Latest news with #Branscomb
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Arizona Democrats keep fumbling the ball that Republicans keep dropping
In his second term Donald Trump produced the most chaotic, destructive first 100 days in the history of the modern presidency. He put a torch to the Atlantic Alliance; imposed a massive tax on his countrymen by way of tariffs, tanked the stock market and rattled bond markets until he retreated on much of his economic plan and markets began to calm. His eccentric choices for cabinet jobs produced the Signal work group that gave away military secrets and stupidly invited a media adversary to tell the world just how dumb they had been. And, yet, it's Democrats who are in disarray. What should be hopeful times for the loyal opposition, is instead a moment of fierce infighting that has made the party even more unpopular after its devastating, across-the-board defeat in November. We're nearly five months into Trump bedlam, and the Democratic Party is polling 11 points behind Republicans in net favorability ratings. An Economist|YouGov poll conducted May 23-26, shows that only 36% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably. If you want to understand why, take a good look at the Arizona Democratic Party. Democrats here put in place a new party chair who in the first months of his tenure decided he would go to war with who? The Republicans? No. Robert Branscomb decided to go to war with the five most successful and influential Democrats in Arizona — our two U.S. senators, the governor, the secretary of state and the attorney general. I don't care how he got to this situation. This is political malpractice of a high order. Branscomb publicly accused Arizona's two U.S. senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of strong-arming and undermining him because they opposed his choice for party director. By airing out in public that family fight, Branscomb provoked a strong rebuke from the five most powerful Democrats in the state, Kelly and Gallego, Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes. What complicates all of this is that racial politics have entered the fray. Branscomb is the first African American elected state party chair, and that has brought forward a dozen Black state leaders to defend him. 'We reject any attempts to undermine or sideline this leadership,' they wrote in an open letter. 'We will not sit idly by when new, diverse leadership is met with resistance under the guise of 'tradition.'' It is not hard to diagnose the party's problem here. When you live by identity politics, you die by identity politics. This issue should have nothing to do with race. Branscomb, as I noted, committed political malpractice. He should not be party chair. This is not about race, it's about competence. And we've seen the same dynamic in the Arizona Republican Party. The white people who ran that party into the ground the last decade make Branscomb look like a genius. Their leadership was so clown-like, that in a state in which Republicans lead the Democrats by some 325,000 registered voters, the GOP has now ceded to the liberal opposition the state's two U.S. senate seats, the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state. Foolishness is not a respecter of peoples. It unifies the human animal in all its guises. But Democrats who spent a generation stoking identity politics must now deal delicately with the racial discord they've created. This is a hard lesson for many Democrats, but the awakening has begun. In an interview published in the May 26 Wall Street Journal, former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said the party's brand has become 'toxic' and 'weak and woke.' He said he is speaking up because 'I'm tired of sitting in the back seat when somebody's gunning it at 90 miles an hour for a cliff.' Others have weighed in. "Democrats face a painful truth,' wrote former Joe Biden campaign manager Greg Schultz on his Substack Slow Boring. 'Their infrastructure is not primarily built to win elections. Instead, it serves entrenched interests that pull the party away from broad-based strategies and toward ideological extremes and overarching focus on identity.' That became clear for some Democrats in January when their national committee meeting in Maryland turned into a farce of race and gender politics. Appalled by all the chaos, Faiz Shakir, who managed Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, said, 'I'm frustrated by the way in which we utilize identity to break ourselves apart.' "Listen, I worked at the ACLU. I'm supportive of diversity, equity and all the rest. But we're competing over the wrong thing when we should be joining together to fight together.' In her coverage of that meeting, The Journal's Molly Ball recounted, 'In an interview the following day, Shakir said numerous people had messaged him privately to say they agreed with his anti-identity politics rant, but it was telling that few wanted to say it publicly. 'I think the Democratic brand is hurting because people feel that you cannot, with conviction and integrity, tell me what you honestly feel about some hard issues,' he said.' As a Republican, I give the Democrats much credit for advancing the rights of minorities, for genuinely caring about them and working to lift them up. But as the United States has made progress on race, the Democratic Party has failed to adapt to and accept that progress. Even worse, it has doubled down by sharpening and exploiting any dispute that can be turned into a racial flashpoint. Democrats would do well to take the advice of every high school English teacher who says, 'render, don't tell.' Meaning show me. Help me visualize with your great descriptive writing what is happening. Don't tell me. Paint me a picture. One of the Democrats' great achievements is that they look like America, that they have worked toward the American ideal of e pluribus unum - 'out of many, one.' Some Democrats would push back with their salad bowl or mosaic arguments, but the goal of a political party is to bring together people of disparate backgrounds with common values. Having done that to a degree, Democrats should now lead by example -- show us, don't tell us, how that works. And absolutely don't preach to us. No one is buying your fire and brimstone. Or your hair-triggered racial angst. Democrats will change or die. Because what they're doing now doesn't work. And here's the proof: Who is the Republican leader who has finally begun to diversify the GOP by drawing more people of color away from the Democrats? That's right. Donald Trump. Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Democrats should unify against Republicans, not infight | Opinion
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Carville shreds Dem state chair, tells progressives to start their own 'pronoun' party
