Ben Wickler

So it's one part not wanting to unilaterally disarm, but the amount of money that corporations give to the Democratic Party is actually not meaningful. And you could accept zero and it wouldn't change the total amount. The big picture is actually lots of the state-level races across the country and local races across the country where –

So it's one part not wanting to unilaterally disarm, but the amount of money that corporations give to the Democratic Party is actually not meaningful. And you could accept zero and it wouldn't change the total amount. The big picture is actually lots of the state-level races across the country and local races across the country where –

If you go down to state legislative races in red states, a lot of times it's only the business community members that think that the attacks on different communities are totally unacceptable and finally move to defense that actually are the only way that Democrats have to be able to do this work. So the DNC's policy, it's symbolic.

If you go down to state legislative races in red states, a lot of times it's only the business community members that think that the attacks on different communities are totally unacceptable and finally move to defense that actually are the only way that Democrats have to be able to do this work. So the DNC's policy, it's symbolic.

And I think when Democrats running for office say, I'm going to take no corporate PAC contributions, that often is a really powerful way to state their values and be able to fight. As an institution, it's something that winds up making it difficult in particular circumstances. I think that the other big picture thing is

And I think when Democrats running for office say, I'm going to take no corporate PAC contributions, that often is a really powerful way to state their values and be able to fight. As an institution, it's something that winds up making it difficult in particular circumstances. I think that the other big picture thing is

that we should be very clear about is that Democrats should be fighting against big corporate interests that try to build monopolies and rip people off. and in favor of bringing down costs for people and making our economy sustainable and supporting unions in a way that is crystal clear.

that we should be very clear about is that Democrats should be fighting against big corporate interests that try to build monopolies and rip people off. and in favor of bringing down costs for people and making our economy sustainable and supporting unions in a way that is crystal clear.

And so, for example, I have said we will not accept any money from a company that's actively engaged in union busting. And being able to return a contribution from a company that is involved in union busting is a way to make a powerful statement in that moment in a way that not having the overall policy makes possible.

And so, for example, I have said we will not accept any money from a company that's actively engaged in union busting. And being able to return a contribution from a company that is involved in union busting is a way to make a powerful statement in that moment in a way that not having the overall policy makes possible.

The fundamental thing, I think, in our politics at this moment is what fights we choose. And that goes to my theory of attention. It also goes to my theory of how we rally a coalition that represents our values. And ultimately, you're going to piss people off who will invest on the other side and come at you. And that's fine. You have to be ready to incur those kinds of fights.

The fundamental thing, I think, in our politics at this moment is what fights we choose. And that goes to my theory of attention. It also goes to my theory of how we rally a coalition that represents our values. And ultimately, you're going to piss people off who will invest on the other side and come at you. And that's fine. You have to be ready to incur those kinds of fights.

But the fights are actually at the center of this work. Am I right? My campaign slogan is Unite, Fight, Win, which reflects that idea that you unite around big fights that demonstrate your values, that you're for working people across race and ethnicity and in rural areas and suburbs and cities, the big we in this country against the people who are trying to rig the system to rip everybody off.

But the fights are actually at the center of this work. Am I right? My campaign slogan is Unite, Fight, Win, which reflects that idea that you unite around big fights that demonstrate your values, that you're for working people across race and ethnicity and in rural areas and suburbs and cities, the big we in this country against the people who are trying to rig the system to rip everybody off.

And if you can do that, you can actually build trust and build a grassroots fundraising infrastructure like we built in Wisconsin that can sustain the work.

And if you can do that, you can actually build trust and build a grassroots fundraising infrastructure like we built in Wisconsin that can sustain the work.

So our visions and what we're talking about at Campaign Trail, there's not a huge amount of daylight. I think the big difference is in our record. And I have been working for the last six years in –

So our visions and what we're talking about at Campaign Trail, there's not a huge amount of daylight. I think the big difference is in our record. And I have been working for the last six years in –

one of maybe the most hotly contested state in the country where Republicans throw a wall of money every dirty trick they can, a massive owned media infrastructure to propagandize people, just the most blistering and incendiary dark money attacks against our candidates. And it's also a state that's been rigged by the GOP for permanent control. And in order to unrig our state, in order to over time

one of maybe the most hotly contested state in the country where Republicans throw a wall of money every dirty trick they can, a massive owned media infrastructure to propagandize people, just the most blistering and incendiary dark money attacks against our candidates. And it's also a state that's been rigged by the GOP for permanent control. And in order to unrig our state, in order to over time