Hakeem Jeffries

The American people are understandably frustrated. They are understandably upset. They know that the deck has been stacked against them. Now, as Democrats, we probably have to do a better job of explaining that we understand that, and we certainly have a plan to tackle and dismantle it so we can bring economic opportunity to life for every single American.

Well, I think there's a few things going on here in terms of how we better communicate with the American people. Maya Angelou said it best. People won't remember what you say. They may not even remember what you do, but they will always remember how you make them feel. And I think what we have to do a better job of is making the American people feel that we understand them.

Well, I think there's a few things going on here in terms of how we better communicate with the American people. Maya Angelou said it best. People won't remember what you say. They may not even remember what you do, but they will always remember how you make them feel. And I think what we have to do a better job of is making the American people feel that we understand them.

the pain that they've been in economically for a long period of time. Now, this moment, you have a situation where you have post-pandemic inflation that hit everyday Americans hard. And of course, many Americans are gonna see the economy not through the lens of macroeconomic numbers. What am I paying for food or groceries or gas or housing? And the cost of living in America is too high.

the pain that they've been in economically for a long period of time. Now, this moment, you have a situation where you have post-pandemic inflation that hit everyday Americans hard. And of course, many Americans are gonna see the economy not through the lens of macroeconomic numbers. What am I paying for food or groceries or gas or housing? And the cost of living in America is too high.

And we've got to be clear that our top objective is to do something about it, to make life more affordable for the American people, to bring down housing costs and food costs and gas prices and childcare costs and utility costs and the cost of insurance, where it's out of control and it's robbing people of the ability to own homes.

And we've got to be clear that our top objective is to do something about it, to make life more affordable for the American people, to bring down housing costs and food costs and gas prices and childcare costs and utility costs and the cost of insurance, where it's out of control and it's robbing people of the ability to own homes.

But we also have to zoom out a little bit because there's been a decades-long march to sticking it to working class people. And I think as a result, you have every now and then people who can come along the political scene and exploit the pain economically that people are in for their own political gain. But you make a great point.

But we also have to zoom out a little bit because there's been a decades-long march to sticking it to working class people. And I think as a result, you have every now and then people who can come along the political scene and exploit the pain economically that people are in for their own political gain. But you make a great point.

Where have we been? So politically, I think one of the reasons why we've seen the pendulum swing back and forth It went from George H.W. Bush to Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, George W. Bush to Barack Obama, Barack Obama to Donald Trump, Donald Trump to Joe Biden, Joe Biden back to Donald Trump. You're getting me dizzy. It's a dizzying swing of the pendulum.

Where have we been? So politically, I think one of the reasons why we've seen the pendulum swing back and forth It went from George H.W. Bush to Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, George W. Bush to Barack Obama, Barack Obama to Donald Trump, Donald Trump to Joe Biden, Joe Biden back to Donald Trump. You're getting me dizzy. It's a dizzying swing of the pendulum.

with very different people who have very different ideologies, what's consistent? The American people have a constant desire for change. Why? Because no one has solved the fundamental problem. That's interesting. All right, quick break, and then we're right back. We are back, Leader Jeffries. Now here's the thing about Democrats.

with very different people who have very different ideologies, what's consistent? The American people have a constant desire for change. Why? Because no one has solved the fundamental problem. That's interesting. All right, quick break, and then we're right back. We are back, Leader Jeffries. Now here's the thing about Democrats.

Under Barack Obama, we did deal with the healthcare affordability crisis. The Affordable Care Act has been transformational. It has ensured that tens of millions of people who otherwise would not have had access to high quality healthcare, have it. That's progress for the American people, but we of course have to do more.

Under Barack Obama, we did deal with the healthcare affordability crisis. The Affordable Care Act has been transformational. It has ensured that tens of millions of people who otherwise would not have had access to high quality healthcare, have it. That's progress for the American people, but we of course have to do more.

Under Joe Biden, you did see steps that were taken to try to bring down costs, particularly in the area of prescription drug pricing and steps to bring jobs back to the American people through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, all designed, how do we bring domestic manufacturing jobs back home to America enough with our jobs going in the other direction?

Under Joe Biden, you did see steps that were taken to try to bring down costs, particularly in the area of prescription drug pricing and steps to bring jobs back to the American people through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, all designed, how do we bring domestic manufacturing jobs back home to America enough with our jobs going in the other direction?

So we were doing the work. Perhaps we were not speaking as forcefully as necessary to say, you know what? We understand that y'all have been getting jammed up in the communities that I represent. It's been happening. And John, here's the thing. You can actually point to several different ways in which the deck has been stacked against everyday Americans.

So we were doing the work. Perhaps we were not speaking as forcefully as necessary to say, you know what? We understand that y'all have been getting jammed up in the communities that I represent. It's been happening. And John, here's the thing. You can actually point to several different ways in which the deck has been stacked against everyday Americans.

Poorly negotiated trade deals, the outsourcing of good paying American jobs, the dramatic decline in unionization and the rise of automation. And yes, the innovation economy is important and we have to continue to lead. developments in the innovation economy, but automation has cost good paying American jobs. No question.