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I talked with @SenSchumer, who would be Robin to @joebiden's Batman in the event of a Democratic sweep.
An Election Day special from The Ink. https://the.ink/p/schumer
An Election Day special from The Ink. https://the.ink/p/schumer
Schumer is a moderate, a centrist, a neoliberal Democrat.
But he claims to want a return to the heritage of FDR.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
But he claims to want a return to the heritage of FDR.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
But when he laid out his first 100 days vision, it had a curious quality. It was all lite. The Green New Deal Lite. Wiping out student debt lite. Tax reform lite. He stayed away from the boldest plans, though he claims to want boldness.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
https://the.ink/p/schumer
A basic test of his sincerity about boldness will be whether he kills the filibuster. I pushed him repeatedly on it. And finally he seemed -- maybe? -- to inch toward that.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
https://the.ink/p/schumer
I asked about court-packing:
CHUCK: "Everything is on the table."
ANAND: "Why only leave things on the table? Why not advocate for things?"
CHUCK: "Because you have to get the majority, Anand. I can't snap my fingers and make everybody do it, OK?"
https://the.ink/p/schumer
CHUCK: "Everything is on the table."
ANAND: "Why only leave things on the table? Why not advocate for things?"
CHUCK: "Because you have to get the majority, Anand. I can't snap my fingers and make everybody do it, OK?"
https://the.ink/p/schumer
I asked Schumer if he thinks Trump is (a) trying to steal the election and (b) criminally inciting violence.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
https://the.ink/p/schumer
Does Schumer bear any blame for Trump packing the judiciary so effectively? Well, he doesn't think so. A lot of others sure do.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
https://the.ink/p/schumer
I asked him if he is aware that he is almost certainly going to face a formidable primary challenge in 2022.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
https://the.ink/p/schumer
What was most frustrating in this conversation was that Schumer continued to insist on the need for Democrats to change while refusing to admit to any of their complicity in how things got bad.
https://the.ink/p/schumer
https://the.ink/p/schumer
ANAND: "Do you think you took too much money from Wall Street?"
CHUCK: "Pardon?"
https://the.ink/p/schumer
CHUCK: "Pardon?"
https://the.ink/p/schumer
ANAND: "Do you look at your Democratic Party and say, here is where we actually fell short and enabled some of the institutional and economic weakness?"
CHUCK: "Well, give me an example. I don't, I mean, you know, the bottom line is, I'm fighting for the right things."
CHUCK: "Well, give me an example. I don't, I mean, you know, the bottom line is, I'm fighting for the right things."
To me, it comes down to this.
The Democrats could have a historic chance to change things. But that change will require a recognition of where they fell short in the past.
Can people trust you to break with the past if you're not forthright about your role in it?
The Democrats could have a historic chance to change things. But that change will require a recognition of where they fell short in the past.
Can people trust you to break with the past if you're not forthright about your role in it?
Read the full interview here: https://the.ink/p/schumer
And if you like public servants being asked tough questions, even the same question three or four times, consider supporting The Ink by subscribing.
And vote Vote. Vote!
And if you like public servants being asked tough questions, even the same question three or four times, consider supporting The Ink by subscribing.
And vote Vote. Vote!
