Ezra Klein

What do you tell people works within community, within that kind of local democracy? I heard something said at a town hall was that, quote, being angry, being loud feels good. But is it productive? My assumption is you feel it's not productive. So what to you is productive?

What do you tell people works within community, within that kind of local democracy? I heard something said at a town hall was that, quote, being angry, being loud feels good. But is it productive? My assumption is you feel it's not productive. So what to you is productive?

Let me ask you something. Sometimes I hear you say things and you seem really frustrated with, I think it's Democrats specifically. I mean, I take the point that sometimes it can be easier to empathize with, you know, I think you're saying sort of like a panda rolled away than the person right next to you.

Let me ask you something. Sometimes I hear you say things and you seem really frustrated with, I think it's Democrats specifically. I mean, I take the point that sometimes it can be easier to empathize with, you know, I think you're saying sort of like a panda rolled away than the person right next to you.

You know, we're disappearing people at El Salvador in terrorist prisons with no due process. Like, the tariffs will hurt a lot of these people, the same people you're talking about. I would not say the Trump administration has been, like, amazing on fentanyl or even strategic about it, more to the point. And there's a lot of, I think that there is a lot of fear.

You know, we're disappearing people at El Salvador in terrorist prisons with no due process. Like, the tariffs will hurt a lot of these people, the same people you're talking about. I would not say the Trump administration has been, like, amazing on fentanyl or even strategic about it, more to the point. And there's a lot of, I think that there is a lot of fear.

I mean, the way I often put it to people when I've heard the argument, look, we should be worrying about, you know, the people next door, not, you know, people being shipped off to El Salvador in prisons. Is it, I don't know, when, like, I'm Jewish, and I think I bring my own kind of assumptions to this conversation, but...

I mean, the way I often put it to people when I've heard the argument, look, we should be worrying about, you know, the people next door, not, you know, people being shipped off to El Salvador in prisons. Is it, I don't know, when, like, I'm Jewish, and I think I bring my own kind of assumptions to this conversation, but...

I look at history and I look at other countries and I feel like when the disappearance machine begins running, if people don't stop it, it can start going really far. Like if regimes begin to realize they can use disappearance as a tool, who that eventually comes for is not clear.

I look at history and I look at other countries and I feel like when the disappearance machine begins running, if people don't stop it, it can start going really far. Like if regimes begin to realize they can use disappearance as a tool, who that eventually comes for is not clear.

So, I mean, I was asking you sort of about common ground among your constituents and what you sort of said is like, look, a lot of these people are sort of maybe sympathizing or empathizing with the wrong folks.

So, I mean, I was asking you sort of about common ground among your constituents and what you sort of said is like, look, a lot of these people are sort of maybe sympathizing or empathizing with the wrong folks.

But, I mean, is there a part of you that takes the other side of that argument that feels that Trump is trying to really fundamentally change the character of this country and its institutions and how it works and the people who are scared as shit and like don't know what to do because they don't really have any power over it?

But, I mean, is there a part of you that takes the other side of that argument that feels that Trump is trying to really fundamentally change the character of this country and its institutions and how it works and the people who are scared as shit and like don't know what to do because they don't really have any power over it?

and they don't know how to get listened to, that there's a righteousness to the way they feel too?

and they don't know how to get listened to, that there's a righteousness to the way they feel too?

This has been, to me, one of the very frustrating things about the Trump administration. I also hate gangs. I don't want MS-13 operating in America. I don't want them operating anywhere. But we have due process. That's a good way to find out if people are part of MS-13. I find sometimes it's like a political blackmail that's applied.

This has been, to me, one of the very frustrating things about the Trump administration. I also hate gangs. I don't want MS-13 operating in America. I don't want them operating anywhere. But we have due process. That's a good way to find out if people are part of MS-13. I find sometimes it's like a political blackmail that's applied.

It's like—and I'm not saying you are, but I've seen—I've heard this from other people where, like— is your politics really to be on the side of people who might be in a gang? It's like, no. My politics is to be on the side of processes that protect everyone and also are perfectly good at figuring out if people are in a gang. We can cross-examine some witnesses, right?

It's like—and I'm not saying you are, but I've seen—I've heard this from other people where, like— is your politics really to be on the side of people who might be in a gang? It's like, no. My politics is to be on the side of processes that protect everyone and also are perfectly good at figuring out if people are in a gang. We can cross-examine some witnesses, right?