Latest news with #AnthonyColey
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Democrats may require 2028 contenders to release full health information after disastrous Biden campaign
Some Democrats are discussing plans to require 2028 contenders to release their full health information after the disastrous campaign of former President Joe Biden. In 2028, candidates who were more disconnected from the Biden White House may be able to garner more credibility with voters among those who feel betrayed by party leadership. Democratic strategists speaking to The Bulwark said a consensus is forming that whoever campaigns for the party's nomination in 2028 will have to share a large amount of health information and a more extensive health report than previously expected. There's also a belief that anyone over 70 won't run. Biden recently announced an 'aggressive' prostate cancer diagnosis, which raised additional concerns regarding his health while in office. The former president was forced out of the 2024 race after a catastrophic debate performance against President Donald Trump in June last year, and he was replaced atop the Democratic ticket by then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic strategists have also grown tired of the former president claiming he would have won had he stayed in the race. Anthony Coley, a Democratic strategist who worked for the Biden administration, told The Hill last week, 'Would it be nice if Biden finally accepted and admitted he shouldn't have run for a second term? Sure.' 'But candidly, does it really matter at this point? History will have the final say — and its first draft isn't looking good,' he added. This comes as Harris is reportedly considering a run for California governor next year, but has yet to announce a campaign even as the race takes shape around her. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who's running to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom, said in a statement on Tuesday that Harris and Biden's former Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, who has announced that he's also running for governor in the state, should apologize for covering up Biden's health status. Villaraigosa referenced the recent book Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. 'What I've seen in news coverage and excerpts from the new book 'Original Sin' is deeply troubling,' he said. 'At the highest levels of our government, those in power were intentionally complicit or told outright lies in a systematic cover up to keep Joe Biden's mental decline from the public.' 'Now, we have come to learn this cover up includes two prominent California politicians who served as California Attorney General – one who is running for Governor and another who is thinking about running for Governor,' he added. 'Those who were complicit in the cover up should take responsibility for the part they played in this debacle, hold themselves accountable, and apologize to the American people,' Villaraigosa said. 'I call on Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra to do just that – and make themselves available to voters and the free press because there's a lot of questions that need to be answered.' The revelations regarding Biden's decline in office are set to have significant effects on how the Democratic Party conducts its elections and how candidates run their campaigns. It may also affect the demands placed on candidates, the media strategies they choose to enact, and the scheduling of presidential primaries. While every election leads to soul-searching within a party, the 2024 loss and Biden's handling of his campaign led to a significant trust issue that the party will have to confront, Democratic strategists have said, according to The Bulwark. Some strategists compared it to the authorization of the war in Iraq, which shaped the contours of the 2008 primary and which saw the campaigns of those who backed the invasion crater. 'Obama was fortunate because he wasn't in D.C., so it allowed him to have natural distance. He could say 'I'm an outsider' without saying 'I'm an outsider',' a Democratic strategist who worked on a 2008 campaign told the outlet. Former President Barack Obama wasn't in Congress in 2002 and, as such, he didn't have to cast a ballot on the resolution authorizing the war in Iraq.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats want Biden to take responsibility for loss to Trump
Democrats are tired of Joe Biden saying he would have won. What they want, they say, is for the former president to admit to his part in the party's 2024 loss to Donald Trump. Democratic strategists, operatives and donors this week in conversations and text exchanges all reiterated the same thing: They want Biden to take responsibility for former Vice President Kamala Harris's defeat to the new president. They also say he never should have run for a second term in the first place. 'Would it be nice if Biden finally accepted and admitted he shouldn't have run for a second term? Sure,' said Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, who worked for the Biden administration. 