We must do more town halls in Ohio and Tennessee in these red areas to let them know unless we can get the Republicans out of the House of Representatives. We can’t begin to save our Medicare and Medicaid.
My congresswoman in Ohio seems to be having a town hall every month, with meetings on specific subjects such as accessing veteran benefits or small business assistance, with her or her staff, in between. But she's a Democrat. We're a packed district that the Republicans in our lege, who are meeting THIS WEEK to try to gerrymander even more radically, aim to pack more. I couldn't make the 2 1/2 hour drive, but people are converging in Columbus to protest even as we speak. They want to turn an already unbalanced 10-5 split into a 12-3 or even a 13-2 and one of our worthless clown Senators, Bernie Morono-o, has said he thinks that "fairly" reflects the voters. That would be fair IF Ohio voters generally voted 85-88% for a Republican and they don't. It averages about 53-55% statewide.
That is wonderful that’s what we need Town halls. We need to make sure that they understand unless we can get Democrats in the House of Representatives. We’re not gonna be able to get our health insurance back. We must vote for Democrats to get Medicare Medicaid back in play.
Sadly in Ohio, where Democrats have zero power thanks to gerrymandering, the Republicans will be meeting this week to connive ways to eliminate a couple more Democrats from Congress. And we have little power to stop them, although thousands are massing at the statehouse right this minute to protest.
Horrible. The GOP knows that no one wants their corruption at all. That's why they're more focused on rigging elections than governing. Despicable. Meanwhile, the GOP leadership in DC is installing fascism, as promised (Trump said so many times, Peter Thiel called and calls for it publicly, and the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 is a roadmap to install it). Something no one wants either, except for a very small minority of Republicans and, apparently, Laura Loomer.
I think if we did not vote by districts and just got to straight vote for who you wanted you would see many more Democrats elected in Ohio. I dont see any other way to get rid of gerrymandering. My family still lives there and I have lots of friends there. Even my friends who are Republicans don’t like many of the candidates that have run.
There are ways to get rid of gerrymandering, as states like California, New York and even Arizona have shown: independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions are at the top of the list. I'm not sure what you mean by "not vote by districts." I know some have proposed all congresspeople be elected in statewide elections, but then, especially in large, diverse states you won't necessarily have someone who knows your community and represents YOU. I don't think 38 congresspeople representing. the entire state ofTexas would be a better deal for people there.
Valid points for sure. Yes I am just frustrated .Yes I did mean statewide elections! Just didn’t clarify what I meant in my post. I think the amount of representatives each State gets should be based on population. Thanks for your reply.
You can change the laws of everybody votes blue if you can convince people they’re saving their Medicare and Medicaid not everyone’s a millionaire or a billionaire
No, that doesn't work, because Trump voters don't think like that. Sherrod Brown did that last year and lost to "a trans woman is going to rape your daughter in a public restroom." I read a really good book recently called "Dying of Whiteness," about how white people will vote against their interests if you convince them it will hurt "the other" (black, brown, immigrant, LGBTQ+) person more. Like the farmer I saw interviewed who said he would likely lose his farm due to Trump's tariffs but added "I think Trump knows what he's doing," these people don't care if they're stripped of their Medicare if Trump makes them feel they're better than "Black people sponging off the government."
I Took Bernie Into Deep Trump Country. Can He Win Them Over?
Source: More Perfect Union
Views: 2.7M views
Date published: Sep 15 2025
What happens when you put Bernie Sanders in the second reddest state in the country?
For nearly 80 years straight, working-class West Virginia was a Democratic stronghold — until it took a hard turn to Trump.
We were on the ground with Bernie Sanders to investigate why.
More Perfect Union is an Emmy-winning, nonprofit newsroom whose mission is to build power for working people. Here’s what that means: We report on the real struggles and challenges of the working class from a working-class perspective. We attempt to connect those problems to potential solutions. We report on the abuses and wrongdoing of corporate power. And we seek to hold accountable the ultra-rich who have too much power over America’s political and economic systems.
And nothing happened because he didn't move the needle an inch in West Virginia. Sure, there are enough young, progressive college students in anything state to stock a rally, but Bernie doesn't speak West Virginia. He doesn't even speak Ohio. I've seen this first hand.
You obviously haven't watched the video I referenced above, because it took place in the past few days, and Bernie DID move the needle with quite a few MAGA voters, who bought Bernie T-shirts, were surprised to find how much they agreed with his take on politics, and only later enthusiastically attended a rally. He wasn't talking to young, progressive college students; he was talking with poor and working class voters around town and at a local cafe. Watch the video and open your mind to some encouraging information and interesting history on how VA went from solid blue to solid red. These MAGA voters were NOT happy with Trump and I think with the right candidate it's ripe to swing back to blue. Perhaps you could invite Bernie to talk with people in a deep red town in your state.
Are you aware that a lot of the "Bernie Bros" who were avid Bernie supporters when he ran for the presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton are the same people who voted for Trump in 2016?
I’m unable to post a picture here so here is a description of the rather large sign on my vehicle: “ R U 1 of the 90 mil. who didn’t vote? How’s that working?”
Rather self-righteous, don't you think? I vote regularly at all levels, local to national, but I mostly subscribe to the old axiom "If voting could change anything, it would be illegal." I'm actually encouraged by the Republicans' determination to make it harder to vote: they're apparently afraid that it *could* make a difference.
Voting makes the biggest difference at local levels, where winners and losers are often enough separated by a relative handful of votes. Interestingly enough, plenty of hot-to-trot vote enthusiasts don't bother to vote in local elections. (I know this in part because I'm a poll worker in my MA town. Turnout is generally pathetic even when there are contested races.)
But I'm sure that going forward, you'll be putting serious effort into registering new voters and helping get out the vote before election day. Right?
