Ali Velshi a few days ago had an excellent monologue on the failure of the leadership of the Democratic Party to rise to our current occasion (~ 9 min). This is an existential moment, not politics-as-usual, and yet – as I read somewhere else – everything coming out of the DNC, Schumer, and Jeffries “sounds as if has been focus-grouped to death . . . and it probably has.” As Velshi says, “If you are a political leader in this country, and you are not prepared to make ‘good trouble’, then step aside and make space for those who will.”

Stalwart liberal and longterm Congressman Jerry Nadler just announced that, for exactly that reason, he will not seek reelection. May others follow his lead.

But we need action now, before the midterms are completely corrupted by Trump and his minions and the Republicans walk away with complete, and sham, control. I understand that at this stage it would be extremely difficult to replace the Speaker and the Senate Minority Leader. Schumer and Jeffries could move in the right direction, though, and re-energize the party by ceasing the triangulation and drawing younger people with “fire in the belly” into a formal leadership structure. Appoint a “shadow cabinet,” as the Opposition Party does in some parliamentary systems, and turn them loose. Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren, Elissa Slotkin, Bernie, AOC, Cory Booker, and others would be possibilities. And, don’t let the governors stand alone on the matter of National Guard deployment. And for God’s sake, Chuck and Hakeem, endorse Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor!