Cabot Phillips

Well, ever since November's crushing defeat, there's been little cause for confidence within the Democratic Party. For the optimists on the left, Democrats did see a strong turnout in special elections in a dozen or so states, where their candidates outperformed Kamala Harris by an average of 10%.

Well, ever since November's crushing defeat, there's been little cause for confidence within the Democratic Party. For the optimists on the left, Democrats did see a strong turnout in special elections in a dozen or so states, where their candidates outperformed Kamala Harris by an average of 10%.

And most notably, they won a resounding victory for a Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin, a state Trump won by a point. But the bad news certainly outweighs the good for the left right now. First, Gallup just found that the approval rating for Democrat leaders in Congress has fallen to just 25%. Yeah, pretty dramatic. So what's driving that dissatisfaction among Democrat voters?

And most notably, they won a resounding victory for a Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin, a state Trump won by a point. But the bad news certainly outweighs the good for the left right now. First, Gallup just found that the approval rating for Democrat leaders in Congress has fallen to just 25%. Yeah, pretty dramatic. So what's driving that dissatisfaction among Democrat voters?

So there are a few things. First, polling shows that folks on the left feel their leaders do not have a clear strategy for standing up to Trump. A recent survey from Data for Progress asked Democrat voters how they would grade their party's leader's response to Trump. Seven in 10 gave a C, D, or F. Now, if they had a singular leader to rally around, there might be more optimism.

So there are a few things. First, polling shows that folks on the left feel their leaders do not have a clear strategy for standing up to Trump. A recent survey from Data for Progress asked Democrat voters how they would grade their party's leader's response to Trump. Seven in 10 gave a C, D, or F. Now, if they had a singular leader to rally around, there might be more optimism.

But there isn't a clear standard-bearer waiting in the wings. And that void has left an opportunity for Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two of the party's most popular and controversial lawmakers, to really take center stage here.

But there isn't a clear standard-bearer waiting in the wings. And that void has left an opportunity for Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two of the party's most popular and controversial lawmakers, to really take center stage here.

Well, in the first few weeks after the election, Democrats seemed torn on whether to cast a wide net, turn from culture war issues and embrace a more moderate approach or lean into far left populism. And right now, it seems the party's base is choosing the latter. A poll last week from SurveyUSA found that 50 percent of Democrats want the party to, quote, become more progressive.

Well, in the first few weeks after the election, Democrats seemed torn on whether to cast a wide net, turn from culture war issues and embrace a more moderate approach or lean into far left populism. And right now, it seems the party's base is choosing the latter. A poll last week from SurveyUSA found that 50 percent of Democrats want the party to, quote, become more progressive.

Only 18 percent said, quote, more moderate. And that is music to the ears of AOC and Bernie Sanders. They've launched a fighting oligarchy speaking tour. They've drawn massive crowds all across the country. Have a listen to AOC's take on the president.

Only 18 percent said, quote, more moderate. And that is music to the ears of AOC and Bernie Sanders. They've launched a fighting oligarchy speaking tour. They've drawn massive crowds all across the country. Have a listen to AOC's take on the president.

The party's base, they seem to love it. Ocasio-Cortez raised nearly $10 million last quarter. That is by far her largest haul since taking office. And according to a recent YouGov poll, she's got a plus 61 approval rating among Democrat voters. That's the highest mark for any Democrat official.

The party's base, they seem to love it. Ocasio-Cortez raised nearly $10 million last quarter. That is by far her largest haul since taking office. And according to a recent YouGov poll, she's got a plus 61 approval rating among Democrat voters. That's the highest mark for any Democrat official.

Polls now show that Ocasio-Cortez is among the two or three frontrunners for the Democrat Party's nomination in 2028. And that is big. Now, if the Democrats do take a hard turn left, there is a real risk they alienate even more Americans who were clearly already uneasy with the party in November.

Polls now show that Ocasio-Cortez is among the two or three frontrunners for the Democrat Party's nomination in 2028. And that is big. Now, if the Democrats do take a hard turn left, there is a real risk they alienate even more Americans who were clearly already uneasy with the party in November.

To that point, California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing hard for his party to make a beeline for the middle. He has urged them to retreat from political correctness, oppose transgender boys and girls sports, and refrain from apocalyptic language about Donald Trump and his supporters. Right now, that message does not seem to be gaining much traction with the party's base.

To that point, California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing hard for his party to make a beeline for the middle. He has urged them to retreat from political correctness, oppose transgender boys and girls sports, and refrain from apocalyptic language about Donald Trump and his supporters. Right now, that message does not seem to be gaining much traction with the party's base.

We're seeing a clear signal from the market that it doesn't like the idea that the president might try to remove the Fed chair. There's been some loss of confidence in U.S. economic policymaking in recent weeks. Global investors pulling capital out of the U.S., But what you've seen is ongoing confidence in the Fed.

We're seeing a clear signal from the market that it doesn't like the idea that the president might try to remove the Fed chair. There's been some loss of confidence in U.S. economic policymaking in recent weeks. Global investors pulling capital out of the U.S., But what you've seen is ongoing confidence in the Fed.