It's not self-righteous, it's a basic truth that is common to all democracies. I'd rather call it pretty self-righteous to ignore two centuries of democratic history PROVING, beyond any possible doubt, what tremendous progress has been achieved thanks to voting.
It's THIS kind of cynicism that is THE root cause of the end of America's democracy today. Too many of its citizens never believed in it in the first place, rather than doing their homework and then getting engaged...
If you pay attention to U.S. history, you'll have noticed that virtually every step toward greater democracy is met with a backlash, and sometimes the backlash lasts for generations. Consider Jim Crow, for instance. We're still in the backlash that began with the Reagan administration and, though there've been periods of some relief, is continues to this day. It, like Jim Crow, was a reaction to the impulse to include people of color in the body politic.
As to "the end of America's democracy today" -- can a statement get more cynical than that? Do yourself a favor: Learn some U.S. history. Focus on the struggle for women's rights and especially on the fight for rights of people of color. You might find it inspiring. I sure as hell do.
The US is a leading world economy with first-world healthcare, education levels, and crime levels. That's the result - as in the rest of the free world - of two things: the wealth that came from colonization/slavery, and the democratic engagement of "ordinary citizens".
Obviously, democratic progress will meet some resistance. Still, in terms of Civil Rights things today are incomparably better than in the Jim Crow era.
What people also seem to misunderstand is the very nature of democracy. A democracy on paper is one thing (that's the US Constitution). But to prevent fascism to be installed de facto (remember, Hitler didn't even change the democratic German Constitution; he just ignored it), ALL citizens need to be actively engaged, organize, and vote.
Each time that happened, massive progress was made. Each time the next generation thought all struggles were over and imagined that all the problems that are still here must be the result of "corrupt politicians", after two steps forward we went one step back.
That is NOT what is happening today though. Today, democracy itself is under attack. That has never happened before, so now, it's even more important to know US history indeed, rather than to stick with false perceptions about it. Because if not, it will be gone, and for decades.
Great article, Ron. So well said. I think we are all extremely frustrated with Schumer, who either reacts to something 3 days late or not at all, and Jeffries, who basically talks in slogans. The leadership sucks, but as you laid out so succinctly, the 2nd tier of democrats is great. Think AOC, Robert Garcia, Jasmine Crockett, Moskowitz, and so many of the state dems who are running. Keep up this energy. 🔥💪
I think Schumer is taking a really long nap. Every time I send him an email, I get no response. However when I send the same emails to Gillibrand and Kennedy I get responses. Schumer needs to be replaced.
Because his office doesn't reply to emails as fast as you want?
Really?
You want to get rid of one of the wisest Democratic leaders, with a strong moral spine and a lot of experience, at the exact moment when the GOP is installing fascism?
Schumer has been bought off by campaign donations from the Silicon Valley fascists who are currently embedded in our government and working diligently to take over our democracy. He has two daughters who work for Meta and Amazon. He refused to bring a bipartisan bill to the floor for a vote after Sam Altman and Gary Marcus testified before Congress in May 2023 on the need to regulate AI (source: Taming Silicon Valley - How We Can Ensure AI Works for Us, by Gary Marcus, Chapter 6, pgs. 100-105).
Pg. 102: ""Real teeth would require the House and Senate to agree, to pass bills. So far, Congress hasn't stepped up. Senate Majority Leader Schumer, whose daughters work for big tech, delayed for months, only to issue a 'Road Map' in May 2024 instead of proposing actual legislation."
Pg. 100: "In the United States, we have had too many closed-door meetings like the first session of Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) 'AI Insight Forums,' almost entirely dominated by tech CEOs, with barely any representation from civil society."
The man writes "strongly worded letters" and holds secret meetings with the very people who give him money, but he doesn't take any effective action.
Hm... so when, in a Congress where Democrats have no legal power, Schumer doesn't pass the most progressive bills out there, somehow you imagine that he's pro-fascism... ?
People don't know anymore what the difference between fascism and democracy is, I'm afraid.
Democracy means COMPROMISING. It means respecting the fact that you lost the elections by doing in part what the other party wants to do, even though you yourself reject it.
We're having this problem for decades now. Each time Democrats follow the democratic process, part of the progressives in this country imagine that it must be something personal and that they're "corrupt". And then people stay home in the midterms instead of voting. THIS is THE mean reason why progress is so slow in the US, compared to other Western countries - and why now, when the choice was between democracy and fascism (2024) one third voted for fascism without realizing it, and one third didn't even bother to vote, thereby actively empowering fascists.
Please reread my comment above and notice the following:
1) The failure of Schumer to regulate AI after Marcus and Altman testified in May 2023 took place in May of 2024, when the Dems controlled the Senate and Schumer was the majority leader.
2) I never said Schumer was a fascist; I said he was bought off by Big Tech fascists. I think this is because he is biased in their favor and either doesn't have a clue about AI, technology, and the goals of the major players or has already been seduced by their lies and misrepresentations. If you read Karen Hao's book "Empire of AI" you get a better picture of the players behind this massive grift on investors and the public. I also never said—nor implied—that I'd vote for a MAGA candidate over Schumer if that was the only choice.
3) I'm trying to point out why we need a leader of the Senate Dems who is not in bed with the very powerful, rich people who have never been held accountable for the tremendous harm they've already done, are currently doing, and plan to do in the future. They already have too much power; we need a representative who has the independence and courage to claw some of it back before we have a full blown dictatorship with NO freedom of the press, including podcasters like MTN.
4) My point is that Schumer gave away a perfect opportunity to do something because *the Dems and Repubs had ALREADY reached bipartisan support to regulate AI*. He did not seize the opportunity and I have little doubt why. He will not represent constituents; his loyalties are to the fat cats who give him money. You can't COMPROMISE with someone like that; he's already been compromised.