'But candidly, does it really matter at this point? History will have the final say — and its first draft isn't looking good.' Democrats continue to find themselves in a dire state as they desperately try to figure out how to rebuild their party after November's devastating defeat. Polling this week from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs revealed that only about one-third of Democrats are 'very optimistic' or 'somewhat optimistic' about the future of their party. That is a huge drop from July 2024 when 6 in 10 Democrats said they had an optimistic view of their party. Democrats know they have to rewrite their playbook almost entirely from their messaging and the way they connect with voters to the way they view fundraising. It's no longer OK to say they outraised and outspent the opponent, some of them acknowledge, because Trump proved twice that both points didn't matter. But the thing that irks them arguably the most is the way Biden and his closest advisers conducted themselves as they decided to seek another term in office. And lately, as a rash of books (including this author's 'Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House') and reports have come out about Biden's mental acuity, the way he has tried to rewrite the narrative recently has also annoyed a lot of Democrats. In a string of interviews in recent weeks, Biden has defended his record and pushed back at critics — even former aides — who argued that he suffered cognitive decline. 'They are wrong,' Biden said of the criticism. 'There is nothing to sustain that.' He also went on to defend his performance as president: 'I said when I got out of the race, I was still going to be president. 'I think I did a pretty damn good job the last six months,' he said. But he also maintained that he 'wasn't surprised' Harris ended up losing. He attributed her defeat largely to sexism. The interviews have angered Democrats who say they can only begin their rebuilding efforts with some accountability on what exactly went wrong. That begins with Biden, they say. 'He needs to stop talking about what could have happened and what should have happened and how the party betrayed him and start talking about how he ultimately betrayed the party,' said one Democratic strategist. 'The reason we find ourselves in this position is because he was too stubborn to step aside.' In a series of posts on social platform X this week, former Obama administration adviser David Axelrod — who was one of the few Democrats who was openly skeptical of Biden running for a second term in recent years — doubled down on his thinking. 'A lot of folks now are acknowledging what was obvious then: A guy who was already showing frailties and would have been closer to 90 than 80 by the end of his second term should not have run for the hardest job on the planet,' Axelrod said. 'Never was going to end well.' 'Next to being president, the pressure of running for it is almost as hard,' Axelrod said. 'The idea that an 81-year-old man, already limited, could handle both — and then serve another four years — always was nuts. And the people closest to him did him no favor by not telling him the truth.' Judging by Biden's approach in his recent interviews, Democrats say they are doubtful that the former president or his closest advisers will do an about-face. Nayyera Haq, who served as an aide in the Obama White House, said fellow Democrats are looking to the future. 'The difference now with Biden saying he would have won is that there is no longer a cadre of people whose job it is to protect the aging president's ego,' Haq said. 'Like most of the country, they want to move on and look to what's next.' And as for Biden's top advisers, Haq added: 'I wouldn't expect any of the Biden loyalists to change their tune now, not after years of creating the original problematic reality.' Amie Parnes covers the White House and presidential politics for The Hill. She is also the co-author of several bestsellers, including the recent 'Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What happens if Trump completely ignores a judge's order?
Ankush Khardori and Anthony Coley join The Weekend to discuss why contempt proceedings against Donald Trump have been put on pause.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats push for tougher resistance to Trump as anger mounts
Democrats are starting to push for a stronger response to President Trump as his policies fuel anger with the party's base. Members of the party believe Trump has enjoyed a honeymoon period during his first month in office as Democrats have so far failed to coalesce around a unified counter-message — but at least some of them want that to change. As frustration grows over Trump's actions, including his efforts to dismantle parts of the federal government, some in the party are voicing the need to get tougher. 'He's pushing the boundaries of a system as far as they can go,' said one Democrat who works for an outside organization planning to take action as part of the burgeoning new resistance. 'This guy is doing some crazy s–t,' a second Democrat, who is also involved in planning efforts, added. 'This isn't jamming through a nominee. This is when it starts to be alarming.' It is a dramatic shift in tone for Democrats. After Trump won a second term in November, some Democrats — stung by the devastating election results — said they were willing to find ways to work with the incoming president. Even if they weren't open to finding common ground with Trump, they said they didn't want a repeat of the 2017 effort to immediately push back against him early on. But less than a month into Trump's return to the Oval Office, Democrats say a different kind of movement is emerging. Strategist Anthony Coley, who worked in the Biden administration, acknowledged the frustration among Democrats. 'The first phase of the last the weeks was Democrats being really gun-shy,' Coley said. 