Senator Chris Murphy on fighting the authoritarian takeover, remaking the Democratic Party, and how you, today, can cure the disease that led to Trumpism
Saving our democracy requires reforming both our economic and political systems. Income inequity, the impact of private equity on our lives, and the impact of self-interested wealthy on politics won't go away without macro and fundamental changes. We need to envision the future we want and develop a path to acheiving that future. See www.informedcitizens.com
It's so refreshing to hear the resistance to funding any more of this corrupt regime. It's ugly but appropriately simple, and exactly the kind of "fight" that Americans will respond to positively.
Murphy is fantastic. And extremely appreciated for his efforts. And I agree with him about much what ails our country. But I would be very careful not to forget that Donald won because he lied. (And because of propaganda (remember Russia?)). Most people (not all, but what got him the win) didn’t vote for what he is actually doing. And we need to remember that when doing the diagnoses, when we say it’s a cancer, that the patient was poisoned!
Let’s not forget that ‘our democracy’ went against the will of the people to quash Bernie when he was winning the presidential primaries so a corporate backed, Iraq war supporting career politician who somehow became a multi millionaire on his government salary, would get the nomination. I am not nostalgic for corporate owned democrats who have more decorum but also screw the working class, maybe just not as aggressively. Did any democratically controlled Congress raise the federal minimum wage in the last 2 or 3 decades? Or stop big pharma from gouging Americans while charging reasonable prices for drugs in other countries? Or codify Roe? Or make sure our veterans don’t have to rely on charity to get prosthetic limbs (Wounded Warriors should not need to exist). Or make pesticides and other harmful chemicals illegal? Or prosecute the criminals in the financial sector who caused the 2008 crash which disproportionately hurt working people? No. They did not. Because most democrats in office work for the owning class and are made rich by those corporations while playing at being public servants.
Great discussion! Thanks for having Sen. Murphy on and asking him such meaningful questions. His honesty and understanding of the moment bring hope, because despite the grim, starting with a realistic assessment is essential.
This November we need to recall every Republican member of Congress who insists on voting for this budget that not only destroys democracy but starved children and leaves them totally without health care!!!
Fabulous interview! I especially appreciate Sen. Murphy’s willingness to acknowledge the cynical side of the Dems’ 2024 message, when he referred to “a party that ran in 2024 on saying that he was going to be a threat to democracy but maybe didn’t really believe it in their heart.”
For all their 2024 doomsaying about the threat to democracy, Dems didn’t bother to come up with a contingency plan to fight against Project 2025, the open and notorious—very very dire—actual—threat to democracy that is now coming to fruition. Why no contingency plan? They’re not that stupid. Just too deep in the pockets of their billionaire and corporate donors, I guess.
I also love Sen. Murphy’s suggestion that we need to create and nurture communities, including joining or re-joining a faith community—something I myself have done recently.
However, the idea of government money being used to support specific religious organizations is a terrible idea, at least in places like Tennessee, where I live. Religious trauma is all too real. To their credit, many churches, mosques, synagogues, etc. are working hard to become places where people are truly safe. But they have a ways to go. I will die on the hill of keeping taxpayer dollars away from places where spiritual harm is caused.
OK, the change might not be that 'strange', but surely there are some rules, old fashioned rules about who owns who, and how far the 'shouting of money' is allowed to go. The Germans (of all people - often seen as old school 'capitalists') - have implemented 'greed-brakes' in more than 200 communities, and climbing. That's a nice to have. Is it possible to change that into a 'must have' - or bust / split / fall apart / stop 'cross-subsidising the 'billionocracy'?
This is the only question that strikes me as 'real,' as worth 'cementing' into a new Constitution. Is that realistic, or a silly dream? What do we really understand by the expression "get real" !?
Thanks, Priscilla. I'm looking for a way 'home' as you (perhaps) are. Question is, how can we get from 'here' to 'there' when the central event coming over the horison is (literally) a wrecking ball, to make 'room' for a 'new ballroom'? How many people (really) need a new ballroom? It's a dystopian icon in a 'class' of its own ...
Fabulous interview! I am more impressed with Senator Murphy every time I hear him speak.
Saving our democracy requires reforming both our economic and political systems. Income inequity, the impact of private equity on our lives, and the impact of self-interested wealthy on politics won't go away without macro and fundamental changes. We need to envision the future we want and develop a path to acheiving that future. See www.informedcitizens.com
Thank you both for this enlightening, heartening conversation. I like this word “COMMUNITARIAN”!