Your preaching about how "People don't know anymore what the difference between fascism and democracy is" is based on your knee jerk reaction to your careless reading of my comment and unwarranted assumptions about what I know about history and fascism.
Literally anything. Start with what Gavin Newsom is doing. Pushing back hard right away, not waiting 3 days and putting out a press release. They need some kind of rapid response social media team like Newsom has. These Republican lies and propaganda fester and take hold because there’s little to no pushback from Schumer and Jeffries.
Also Schumer is just too old. He needs to step back from leadership and let someone younger take over. Someone like Chris Murphy who understands the very dangerous moment that we are currently in.
Again, what type of "pushback" do you envision from Schumer and Jeffries? Newsom, as governor of a very blue state, has powers at his command. Schumer and Jeffries do not. It's not largely about a "rapid response team." It's about the powers to actually do something which, as governor, he has. And again, if Schumer is too old, we need to be HOWLING for the retirement of Bernie Sanders, who's ten years older, and divisive, as well as ineffective.
First inform yourself. And don't ignore the power unregulated social media has to affect elections. If you're subscribed to social media, use it to debunk the unregulated lies users spread immediately (as Ron does so effectively on X).
All? You can speak for hundreds of millions of people... ?
And notice what your only objection is: you don't like the way he TALKS. Really?
In real life, after "we the people" took away all political power from Democrats in DC (that is OUR fault, not theirs!), the only place to fight back against the installation of fascism is the courts. And it's where Democrats are fighting back like hell, and winning against Trump in more than 90% of the cases.
Now ask yourself: why is it that the courts are not corrupt and able to do their work?
Here's the answer: SCHUMER.
When the GOP and Musk absolutely wanted a government shutdown, and an ill-informed liberal/progressive base urged Schumer to shut it down, he fortunately had the wisdom and experience to not cave and refuse to shut it down. THAT is what what most of the administration does today can still be stopped. A government shutdown would have meant that all the closing of agencies and programs and firing of civil servants would have become LEGAL. It would have allowed the GOP to install fascism at a much faster pace, and as we've seen in other countries, speed is everything.
And that's just ONE thing he did.
He also got a record number of Biden court appointees through Congress.
The list of his crucial achievements for the 99% is extremely long.
But you don't like how he TALKS... ??
THIS is why the US is losing its democracy today. All that voters want is celebrity talk. No one pays any attention to who's doing the boring job of governing, and doing it with a strong moral spine and a lot of wisdom.
It’s good to read your news this morning. Hope the trend continues as we all keep shining light on the atrocities coming out of the current administration.
If swing state governors pursued hand ballot recounts and investigated the 100,000s of mail-in ballots Returned Undeliverable or rejected for Invalid Signature, Improper ID, Possible Wrong Date, etc, they would likely find that the Blue Wave that you describe actually reflects the true outcomes of the 2024 Presidential and Congressional Races.
Totally agree and I was going to say that perhaps DJT didn’t win as “bigly” as he would have us believe. Perhaps the R party of liars, cheaters, and corporate sellouts were rigging the election behind the curtain whilst waving their red hats, casting dispersions on Dems, and pointing their fingers saying “ look over there”…..methinks thou party dost protest too much— because they are as guilty as sin!
Yes, he did. No voting machines have been or can be "tampered with." I've worked with them. We blew ourselves up big time by manufacturing this myth in 2004. Hand recounts are extremely costly and time-consuming and require armies of volunteers We did this in Ohio in 2004. I took part and it wasn't pretty. Democrats groundlessly demanding a hand recount would have to pay tens of millions of dollars for it and the result would be the same, I guarantee.
It depends why they were disqualified. When I worked at the board of elections, most of the disqualifications (I worked on this specifically) were valid. Yes, the GOP is trying to make it more difficult to correct mistakes with shorter time periods to do so, but the number is not huge.
That is false. Period. And it depresses me when we too buy into these groundless election conspiracy theories which lend GOP conspiracy theories more credibility. While a small number of mail-in ballots are rejected on technicalities, that also applies to Republican ballots (and they can't know which it is when it's rejected on those grounds), very few will be returned as undeliverable to the County Board of Elections, which is the addressee here, not the voter. Hand ballot recounts are costly, time-consuming and you really need proof that the scanners were off, which they aren't. Just like Trump has pushed the myth that he actually won in 2020, this is simply untrue, much as we'd like it to be. We need to stop.
I think it's important to account for how an incumbent normally under performs in these types of elections when determining if Dems are really outperforming.
Impressive momentum from the Democrats in 2025, flipping deep-red districts and outperforming expectations across the board. Voters seem to be prioritising local leadership and practical policies over national party approval. November’s gubernatorial races will be the real test.
Their silence about Mandami is deafening.......time for Schumer and Jeffries to take their AIPAC "under the table millions" and vanish into the sunset.
This is a truly no-win situation. Mamdani IS an anti-semite, if not deliberately so, and he's been oversold by starry-eyed followers.There are a lot of Jewish voters in NYC at all points on the spectrum about Israel. Sometimes being silent is the best thing. I'm glad I don't vote in this election but if I did, it would strictly be an anti-Cuomo vote because he is worthless, two-faced trash.
The 2 interviews I saw with Mandani were okay. How Jeffries brushed him aside was so low class. AIPAC addicts have got to go!!!! One word describes Cuomo......nothingness.
I've never been a fan of AIPAC but I'm also not a fan of the other side of the coin — these knee-jerk "pro-Palestinians" who seemed to have no awareness of or interest in the Israel/Palestine situation until more than 1,000 Israeli citizens were slaughtered — and suddenly they're all for the murderers' side? Mysterious! Post October 7, 2023 seems like a weird time to have become militantly pro-Palestinian (A few months later after Netanyahu upped the slaughter and was clearly using the situation to consolidate his own power, yes, but not then.)