'Now folks are really, really tired and can't sit back and watch him destroy the country that we love without any pushback at all. That's the phase we're in now.' Progressives in particular are tired of sitting on the sidelines. In recent weeks, they've watched quietly as the president's early resurgence caused chaos and confusion. Behind the scenes, several told The Hill they have been plotting their course of action. Up until this point, many had been afraid to be blamed for his win and had uniformly gotten behind Democrats even when they were skeptical of their party's direction. That slow burn hasn't been working, liberals agree, and are starting to try newer ways to call out Trump. Some are looking to the grassroots for reliable messengers. By doing so, they've frustrated centrist Democrats on Capitol Hill who have reportedly taken issue with leading activist-minded groups like MoveOn and Indivisible who want a more aggressive approach than what the party is currently pushing. Progressives maintain that a stronger response is necessary from their flank amid moderates' hesitation, which some believe is what helped bring back Trump. 'While Elon Musk is pouring gasoline and dropping lit matches across the federal government, voters don't want their elected representatives acting like deer in the headlights,' said Karthik Ganapathy, a progressive strategist who worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). There's an informal search for progressive leadership starting to take place. For now, many see Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as being the most proactive and unapologetic member of Congress when it comes to Trump. She has been consistently poking the president and has gone after his allies like Musk and other billionaires on social media to provoke a response. It's the clearest sign that she's encouraging other Democratic lawmakers to play offense even when out of power. 'AOC in particular is modeling what effective, clear leadership looks like,' Ganapathy said. 'Making sense of the chaos and helping people understand what they can do to make a difference. We need more members following her lead.' The group that helped usher Ocasio-Cortez into office, Justice Democrats, has taken an outside-in strategy to Trump. They've started recruiting more left-wing candidates in hopes of ousting moderates who they see as ineffective at countering the right's agenda. Progressives say the tactic is more necessary now than in previous cycles because Trump has expanded his own power in Washington. Activists close to the group see more progressive firepower as not only good for the party's direction but also necessary for building a bench less afraid to fight against the GOP. While some have taken a candidate audit, by focusing on adding more talent gearing for combat, others on the left have become increasingly focused on certain policies and public sentiments. The most notable many have highlighted is the unequal distribution of wealth that Trump has flaunted since his inauguration by prioritizing the most elite members of society. Despite winning over a working-class coalition to make his return to office possible, the president has sent a message that he values the ideas of ultra-rich innovators to guide his policies. Progressives are identifying openings in that lane, with some honing in on what they see as Trump's authoritarian mindset around money in politics. While Ocasio-Cortez is leading the left's anti-Trump effort in the House, newer voices in the Senate are also showing up to make that case. Beyond Democratic socialist Sanders, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is laying out attacks that show a distinction between Trump's Republican Party and Democrats, especially around economic anxiety. Some on the left want him to take the critiques even farther and disregard shrugs from within their party. 'If he really says what I think he should say the invitations to go on MSNBC will magically suddenly dry up,' said Matt Duss, a former senior advisor to Sanders in the Senate, urging Democrats to unify around a popular anti-corruption message. While progressives favor a bomb-throwing style to get their message across, Coley said Democrats have to be methodical about how they're communicating this time around. The right is more activated and has shown an interest in sparring with liberal leaders. Musk and other Trump allies have called for members of the Squad to face primary challengers, hoping to extinguish any grassroots style uprising they're looking to mount. 'The media ecosystem has evolved substantially,' he said. 'To be successful, Democrats are going to have to learn how to do that successfully. They can't just put out statements and press releases that have been reviewed five times. They've got to speak authentically.' But Coley also cautioned that Democrats 'can't chase every car.' 'They've got to be thoughtful and strategic and fast,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
13-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Democrats push for tougher resistance to Trump as anger mounts
Democrats are starting to push for a stronger response to President Trump as his policies fuel anger with the party's base. Members of the party believe Trump has enjoyed a honeymoon period during his first month in office as Democrats have so far failed to coalesce around a unified counter-message — but at least some of them want that to change. As frustration grows over Trump's actions, including his efforts to dismantle parts of the federal government, some in the party are voicing the need to get tougher. 'He's pushing the boundaries of a system as far as they can go,' said one Democrat who works for an outside organization planning to take action as part of the burgeoning new resistance. 'This guy is doing some crazy s–t,' a second Democrat, who is also involved in planning efforts, added. 