As Democrats grapple with President Trump's first 100 days in office, they're also contending

with a minority in both the House and Senate. And looking ahead at the long road to the

2026 midterm elections, some Democrats are hoping to shape the party's message and platform

well before then. Michigan Democratic Senator Alyssa Slotkin has been laying out her strategy,

and she joins me now. Welcome back to the news news networks. Great to have you here.

Thanks for having me.

So as part of this roadmap to, as you say, contain and defeat Donald Trump,

you say the Democratic Party should shed its public perception as weak and woke.

Why is that the right approach and how do you

suggest Democrats get there? Yeah, actually, that perception came from some focus groups we did

in Michigan with a bunch of people in February, just trying to understand what happened in 24,

why we didn't win at the top of the ticket because you can't figure out where you're going

until you understand what's happened. And I think those are the two words that were used

over and over again. And I think for me, focusing on pocketbook issues, people's wallets, people's

kids. And then on the second side of it, just bringing a little alpha energy back into the party, right? And I'm from

the Midwest, and for us, leaders like our coaches are just, they've got some alpha energy to them.

And I think we've lost some of that in the party, and I want to see that come back.

What's the most urgent course correction you think Democrats need to make right now?

I mean, first of all, I think we need to be talking about what we want to bring to people affirmatively, proactively.

We can't just be the party of no, no, no, status quo, no change.

We got to talk about how we want responsible change, smart change, not reckless change, and what that looks like, particularly on supporting a strong middle class.

Like we have got to have a strong middle class in this country or we are in trouble.

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