Netanyahu upped the slaughter??? News reports have and still are coming out that he had advance warning of the attack. Do your own reasearch on that. I find it hard to believe that the attack was a suprise. Of course......the old mantra of "fake news" is getting a little stale. You are a smart guy and can find the missing puzzle pieces
Yes, he upped the slaughter — how on earth can you say that is true? — and I am well aware he likely set it up. I've probably done ten times of "my own research" than you have. I have a shelf of books on AIPAC and the whole history of Israel/Palestine going back to the nakba and even earlier. The so-called "Pro-Palestinian" movement was a lot of idealistic, but ignorant young people whom I still firmly believe were being led by shadows right wing forces. If they never had an interest in this before, it's inappropriate to take a strong one-sided approach about such a complicated situation. Maybe YOU should "do your own research" before being so condescending.
How do you know the motivations of people who are now pro-Palestinian?
The Hamas attack on 10/7/2023 was indefensible. In my opinion it is possible to condemn that attack and also believe that the Netanyahu government 's response has been draconian and has led to tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths as well as the likelihood that the next generation of Palestinian children will be seriously compromised because of malnutrition .
Can you describe exactly what you think they should've done? I'm over hearing us savage our leadership because they didn't deliver miracles we somehow think certain unaccomplished but outspoken congresspeople could. I'd like to know more about what we're expecting. Sometime it seems like we're swept away by loud speeches.
I’m not looking for miracles, I’m looking for leadership. I get it, we’re in the minority in both chambers of Congress, but that doesn’t mean you roll over and play dead. The dictator is building a monstrosity on the grounds of the WH. Where is the money coming from? Why does he get to do this, it isn’t his house, it’s ours. How can he do this without going through the normal process? What have we heard about this from either of the two? Nothing. The dictator is committing murder in international waters, claiming with absolutely no proof that these are drug smugglers. What have we heard about this from either of the two? Nothing. The hypocrisy of the free/hate speech baloney from the right is so in-our-faces it’s incredible. What have we heard about this from either of the two? Nothing. I could go on. These two have failed to talk directly with the American people, refuting every criminal action this regime engages in while making the case for the Democratic Party. They have failed to position themselves as the leaders of the opposition to what is close to full-blown fascism in this country. They have failed to make OUR voices heard. They have failed to make the case for their continued leadership. They have simply failed.
Again, you're looking at optics. What do you think they should be DOING? Their job isn't to make speeches or "talk directly to the American people," but to block the worst of what Congress wants to roll over and do for Trump. They don't have the votes but have been pretty successful. Unfortunately, with a majority congress simply abdicating its responsibility, most of the fight of necessity is in the courts, and they have been derailing a lot of his worst impulses.
I'm disappointed at the number of Democrats who don't understand how things work and are too easily swept away by speechifying.
Yes, it IS the optics, much as you don’t want to admit it. Why do you think so many embrace his crap? They’ve been fed lie after lie after lie and soon they believe the lie. I’m not talking about simply making speeches, I’m talking about voicing opposition on a daily basis to the lies and the bullshit. You influence and convince people to believe what you want them to believe by talking with them. The republican cult has been genius at manipulating language for the past 50 years, and they’ve painted a picture of the Democratic Party that half the country despises. How things work? They work in your favor when you’ve got the votes. We don;t have the votes. You work with what you’ve got. What we’ve got now is voice. Use it.
With the budget coming up, the Dem Leadership needs to demand what the majority of Americans want...protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, protect all Data, Free Speech, and LGBTQ+ rights, reinstate the Education Dept, all Science and Cancer Research Funds.....the list goes on. Americans need to know that donations to 'poor' nations around the world to help with health and welfare are only 1% of GDP. Americans need to know that they benefit from a healthy world population. We also benefit from climate change and environmental initiatives!!! Again, the list goes on and on. Where is the Democracy Playbook? Reciting the Constitution isn't working with Americans. Many Americans need bullet points to understand quickly what they're missing from their lives and stand up to demand it from their representatives.
They are doing that now, demanding almost everything you listed. Pay attention! They can't force Republicans to do this — they don't have the votes — but not only are they demanding these things, they are actively working to peel away a few vulnerable Republicans, which is something you don't appear on TV and make flowery speeches about because that's not how you peel them off — it's all backroom stuff. When we don't educate ourselves about what our leaders are actually doing, we run the risk of being as clueless and unhelpful as MAGA.
The administration’s reaction to the Kirk assassination will backfire. Americans don’t want restrictions on free speech — they want leaders focused on affordability and quality of life. That’s the conversation Democrats need to be having and are better positioned to have.
So, despite all the hard evidence that the GOP is NO GOOD for this country, the IDIOTS in Ohio still support them! Guess they haven't suffered enough yet. 😡
We must do more town halls in Ohio and Tennessee in these red areas to let them know unless we can get the Republicans out of the House of Representatives. We can’t begin to save our Medicare and Medicaid.
My congresswoman in Ohio seems to be having a town hall every month, with meetings on specific subjects such as accessing veteran benefits or small business assistance, with her or her staff, in between. But she's a Democrat. We're a packed district that the Republicans in our lege, who are meeting THIS WEEK to try to gerrymander even more radically, aim to pack more. I couldn't make the 2 1/2 hour drive, but people are converging in Columbus to protest even as we speak. They want to turn an already unbalanced 10-5 split into a 12-3 or even a 13-2 and one of our worthless clown Senators, Bernie Morono-o, has said he thinks that "fairly" reflects the voters. That would be fair IF Ohio voters generally voted 85-88% for a Republican and they don't. It averages about 53-55% statewide.
That is wonderful that’s what we need Town halls. We need to make sure that they understand unless we can get Democrats in the House of Representatives. We’re not gonna be able to get our health insurance back. We must vote for Democrats to get Medicare Medicaid back in play.