'This isn't jamming through a nominee. This is when it starts to be alarming.' It is a dramatic shift in tone for Democrats. After Trump won a second term in November, some Democrats — stung by the devastating election results — said they were willing to find ways to work with the incoming president. Even if they weren't open to finding common ground with Trump, they said they didn't want a repeat of the 2017 effort to immediately push back against him early on. But less than a month into Trump's return to the Oval Office, Democrats say a different kind of movement is emerging. Strategist Anthony Coley, who worked in the Biden administration, acknowledged the frustration among Democrats. 'The first phase of the last the weeks was Democrats being really gun-shy,' Coley said. 'Now folks are really, really tired and can't sit back and watch him destroy the country that we love without any pushback at all. That's the phase we're in now.' Progressives in particular are tired of sitting on the sidelines. In recent weeks, they've watched quietly as the president's early resurgence caused chaos and confusion. Behind the scenes, several told The Hill they have been plotting their course of action. Up until this point, many had been afraid to be blamed for his win and had uniformly gotten behind Democrats even when they were skeptical of their party's direction. That slow burn hasn't been working, liberals agree, and are starting to try newer ways to call out Trump. Some are looking to the grassroots for reliable messengers. By doing so, they've frustrated centrist Democrats on Capitol Hill who have reportedly taken issue with leading activist-minded groups like MoveOn and Indivisible who want a more aggressive approach than what the party is currently pushing. Progressives maintain that a stronger response is necessary from their flank amid moderates' hesitation, which some believe is what helped bring back Trump. 'While Elon Musk is pouring gasoline and dropping lit matches across the federal government, voters don't want their elected representatives acting like deer in the headlights,' said Karthik Ganapathy, a progressive strategist who worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). There's an informal search for progressive leadership starting to take place. For now, many see Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as being the most proactive and unapologetic member of Congress when it comes to Trump. She has been consistently poking the president and has gone after his allies like Musk and other billionaires on social media to provoke a response. It's the clearest sign that she's encouraging other Democratic lawmakers to play offense even when out of power. 'AOC in particular is modeling what effective, clear leadership looks like,' Ganapathy said. 'Making sense of the chaos and helping people understand what they can do to make a difference. We need more members following her lead.' The group that helped usher Ocasio-Cortez into office, Justice Democrats, has taken an outside-in strategy to Trump. They've started recruiting more left-wing candidates in hopes of ousting moderates who they see as ineffective at countering the right's agenda. Progressives say the tactic is more necessary now than in previous cycles because Trump has expanded his own power in Washington. Activists close to the group see more progressive firepower as not only good for the party's direction but also necessary for building a bench less afraid to fight against the GOP. While some have taken a candidate audit, by focusing on adding more talent gearing for combat, others on the left have become increasingly focused on certain policies and public sentiments. The most notable many have highlighted is the unequal distribution of wealth that Trump has flaunted since his inauguration by prioritizing the most elite members of society. Despite winning over a working-class coalition to make his return to office possible, the president has sent a message that he values the ideas of ultra-rich innovators to guide his policies. Progressives are identifying openings in that lane, with some honing in on what they see as Trump's authoritarian mindset around money in politics. While Ocasio-Cortez is leading the left's anti-Trump effort in the House, newer voices in the Senate are also showing up to make that case. Beyond Democratic socialist Sanders, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is laying out attacks that show a distinction between Trump's Republican Party and Democrats, especially around economic anxiety. Some on the left want him to take the critiques even farther and disregard shrugs from within their party. 'If he really says what I think he should say the invitations to go on MSNBC will magically suddenly dry up,' said Matt Duss, a former senior advisor to Sanders in the Senate, urging Democrats to unify around a popular anti-corruption message. While progressives favor a bomb-throwing style to get their message across, Coley said Democrats have to be methodical about how they're communicating this time around. The right is more activated and has shown an interest in sparring with liberal leaders. Musk and other Trump allies have called for members of the Squad to face primary challengers, hoping to extinguish any grassroots style uprising they're looking to mount. 2024 Election Coverage 'The media ecosystem has evolved substantially,' he said. 'To be successful, Democrats are going to have to learn how to do that successfully. They can't just put out statements and press releases that have been reviewed five times. They've got to speak authentically.' But Coley also cautioned that Democrats 'can't chase every car.' 'They've got to be thoughtful and strategic and fast,' he said.
