Democrats prepare for power

The twenty twenty-six midterms are less than two weeks away. If Democrats win the House, they'll have oversight power for the first time in Trump's second term.

Slotkin reframes the divide

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin says the key divide in the Democratic Party is no longer moderate versus progressive, but fight versus flight in the Trump era.

“Particularly in the era of Trump, I think it is fight versus flight.”

Three-part Democratic agenda

If Democrats win the House and Senate, Slotkin says they must pursue three things: big legislation on housing and healthcare, targeted accountability for corruption, and Trump-proofing the government.

Pick signature corruption cases

Slotkin says Democrats cannot make accountability their whole personality. They must pick signature cases that are egregious and go hard on those, not just Trump.

“You can't just make that your whole personality. You have to pick signature cases.”

Target Trump's enablers

Slotkin wants to go after people around Trump who enable him, not just the president. They have no immunity the way the president does, she says.

“He couldn't do any of this stuff without all of those people saluting and supporting it.”

Norms became the problem

Slotkin says Trump revealed that many things thought to be laws were actually just norms, standards, habits, expectations, and good citizens. Shame was required, but Trump has no shame.

“Shame was required. And when you have a president who has no shame, they just walk all over that.”

Strengthen penalties for violations

Slotkin says even laws lack teeth. A political ad paid for by taxpayer dollars might only result in a fine, which a president with money and government control can easily pay.

Grassroots energy on ethics

Slotkin says there is groundswell energy around issues like data centers and AI that is not partisan. She wants to harness that outrage for an ethics package.

Work with unlikely allies

Slotkin says she does not agree with Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri on almost anything, but he has a bill to get rid of corporate PACs. Working with strange bedfellows is possible.

Impeachment not the focus

Slotkin says she is into effectiveness. If Democrats have the House but not the Senate, she does not have faith Republicans will convict. She wants to focus on signature cases instead.

“I am into effectiveness, and if we have the House but not the Senate, I don't have a ton of faith.”

Send a deterrence message

Slotkin wants young people to fear working for the Trump administration because of the legal and professional problems it might bring, not see it as an opportunity.

“I want that deterrence message sent.”

Considering a presidential run

Slotkin says she has been open that she is looking at running for president in twenty twenty-eight, but it does not need to be her if someone else understands the mission.

“I have been open that I'm looking at it. It does not need to be me.”

Generational shift needed

Slotkin says the American public is looking for something different and a generational shift. She thinks there will be opportunities for people who have not been waiting their turn.

Women can overcome bias

Slotkin rejects the idea that a white man must be the Democratic nominee. She says if you are a good communicator with big ideas, you can surmount what are thought of as traditional weaknesses.

“If you're the right person with the right energy, you can surmount that.”