Sadly in Ohio, where Democrats have zero power thanks to gerrymandering, the Republicans will be meeting this week to connive ways to eliminate a couple more Democrats from Congress. And we have little power to stop them, although thousands are massing at the statehouse right this minute to protest.
Horrible. The GOP knows that no one wants their corruption at all. That's why they're more focused on rigging elections than governing. Despicable. Meanwhile, the GOP leadership in DC is installing fascism, as promised (Trump said so many times, Peter Thiel called and calls for it publicly, and the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 is a roadmap to install it). Something no one wants either, except for a very small minority of Republicans and, apparently, Laura Loomer.
I think if we did not vote by districts and just got to straight vote for who you wanted you would see many more Democrats elected in Ohio. I dont see any other way to get rid of gerrymandering. My family still lives there and I have lots of friends there. Even my friends who are Republicans don’t like many of the candidates that have run.
There are ways to get rid of gerrymandering, as states like California, New York and even Arizona have shown: independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions are at the top of the list. I'm not sure what you mean by "not vote by districts." I know some have proposed all congresspeople be elected in statewide elections, but then, especially in large, diverse states you won't necessarily have someone who knows your community and represents YOU. I don't think 38 congresspeople representing. the entire state ofTexas would be a better deal for people there.
Valid points for sure. Yes I am just frustrated .Yes I did mean statewide elections! Just didn’t clarify what I meant in my post. I think the amount of representatives each State gets should be based on population. Thanks for your reply.
You can change the laws of everybody votes blue if you can convince people they’re saving their Medicare and Medicaid not everyone’s a millionaire or a billionaire
No, that doesn't work, because Trump voters don't think like that. Sherrod Brown did that last year and lost to "a trans woman is going to rape your daughter in a public restroom." I read a really good book recently called "Dying of Whiteness," about how white people will vote against their interests if you convince them it will hurt "the other" (black, brown, immigrant, LGBTQ+) person more. Like the farmer I saw interviewed who said he would likely lose his farm due to Trump's tariffs but added "I think Trump knows what he's doing," these people don't care if they're stripped of their Medicare if Trump makes them feel they're better than "Black people sponging off the government."
Highly recommended (avoid YouTube when possible to protect your data):
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=youtube+bernie+sanders+talks+with+voters+in+west+VA&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DRP8Oxe6OxJc
I Took Bernie Into Deep Trump Country. Can He Win Them Over?
Source: More Perfect Union
Views: 2.7M views
Date published: Sep 15 2025
What happens when you put Bernie Sanders in the second reddest state in the country?
For nearly 80 years straight, working-class West Virginia was a Democratic stronghold — until it took a hard turn to Trump.
We were on the ground with Bernie Sanders to investigate why.
More Perfect Union is an Emmy-winning, nonprofit newsroom whose mission is to build power for working people. Here’s what that means: We report on the real struggles and challenges of the working class from a working-class perspective. We attempt to connect those problems to potential solutions. We report on the abuses and wrongdoing of corporate power. And we seek to hold accountable the ultra-rich who have too much power over America’s political and economic systems.
The Dems need to talk with working folks, many of whom have stopped voting. You can also watch this video here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP8Oxe6OxJc
And nothing happened because he didn't move the needle an inch in West Virginia. Sure, there are enough young, progressive college students in anything state to stock a rally, but Bernie doesn't speak West Virginia. He doesn't even speak Ohio. I've seen this first hand.
You obviously haven't watched the video I referenced above, because it took place in the past few days, and Bernie DID move the needle with quite a few MAGA voters, who bought Bernie T-shirts, were surprised to find how much they agreed with his take on politics, and only later enthusiastically attended a rally. He wasn't talking to young, progressive college students; he was talking with poor and working class voters around town and at a local cafe. Watch the video and open your mind to some encouraging information and interesting history on how VA went from solid blue to solid red. These MAGA voters were NOT happy with Trump and I think with the right candidate it's ripe to swing back to blue. Perhaps you could invite Bernie to talk with people in a deep red town in your state.
Are you aware that a lot of the "Bernie Bros" who were avid Bernie supporters when he ran for the presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton are the same people who voted for Trump in 2016?
We need to pressure Congressional Republicans, many who privately know Trump is nuts. They need positive reinforcement to come forward.
Here's what ACTUALY is happening.
https://blueprint.democrats.org/p/democrats-are-overperforming-everywhere?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=zc69i&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Ron, thank you for this. Any good news in the hellscape is welcome! Stay strong.
I’m unable to post a picture here so here is a description of the rather large sign on my vehicle: “ R U 1 of the 90 mil. who didn’t vote? How’s that working?”
Well said!
Rather self-righteous, don't you think? I vote regularly at all levels, local to national, but I mostly subscribe to the old axiom "If voting could change anything, it would be illegal." I'm actually encouraged by the Republicans' determination to make it harder to vote: they're apparently afraid that it *could* make a difference.
Voting makes the biggest difference at local levels, where winners and losers are often enough separated by a relative handful of votes. Interestingly enough, plenty of hot-to-trot vote enthusiasts don't bother to vote in local elections. (I know this in part because I'm a poll worker in my MA town. Turnout is generally pathetic even when there are contested races.)
But I'm sure that going forward, you'll be putting serious effort into registering new voters and helping get out the vote before election day. Right?
It's not self-righteous, it's a basic truth that is common to all democracies. I'd rather call it pretty self-righteous to ignore two centuries of democratic history PROVING, beyond any possible doubt, what tremendous progress has been achieved thanks to voting.
It's THIS kind of cynicism that is THE root cause of the end of America's democracy today. Too many of its citizens never believed in it in the first place, rather than doing their homework and then getting engaged...
