Astead W. Herndon

And I keep going back to this thing about the diagnosing an issue, because I think about this one guy we talked to who was a Democrat, who voted for Kamala Harris, said he hated Donald Trump. And even he was saying to me, he can't ignore the fact that Democrats put

And I keep going back to this thing about the diagnosing an issue, because I think about this one guy we talked to who was a Democrat, who voted for Kamala Harris, said he hated Donald Trump. And even he was saying to me, he can't ignore the fact that Democrats put

And so he was saying that even as he was upset with Donald Trump and the prospect of tariffs and the uncertainty that it caused, he was acknowledging, though, that same kind of problem diagnosis that led Monica to vote for him. You were helpful to talk to. Thank you.

And so he was saying that even as he was upset with Donald Trump and the prospect of tariffs and the uncertainty that it caused, he was acknowledging, though, that same kind of problem diagnosis that led Monica to vote for him. You were helpful to talk to. Thank you.

Being at the plant and hearing that kind of range of voices really just reminded me about the kind of shrapnel from this kind of political bomb, you know, and the ways that Trump fractures. And by bomb you mean the Trump bomb. Yes, the Trump bomb. And I'm like, you know, obviously it puts Republicans in a difficult position because he's doing something fairly unpopular.

Being at the plant and hearing that kind of range of voices really just reminded me about the kind of shrapnel from this kind of political bomb, you know, and the ways that Trump fractures. And by bomb you mean the Trump bomb. Yes, the Trump bomb. And I'm like, you know, obviously it puts Republicans in a difficult position because he's doing something fairly unpopular.

And it has splintered their coalition. But it also reminds me how Trump's disruption, particularly on something like the economy and manufacturing, can put Democrats in a difficult position also. Because the voters I spoke to, they were a huge part of the traditional Democratic coalition.

And it has splintered their coalition. But it also reminds me how Trump's disruption, particularly on something like the economy and manufacturing, can put Democrats in a difficult position also. Because the voters I spoke to, they were a huge part of the traditional Democratic coalition.

They made up the type of working class base that bolstered the party in places like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, electorally important places. But now the Democrats have kind of changed, become more cosmopolitan, become more college educated, become more overtly liberal.

They made up the type of working class base that bolstered the party in places like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, electorally important places. But now the Democrats have kind of changed, become more cosmopolitan, become more college educated, become more overtly liberal.

I think they have to ask themselves, do they still care to calibrate their message to the language of their traditional working class base? Or have they changed?

I think they have to ask themselves, do they still care to calibrate their message to the language of their traditional working class base? Or have they changed?

Well, I think it's been interesting to see how different parts of the party are responding to this issue. And they've taken a couple different options.

Well, I think it's been interesting to see how different parts of the party are responding to this issue. And they've taken a couple different options.

A few of them, I'm thinking about folks like Senator Cory Booker, have done a universal condemnation of tariffs, saying there's no equivocation, tariffs are bad. But most Democrats have tried to find a middle road option.

A few of them, I'm thinking about folks like Senator Cory Booker, have done a universal condemnation of tariffs, saying there's no equivocation, tariffs are bad. But most Democrats have tried to find a middle road option.

There have been people who say that maybe Republicans profited or there were things like insider trading that's been happening in the stock market.

There have been people who say that maybe Republicans profited or there were things like insider trading that's been happening in the stock market.

Saying that Donald Trump is going to pass along a tax to regular people as the rich get exempted. Right. And then there's been the other piece, which I think is embodied by folks like Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.

Saying that Donald Trump is going to pass along a tax to regular people as the rich get exempted. Right. And then there's been the other piece, which I think is embodied by folks like Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.