Thanks for doing this interview. Senator Murphy has a way of making big ideas seem doable.
Excellent interview. We need more senators and reps like Chris Murphy. Thank you for this insightful discussion.
LOVE the honesty. We need action now.
It's so refreshing to hear the resistance to funding any more of this corrupt regime. It's ugly but appropriately simple, and exactly the kind of "fight" that Americans will respond to positively.
Murphy is fantastic. And extremely appreciated for his efforts. And I agree with him about much what ails our country. But I would be very careful not to forget that Donald won because he lied. (And because of propaganda (remember Russia?)). Most people (not all, but what got him the win) didn’t vote for what he is actually doing. And we need to remember that when doing the diagnoses, when we say it’s a cancer, that the patient was poisoned!
And let's not forget Medicare pricing for all, or Medicaid for all? Must also get more reform of Wall Street and regulation of private equity, etc.
Let’s not forget that ‘our democracy’ went against the will of the people to quash Bernie when he was winning the presidential primaries so a corporate backed, Iraq war supporting career politician who somehow became a multi millionaire on his government salary, would get the nomination. I am not nostalgic for corporate owned democrats who have more decorum but also screw the working class, maybe just not as aggressively. Did any democratically controlled Congress raise the federal minimum wage in the last 2 or 3 decades? Or stop big pharma from gouging Americans while charging reasonable prices for drugs in other countries? Or codify Roe? Or make sure our veterans don’t have to rely on charity to get prosthetic limbs (Wounded Warriors should not need to exist). Or make pesticides and other harmful chemicals illegal? Or prosecute the criminals in the financial sector who caused the 2008 crash which disproportionately hurt working people? No. They did not. Because most democrats in office work for the owning class and are made rich by those corporations while playing at being public servants.
Great discussion! Thanks for having Sen. Murphy on and asking him such meaningful questions. His honesty and understanding of the moment bring hope, because despite the grim, starting with a realistic assessment is essential.
Great questions, Anand! Amazing interview
Wonderful conversation!! Thank you, both, so very much! 💙💙
This November we need to recall every Republican member of Congress who insists on voting for this budget that not only destroys democracy but starved children and leaves them totally without health care!!!
Fabulous interview! I especially appreciate Sen. Murphy’s willingness to acknowledge the cynical side of the Dems’ 2024 message, when he referred to “a party that ran in 2024 on saying that he was going to be a threat to democracy but maybe didn’t really believe it in their heart.”
For all their 2024 doomsaying about the threat to democracy, Dems didn’t bother to come up with a contingency plan to fight against Project 2025, the open and notorious—very very dire—actual—threat to democracy that is now coming to fruition. Why no contingency plan? They’re not that stupid. Just too deep in the pockets of their billionaire and corporate donors, I guess.
I also love Sen. Murphy’s suggestion that we need to create and nurture communities, including joining or re-joining a faith community—something I myself have done recently.
However, the idea of government money being used to support specific religious organizations is a terrible idea, at least in places like Tennessee, where I live. Religious trauma is all too real. To their credit, many churches, mosques, synagogues, etc. are working hard to become places where people are truly safe. But they have a ways to go. I will die on the hill of keeping taxpayer dollars away from places where spiritual harm is caused.
OK, the change might not be that 'strange', but surely there are some rules, old fashioned rules about who owns who, and how far the 'shouting of money' is allowed to go. The Germans (of all people - often seen as old school 'capitalists') - have implemented 'greed-brakes' in more than 200 communities, and climbing. That's a nice to have. Is it possible to change that into a 'must have' - or bust / split / fall apart / stop 'cross-subsidising the 'billionocracy'?
This is the only question that strikes me as 'real,' as worth 'cementing' into a new Constitution. Is that realistic, or a silly dream? What do we really understand by the expression "get real" !?
Thanks, Priscilla. I'm looking for a way 'home' as you (perhaps) are. Question is, how can we get from 'here' to 'there' when the central event coming over the horison is (literally) a wrecking ball, to make 'room' for a 'new ballroom'? How many people (really) need a new ballroom? It's a dystopian icon in a 'class' of its own ...
The Gods must be laughing - or weeping - or both.