If you pay attention to U.S. history, you'll have noticed that virtually every step toward greater democracy is met with a backlash, and sometimes the backlash lasts for generations. Consider Jim Crow, for instance. We're still in the backlash that began with the Reagan administration and, though there've been periods of some relief, is continues to this day. It, like Jim Crow, was a reaction to the impulse to include people of color in the body politic.
As to "the end of America's democracy today" -- can a statement get more cynical than that? Do yourself a favor: Learn some U.S. history. Focus on the struggle for women's rights and especially on the fight for rights of people of color. You might find it inspiring. I sure as hell do.
Again, that is an ENTIRELY FALSE perception.
The US is a leading world economy with first-world healthcare, education levels, and crime levels. That's the result - as in the rest of the free world - of two things: the wealth that came from colonization/slavery, and the democratic engagement of "ordinary citizens".
Obviously, democratic progress will meet some resistance. Still, in terms of Civil Rights things today are incomparably better than in the Jim Crow era.
What people also seem to misunderstand is the very nature of democracy. A democracy on paper is one thing (that's the US Constitution). But to prevent fascism to be installed de facto (remember, Hitler didn't even change the democratic German Constitution; he just ignored it), ALL citizens need to be actively engaged, organize, and vote.
Each time that happened, massive progress was made. Each time the next generation thought all struggles were over and imagined that all the problems that are still here must be the result of "corrupt politicians", after two steps forward we went one step back.
That is NOT what is happening today though. Today, democracy itself is under attack. That has never happened before, so now, it's even more important to know US history indeed, rather than to stick with false perceptions about it. Because if not, it will be gone, and for decades.
Actually, Norway way ahead of us.
Why be rude?
Cheers!!!
Great article, Ron. So well said. I think we are all extremely frustrated with Schumer, who either reacts to something 3 days late or not at all, and Jeffries, who basically talks in slogans. The leadership sucks, but as you laid out so succinctly, the 2nd tier of democrats is great. Think AOC, Robert Garcia, Jasmine Crockett, Moskowitz, and so many of the state dems who are running. Keep up this energy. 🔥💪
I think Schumer is taking a really long nap. Every time I send him an email, I get no response. However when I send the same emails to Gillibrand and Kennedy I get responses. Schumer needs to be replaced.
All AIPAC $$$ needs to be cancelled. Politicians need to put USA first!!!!
Because his office doesn't reply to emails as fast as you want?
Really?
You want to get rid of one of the wisest Democratic leaders, with a strong moral spine and a lot of experience, at the exact moment when the GOP is installing fascism?
That's your strategy to fight back?
Schumer has been bought off by campaign donations from the Silicon Valley fascists who are currently embedded in our government and working diligently to take over our democracy. He has two daughters who work for Meta and Amazon. He refused to bring a bipartisan bill to the floor for a vote after Sam Altman and Gary Marcus testified before Congress in May 2023 on the need to regulate AI (source: Taming Silicon Valley - How We Can Ensure AI Works for Us, by Gary Marcus, Chapter 6, pgs. 100-105).
Pg. 102: ""Real teeth would require the House and Senate to agree, to pass bills. So far, Congress hasn't stepped up. Senate Majority Leader Schumer, whose daughters work for big tech, delayed for months, only to issue a 'Road Map' in May 2024 instead of proposing actual legislation."
Pg. 100: "In the United States, we have had too many closed-door meetings like the first session of Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) 'AI Insight Forums,' almost entirely dominated by tech CEOs, with barely any representation from civil society."
The man writes "strongly worded letters" and holds secret meetings with the very people who give him money, but he doesn't take any effective action.
Hm... so when, in a Congress where Democrats have no legal power, Schumer doesn't pass the most progressive bills out there, somehow you imagine that he's pro-fascism... ?
People don't know anymore what the difference between fascism and democracy is, I'm afraid.
Democracy means COMPROMISING. It means respecting the fact that you lost the elections by doing in part what the other party wants to do, even though you yourself reject it.
We're having this problem for decades now. Each time Democrats follow the democratic process, part of the progressives in this country imagine that it must be something personal and that they're "corrupt". And then people stay home in the midterms instead of voting. THIS is THE mean reason why progress is so slow in the US, compared to other Western countries - and why now, when the choice was between democracy and fascism (2024) one third voted for fascism without realizing it, and one third didn't even bother to vote, thereby actively empowering fascists.
Please reread my comment above and notice the following:
1) The failure of Schumer to regulate AI after Marcus and Altman testified in May 2023 took place in May of 2024, when the Dems controlled the Senate and Schumer was the majority leader.
2) I never said Schumer was a fascist; I said he was bought off by Big Tech fascists. I think this is because he is biased in their favor and either doesn't have a clue about AI, technology, and the goals of the major players or has already been seduced by their lies and misrepresentations. If you read Karen Hao's book "Empire of AI" you get a better picture of the players behind this massive grift on investors and the public. I also never said—nor implied—that I'd vote for a MAGA candidate over Schumer if that was the only choice.
3) I'm trying to point out why we need a leader of the Senate Dems who is not in bed with the very powerful, rich people who have never been held accountable for the tremendous harm they've already done, are currently doing, and plan to do in the future. They already have too much power; we need a representative who has the independence and courage to claw some of it back before we have a full blown dictatorship with NO freedom of the press, including podcasters like MTN.
4) My point is that Schumer gave away a perfect opportunity to do something because *the Dems and Repubs had ALREADY reached bipartisan support to regulate AI*. He did not seize the opportunity and I have little doubt why. He will not represent constituents; his loyalties are to the fat cats who give him money. You can't COMPROMISE with someone like that; he's already been compromised.
Your preaching about how "People don't know anymore what the difference between fascism and democracy is" is based on your knee jerk reaction to your careless reading of my comment and unwarranted assumptions about what I know about history and fascism.
Hard agree
What specifically do you think leadership should be doing?
