Sen. Slotkin on the real fight within the Democratic party

·28 min·2 clips

Senator Alyssa Slotkin reveals the real fight within Democrats: those who believe Trump is an existential threat versus those who want to wait for him to fail.

The episode features an interview with Democratic Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan, conducted the morning after President Trump's State of the Union address. Host Dasha Burns introduces Slotkin as a key figure from a swing state. Slotkin reacts to the speech, criticizing Trump for describing an alternate reality on costs and for hypocrisy on ethics and political violence. She explains her decision to attend the State of the Union despite some Democrats boycotting. The discussion turns to immigration, where Slotkin outlines the party's struggle to balance border security with humane treatment. She addresses Democratic vulnerabilities and the need for a positive message rather than just anti-Trump rhetoric. Slotkin praises Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's State of the Union response. She analyzes Michigan's political landscape and the loss of working-class voters, emphasizing the need for Democrats to articulate a clear value proposition. Slotkin calls for Democrats to reclaim 'alpha energy' and go on offense against Trump, contrasting with a wait-and-see approach she criticizes as generational. The conversation covers tariffs, where Slotkin criticizes Trump's sloppy implementation but supports targeted tariffs like on sugar. She discusses the glyphosate debate, balancing farmer needs with health concerns. On foreign policy, Slotkin questions the administration's goals in Iran, citing inconsistent messaging. She addresses reports of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro backing off investigations into her and colleagues. Finally, Slotkin hints at 2028 presidential considerations, stressing the importance of winning swing voters in the middle of the country.

As heard by us

A Michigan-focused review of whether Democrats should confront Trump now or wait for his presidency to weaken.

Dasha Burns's conversation with Democratic Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan turns a broad Trump-era Democratic argument into something more grounded.

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Why you'd press play

Want to sort through whether Democrats should go on offense against Trump or wait for voters to turn on him?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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