Are Democrats Well-Positioned for the Midterms?

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

With midterm elections a mere eight months away, are Democrats ready? Maybe not, according to journalist Mark Leibovich who traveled the country talking to party leaders about how Democrats intend to meet the moment. Despite Trump’s low approval ratings and a slim Republican majority in Congress, a Democratic rebound is far from a slam dunk with the Republican National Committee currently holding a $100 million fundraising advantage. What happened to the once-confident multiracial coalition of working class men and women? We talk about the future of the Democratic party. Guests: Mark Leibovich, staff writer, The Atlantic - His latest piece is titled "The Democrats Aren't Built for This" Aimee Allison, founder and president, She the People - A national organization dedicated to building the political power of women of color Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:27.8	Alive in every drop.
0:32.3	From KQED.
0:35.1	Welcome to Forum.
0:36.5	I'm Alexis Madrigal.
0:39.3	Stop me if you've heard this one before, but perhaps there is not unity among Democrats. In Mark Lieberovich's new Atlantic profile of the Democratic Party,
0:45.3	we read about the many fault lines of this big, broad institution. But the one that struck me was
0:51.3	Senator Alyssa Slotkin, reflecting what we've heard for many listeners during this past year.
0:57.9	Leibovic writes, what of the main divide among Democrats today is not as so many assume progressive versus moderate?
1:05.0	Slotkin told Leibovic that, is it Mamdani or is it Spamberger is kind of an outdated approach.
1:12.6	The more consequential split, she said, is between leaders willing to fight and go on offense
1:18.6	and those content to wait Trump out.
1:21.6	We're going to talk about it this morning.
1:23.6	We're joined by Mark Leavich, staff writer, with The Atlantic.
1:26.6	The latest article is
1:28.2	the Democrats aren't built for this welcome Alexis good to be with you we're also joined
	...

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