Literally anything. Start with what Gavin Newsom is doing. Pushing back hard right away, not waiting 3 days and putting out a press release. They need some kind of rapid response social media team like Newsom has. These Republican lies and propaganda fester and take hold because there’s little to no pushback from Schumer and Jeffries.
Also Schumer is just too old. He needs to step back from leadership and let someone younger take over. Someone like Chris Murphy who understands the very dangerous moment that we are currently in.
Again, what type of "pushback" do you envision from Schumer and Jeffries? Newsom, as governor of a very blue state, has powers at his command. Schumer and Jeffries do not. It's not largely about a "rapid response team." It's about the powers to actually do something which, as governor, he has. And again, if Schumer is too old, we need to be HOWLING for the retirement of Bernie Sanders, who's ten years older, and divisive, as well as ineffective.
I couldn't disagree more. What a democracy vitally needs is well-informed citizens. Social media proposes the exact opposite.
First inform yourself. And don't ignore the power unregulated social media has to affect elections. If you're subscribed to social media, use it to debunk the unregulated lies users spread immediately (as Ron does so effectively on X).
All? You can speak for hundreds of millions of people... ?
And notice what your only objection is: you don't like the way he TALKS. Really?
In real life, after "we the people" took away all political power from Democrats in DC (that is OUR fault, not theirs!), the only place to fight back against the installation of fascism is the courts. And it's where Democrats are fighting back like hell, and winning against Trump in more than 90% of the cases.
Now ask yourself: why is it that the courts are not corrupt and able to do their work?
Here's the answer: SCHUMER.
When the GOP and Musk absolutely wanted a government shutdown, and an ill-informed liberal/progressive base urged Schumer to shut it down, he fortunately had the wisdom and experience to not cave and refuse to shut it down. THAT is what what most of the administration does today can still be stopped. A government shutdown would have meant that all the closing of agencies and programs and firing of civil servants would have become LEGAL. It would have allowed the GOP to install fascism at a much faster pace, and as we've seen in other countries, speed is everything.
And that's just ONE thing he did.
He also got a record number of Biden court appointees through Congress.
The list of his crucial achievements for the 99% is extremely long.
But you don't like how he TALKS... ??
THIS is why the US is losing its democracy today. All that voters want is celebrity talk. No one pays any attention to who's doing the boring job of governing, and doing it with a strong moral spine and a lot of wisdom.
Appreciate a FACT BASED detailed analysis. Excellent summary.
It’s good to read your news this morning. Hope the trend continues as we all keep shining light on the atrocities coming out of the current administration.
If swing state governors pursued hand ballot recounts and investigated the 100,000s of mail-in ballots Returned Undeliverable or rejected for Invalid Signature, Improper ID, Possible Wrong Date, etc, they would likely find that the Blue Wave that you describe actually reflects the true outcomes of the 2024 Presidential and Congressional Races.
Totally agree and I was going to say that perhaps DJT didn’t win as “bigly” as he would have us believe. Perhaps the R party of liars, cheaters, and corporate sellouts were rigging the election behind the curtain whilst waving their red hats, casting dispersions on Dems, and pointing their fingers saying “ look over there”…..methinks thou party dost protest too much— because they are as guilty as sin!
Pedophile Trump did not win the election in 2024 .
The red state mail in ballots 500,000 of them were rejected, and the voting machines were tampered with by musk
Why didn’t the Democrats demand a revote or hand count before any announcement was made who was president
Vote progressive liberal socialist Democrats. It’s the only way you’re going to save this country.
Yes, he did. No voting machines have been or can be "tampered with." I've worked with them. We blew ourselves up big time by manufacturing this myth in 2004. Hand recounts are extremely costly and time-consuming and require armies of volunteers We did this in Ohio in 2004. I took part and it wasn't pretty. Democrats groundlessly demanding a hand recount would have to pay tens of millions of dollars for it and the result would be the same, I guarantee.
Scary if true, but if so, maybe the blue wave will become a Tsunsmi if the disqualified voters correct their mistakes next time.
🤞
It depends why they were disqualified. When I worked at the board of elections, most of the disqualifications (I worked on this specifically) were valid. Yes, the GOP is trying to make it more difficult to correct mistakes with shorter time periods to do so, but the number is not huge.
That is false. Period. And it depresses me when we too buy into these groundless election conspiracy theories which lend GOP conspiracy theories more credibility. While a small number of mail-in ballots are rejected on technicalities, that also applies to Republican ballots (and they can't know which it is when it's rejected on those grounds), very few will be returned as undeliverable to the County Board of Elections, which is the addressee here, not the voter. Hand ballot recounts are costly, time-consuming and you really need proof that the scanners were off, which they aren't. Just like Trump has pushed the myth that he actually won in 2020, this is simply untrue, much as we'd like it to be. We need to stop.
Hi Anastasia, what state are you in?
The totalitarian state of Ohio.
Ah, thank you. I went to UC from Rochester, NY. Another totalitarian location.
I think it's important to account for how an incumbent normally under performs in these types of elections when determining if Dems are really outperforming.
Thank you, Ron, for giving us a reality check and some hope for the future!
Thank you for the great news!
Impressive momentum from the Democrats in 2025, flipping deep-red districts and outperforming expectations across the board. Voters seem to be prioritising local leadership and practical policies over national party approval. November’s gubernatorial races will be the real test.
Schumer and Jeffries have been HUGE disappointments in the anti-trump efforts. Do better, now!
Their silence about Mandami is deafening.......time for Schumer and Jeffries to take their AIPAC "under the table millions" and vanish into the sunset.
This is a truly no-win situation. Mamdani IS an anti-semite, if not deliberately so, and he's been oversold by starry-eyed followers.There are a lot of Jewish voters in NYC at all points on the spectrum about Israel. Sometimes being silent is the best thing. I'm glad I don't vote in this election but if I did, it would strictly be an anti-Cuomo vote because he is worthless, two-faced trash.
