troubling trends, I often reflect on a post by Anne Caprara, chief of staff to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, which effectively captured the party’s challenges: “The ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party is not between the hard left, left, and moderate factions. It’s a battle between those who are willing to fight and those who choose to yield. And Team Fight spans all ideological segments within the Party. Misinterpret this at your own risk.”
We can debate this endlessly, but what’s not debatable is that America finds itself in a precarious situation. Just last week, Trump effectively initiated the downfall of the Department of Education as we know it, placing public school funding and student aid in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Musk and his cohort of young tech enthusiasts continue their march through the federal government, disassembling it piece by piece. The cuts are impacting everything from banking regulations to tax enforcement to Social Security and the NIH, which has had to cancel grants for crucial research spanning from cancer to Alzheimer’s. As for the savings Musk claims to have secured for taxpayers, it remains ambiguous, as the organization’s receipts have been subject to multiple revisions. Yet Musk expects us to accept his assertion that DOGE’s “cost savings” will allow for a $5,000 stimulus check for around 79 million American households, when, in reality, what DOGE seems to achieve is merely demoralizing the country’s largest workforce.
Of course, Republicans, deeply entrenched in Trumpism, have been complicit in all of this—sometimes in amusing ways. They’ve put forward proposals to feature Trump’s image on the $100 bill (and even a new $250 bill); to carve his likeness into Mount Rushmore; and to establish a new federal holiday on June 14, dubbed Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day.
Additionally, they have supported the more disturbing aspects of the president’s agenda, including his mass deportation initiatives. This includes the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, who remains incarcerated in a Louisiana detention center under ambiguous charges of antisemitism, as well as the deportation of 238 alleged gang-affiliated Venezuelans imprisoned in a notoriously harsh facility in El Salvador. (In this instance, Trump has demanded the impeachment of the judge who attempted to halt his actions; Musk is actively donating to congressional members to expressly remove judges they deem unfavorable.) Meanwhile, a mix-up led top officials to inadvertently send war plans to a journalist, underscoring the sloppiness and recklessness of this administration.
So the pressing question is, are voters taking note? Is any of this information breaking through? Are individuals outside of the news bubble aware of these events?
On one front, consumers and financial markets have certainly reacted. Tesla’s stock is spiraling down amidst the company’s declining financial outlook and Trump’s chaotic tariff implementations. Adding further to their troubles are the many protesters who continue to rally against Musk at Tesla showrooms and dealerships in cities like Boston and New York, with reports of vandalism against Tesla vehicles increasing sharply. Recently, in Palm Beach County, a man drove into a gathering of Tesla protesters, narrowly missing them. This string of negative publicity could significantly affect Musk’s financial standing.
However, Musk isn’t the only target of discontent. Recent polling indicates that the base is experiencing unprecedented dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats, whose lack of action has resulted in a mere 40% approval rating. Axios reports that irate voters and activists are increasingly interrupting town halls held by elected officials, aiming to generate support for primary challenges against lawmakers who show deference to the GOP. “They hate us,” recalled one senior House Democrat, according to Axios.
This outrage has led some to believe that Democrats could be facing their own grassroots insurgency, akin to the GOP’s tea party, potentially transforming the party’s approach to opposing Trump. Notably, Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive commentator, announced her candidacy on Monday for the Illinois congressional seat currently occupied by 80-year-old Democrat Jan Schakowsky. (For context, the GOP is also contending with voter anger and has advised Republicans to cease town hall events altogether.)
Democrats likely should have introduced a new wave of leadership long before Trump’s second term. But now, the party’s very survival hinges on it. Just look at the throngs of individuals flocking to rallies to hear Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders; they are simply speaking the truth. If the Chuck Schumers of the world continue to neglect America’s daunting reality and comply with the GOP’s dictates, they are paving the way for a significant upheaval within the party.
