Sarah Longwell

I think a lot of times you see politicians who will say, if I can identify a risk, to something, that means I shouldn't do it. We are, as human beings, very bad at evaluating risk and reward. And so I think on the one hand, you've had a dynamic where I think we were lulled into a false sense of security of the sort of cultural momentum of where we were. And I think it created an absolutism

I think a lot of times you see politicians who will say, if I can identify a risk, to something, that means I shouldn't do it. We are, as human beings, very bad at evaluating risk and reward. And so I think on the one hand, you've had a dynamic where I think we were lulled into a false sense of security of the sort of cultural momentum of where we were. And I think it created an absolutism

that has increasingly shrunk our ranks because it has excluded people who are with us on 90% of things but disagree with us on 10% of things. I think people have been scared of getting canceled online. They've been scared of backlash to nuance. They've been scared to do politics because it's not appropriate performative outrage online.

that has increasingly shrunk our ranks because it has excluded people who are with us on 90% of things but disagree with us on 10% of things. I think people have been scared of getting canceled online. They've been scared of backlash to nuance. They've been scared to do politics because it's not appropriate performative outrage online.

So I think they've been scared into not employing an approach that meets voters where they are. But then on the flip side, after the last election in particular, there was such a backlash to that that people went, the lesson learned here is that We can never talk about these things that we have to completely reject it. It's all price of eggs. Right?

So I think they've been scared into not employing an approach that meets voters where they are. But then on the flip side, after the last election in particular, there was such a backlash to that that people went, the lesson learned here is that We can never talk about these things that we have to completely reject it. It's all price of eggs. Right?

Nice to know you. There is a way to, again, fight hard and fight smart. There's a way of – I always think about a political leader – should be in front of public opinion. We are not completely without agency in shifting and shaping public opinion. But we do have to be within proximity of public opinion. We have to be within arm's reach.

Nice to know you. There is a way to, again, fight hard and fight smart. There's a way of – I always think about a political leader – should be in front of public opinion. We are not completely without agency in shifting and shaping public opinion. But we do have to be within proximity of public opinion. We have to be within arm's reach.

Because if we get too far out ahead, we lose our grip on the public and we are no longer able to pull them along with us. And I think you've got some people who want to be so far out ahead because it plays well on social media because they feel viscerally good about themselves that they lose their grip and they can't pull them along.

Because if we get too far out ahead, we lose our grip on the public and we are no longer able to pull them along with us. And I think you've got some people who want to be so far out ahead because it plays well on social media because they feel viscerally good about themselves that they lose their grip and they can't pull them along.

And then you've got other people who are so scared to be even an inch in front of public opinion that they hide within public opinion and hope that no one notices.

And then you've got other people who are so scared to be even an inch in front of public opinion that they hide within public opinion and hope that no one notices.

I think that is probably – that's probably right, that we are a byproduct of witnessing firsthand – Look, Barack Obama is still popular, even in our politics. Barack Obama is still popular for a reason. His approach to politics is still popular.

I think that is probably – that's probably right, that we are a byproduct of witnessing firsthand – Look, Barack Obama is still popular, even in our politics. Barack Obama is still popular for a reason. His approach to politics is still popular.

And, you know, one of the things that frustrates me as I navigate some of these issues and try to provide a glimpse into my approach to changemaking, because I fundamentally agree with the goals of the progressive movement. And I think that you have to be strategic in how you pursue those goals.

And, you know, one of the things that frustrates me as I navigate some of these issues and try to provide a glimpse into my approach to changemaking, because I fundamentally agree with the goals of the progressive movement. And I think that you have to be strategic in how you pursue those goals.

And I think, you know, we've got a lot of folks who don't realize that Barack Obama opposed marriage equality for most of his political career. I mean, he kind of, like, he supported it, then he changed his position, and then he supported it again. Yeah.

And I think, you know, we've got a lot of folks who don't realize that Barack Obama opposed marriage equality for most of his political career. I mean, he kind of, like, he supported it, then he changed his position, and then he supported it again. Yeah.

Where would we have been as a party or for that matter, where would the gay rights movement have had been if they excommunicated John Kerry for not being in support of marriage equality? If they excluded both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2007 and 2008 for not being in favor of marriage equality? Where would we have been? And now, though, the mentality is if we were replicating that now.

Where would we have been as a party or for that matter, where would the gay rights movement have had been if they excommunicated John Kerry for not being in support of marriage equality? If they excluded both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2007 and 2008 for not being in favor of marriage equality? Where would we have been? And now, though, the mentality is if we were replicating that now.