The 2 interviews I saw with Mandani were okay. How Jeffries brushed him aside was so low class. AIPAC addicts have got to go!!!! One word describes Cuomo......nothingness.
I've never been a fan of AIPAC but I'm also not a fan of the other side of the coin — these knee-jerk "pro-Palestinians" who seemed to have no awareness of or interest in the Israel/Palestine situation until more than 1,000 Israeli citizens were slaughtered — and suddenly they're all for the murderers' side? Mysterious! Post October 7, 2023 seems like a weird time to have become militantly pro-Palestinian (A few months later after Netanyahu upped the slaughter and was clearly using the situation to consolidate his own power, yes, but not then.)
Netanyahu upped the slaughter??? News reports have and still are coming out that he had advance warning of the attack. Do your own reasearch on that. I find it hard to believe that the attack was a suprise. Of course......the old mantra of "fake news" is getting a little stale. You are a smart guy and can find the missing puzzle pieces
Yes, he upped the slaughter — how on earth can you say that is true? — and I am well aware he likely set it up. I've probably done ten times of "my own research" than you have. I have a shelf of books on AIPAC and the whole history of Israel/Palestine going back to the nakba and even earlier. The so-called "Pro-Palestinian" movement was a lot of idealistic, but ignorant young people whom I still firmly believe were being led by shadows right wing forces. If they never had an interest in this before, it's inappropriate to take a strong one-sided approach about such a complicated situation. Maybe YOU should "do your own research" before being so condescending.
How do you know the motivations of people who are now pro-Palestinian?
The Hamas attack on 10/7/2023 was indefensible. In my opinion it is possible to condemn that attack and also believe that the Netanyahu government 's response has been draconian and has led to tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths as well as the likelihood that the next generation of Palestinian children will be seriously compromised because of malnutrition .
Find me where most of them EVER had an interest in Palestine prior to October7. There's your proof of motivation.
They’re worthless. We need real leadership in there. These two along with Ken Martin need to exit stage left.
Can you describe exactly what you think they should've done? I'm over hearing us savage our leadership because they didn't deliver miracles we somehow think certain unaccomplished but outspoken congresspeople could. I'd like to know more about what we're expecting. Sometime it seems like we're swept away by loud speeches.
I’m not looking for miracles, I’m looking for leadership. I get it, we’re in the minority in both chambers of Congress, but that doesn’t mean you roll over and play dead. The dictator is building a monstrosity on the grounds of the WH. Where is the money coming from? Why does he get to do this, it isn’t his house, it’s ours. How can he do this without going through the normal process? What have we heard about this from either of the two? Nothing. The dictator is committing murder in international waters, claiming with absolutely no proof that these are drug smugglers. What have we heard about this from either of the two? Nothing. The hypocrisy of the free/hate speech baloney from the right is so in-our-faces it’s incredible. What have we heard about this from either of the two? Nothing. I could go on. These two have failed to talk directly with the American people, refuting every criminal action this regime engages in while making the case for the Democratic Party. They have failed to position themselves as the leaders of the opposition to what is close to full-blown fascism in this country. They have failed to make OUR voices heard. They have failed to make the case for their continued leadership. They have simply failed.
Again, you're looking at optics. What do you think they should be DOING? Their job isn't to make speeches or "talk directly to the American people," but to block the worst of what Congress wants to roll over and do for Trump. They don't have the votes but have been pretty successful. Unfortunately, with a majority congress simply abdicating its responsibility, most of the fight of necessity is in the courts, and they have been derailing a lot of his worst impulses.
I'm disappointed at the number of Democrats who don't understand how things work and are too easily swept away by speechifying.
Yes, it IS the optics, much as you don’t want to admit it. Why do you think so many embrace his crap? They’ve been fed lie after lie after lie and soon they believe the lie. I’m not talking about simply making speeches, I’m talking about voicing opposition on a daily basis to the lies and the bullshit. You influence and convince people to believe what you want them to believe by talking with them. The republican cult has been genius at manipulating language for the past 50 years, and they’ve painted a picture of the Democratic Party that half the country despises. How things work? They work in your favor when you’ve got the votes. We don;t have the votes. You work with what you’ve got. What we’ve got now is voice. Use it.
With the budget coming up, the Dem Leadership needs to demand what the majority of Americans want...protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, protect all Data, Free Speech, and LGBTQ+ rights, reinstate the Education Dept, all Science and Cancer Research Funds.....the list goes on. Americans need to know that donations to 'poor' nations around the world to help with health and welfare are only 1% of GDP. Americans need to know that they benefit from a healthy world population. We also benefit from climate change and environmental initiatives!!! Again, the list goes on and on. Where is the Democracy Playbook? Reciting the Constitution isn't working with Americans. Many Americans need bullet points to understand quickly what they're missing from their lives and stand up to demand it from their representatives.
They are doing that now, demanding almost everything you listed. Pay attention! They can't force Republicans to do this — they don't have the votes — but not only are they demanding these things, they are actively working to peel away a few vulnerable Republicans, which is something you don't appear on TV and make flowery speeches about because that's not how you peel them off — it's all backroom stuff. When we don't educate ourselves about what our leaders are actually doing, we run the risk of being as clueless and unhelpful as MAGA.
You talk a lot. You're right often, but you do talk alot.
This is really helpful, thank you.
The administration’s reaction to the Kirk assassination will backfire. Americans don’t want restrictions on free speech — they want leaders focused on affordability and quality of life. That’s the conversation Democrats need to be having and are better positioned to have.
Thank you! This is hopeful, and right now we all need hope.
So, despite all the hard evidence that the GOP is NO GOOD for this country, the IDIOTS in Ohio still support them! Guess they haven't suffered enough yet. 😡