Veteran Democratic campaign strategist James Carville advised the new chairman of Arizona's Democratic Party to "shut up" or start a new progressive party. The Democratic Party has been struggling to re-define itself since the election, as leaders debate over whether to moderate or double-down on far-left identity politics. Carville, a frequent critic of some of the party's more progressive members, noted that the Democratic Party is doing unusually well in the red state of Arizona, where they have a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators. However, he warned that far-left politics and in-fighting may endanger this rare opportunity. Carville read from a recent New York Times article, headlined, "A Vulnerable Governor and an Intraparty Feud Signal a Bumpy Road for Democrats." The Times reported that Arizaona Democratic chairman Robert Branscomb had been "clashing with staff members over personnel decisions and accused them of sabotaging him by withholding financial documents." The article also claimed Branscomb, "wrote to party members detailing the infighting and attacking Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, both Democrats, for criticizing one of his staffing choices." Carville praised Kelly and Gallego, arguing to Branscomb, "You ain't been elected to s---. So why don't you shut up?" James Carville Suggests 'Split' With The Left Over 'Pronoun Politics' He went on to argue in his video posted to the Politicon YouTube channel, "that's the problem with this, these people from the 'progressive' whatever the f--- that is, that come into these state parties that didn't do anything that have outstanding Democratic elected officials. He's fighting with the governor. We finally have a Democratic governor, and this guy exemplifies to me what's wrong with that wing of the party." Read On The Fox News App He noted one quote attributed to Branscomb, where he reportedly declared, "I will not be coerced, and I will not be silenced," and offered a barbed response. "Well why don't you just shut up anyway? Because you haven't gotten elected to anything. And why don't you pay attention and work for the people that are out there who are not just trying to win elections but are actually winning elections?" Carville asked. Carville argued this is part of a larger problem, sharing another purported example in Nevada, in which he called "one of the most successful state parties in the history of the United States," until the majority women state legislature took command of the party and turned "it into a useless glob of nothing." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "You got one goal, dude, that's to win elections, not run your jackass mouth, which is all this guy Branscomb is good for," Carville said. He suggested that Democrats need to confront these members of the progressive wing of their party and propose an important question. "They need to really consider whether they're Democrats or not," he said. "Maybe they ought to go join the pronoun justice – social, I don't know, equity party or whatever they're doing." Carville continued, "When you don't respect people who go out and win elections and work and put their names out front and dare to lose then there's no use for you in Democratic politics. That's my view." The Arizona Democratic Party didn't immediately respond to a request for a article source: Carville shreds Dem state chair, tells progressives to start their own 'pronoun' party
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Top Dem strategist James Carville tells progressives to start their own ‘pronoun' party — while bashing Arizona state chair
Veteran Democratic campaign strategist James Carville advised the new chairman of Arizona's Democratic Party to 'shut up' or start a new progressive party. The Democratic Party has been struggling to re-define itself since the election, as leaders debate over whether to moderate or double-down on far-left identity politics. Carville, a frequent critic of some of the party's more progressive members, noted that the Democratic Party is doing unusually well in the red state of Arizona, where they have a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators. However, he warned that far-left politics and in-fighting may endanger this rare opportunity. Carville read from a recent New York Times article, headlined, 'A Vulnerable Governor and an Intraparty Feud Signal a Bumpy Road for Democrats.' The Times reported that Arizona Democratic chairman Robert Branscomb had been 'clashing with staff members over personnel decisions and accused them of sabotaging him by withholding financial documents.' The article also claimed Branscomb, 'wrote to party members detailing the infighting and attacking Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, both Democrats, for criticizing one of his staffing choices.' Carville praised Kelly and Gallego, arguing to Branscomb, 'You ain't been elected to s—. So why don't you shut up?' He went on to argue in his video posted to the Politicon YouTube channel, 'that's the problem with this, these people from the 'progressive' whatever the f— that is, that come into these state parties that didn't do anything that have outstanding Democratic elected officials. He's fighting with the governor. We finally have a Democratic governor, and this guy exemplifies to me what's wrong with that wing of the party.' James Carville shredded the Democratic state chair of Arizona's Democratic Party, Robert Branscomb, by telling him and other progressives to start their own 'pronoun' party. Youtube / Politicon He noted one quote attributed to Branscomb, where he reportedly declared, 'I will not be coerced, and I will not be silenced,' and offered a barbed response. 'Well why don't you just shut up anyway? Because you haven't gotten elected to anything. And why don't you pay attention and work for the people that are out there who are not just trying to win elections but are actually winning elections?' Carville asked. Carville argued this is part of a larger problem, sharing another purported example in Nevada, in which he called 'one of the most successful state parties in the history of the United States,' until the majority women state legislature took command of the party and turned 'it into a useless glob of nothing.' Branscomb has allegedly been 'clashing with staff members over personnel decisions and accused them of sabotaging him by withholding financial documents,' according to a recent New York Times article. Robert for AZ Dems 'You got one goal, dude, that's to win elections, not run your jackass mouth, which is all this guy Branscomb is good for,' Carville said. He suggested that Democrats need to confront these members of the progressive wing of their party and propose an important question. 'They need to really consider whether they're Democrats or not,' he said. 'Maybe they ought to go join the pronoun justice – social, I don't know, equity party or whatever they're doing.' Carville continued, 'When you don't respect people who go out and win elections and work and put their names out front and dare to lose then there's no use for you in Democratic politics. That's my view.' The Arizona Democratic Party didn't immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
South Bay college newspaper receives prestigious recognition
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Southwestern College Sun student newspaper outdid other elite journalism programs for a prestigious award given by Columbia University. 'I'm still in shock because I can't believe that we won against these Ivy League schools when we're a little community college here close south to the border,' said Alexa Lima, the Southwestern Sun Newspaper's editor-in-chief. 'At first, I thought it must've been another Southwestern College from somewhere else. I said the one in Chula Vista, right? Yes. So, I was astonished and very happy,' said Max Branscomb, a journalism professor and the advisor for student publications. San Diego has a new official flower Named North America's best collegiate print newspaper by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Southwestern College Sun won the Gold Crown Award, Columbia's highest award for student print and digital media. 'It is and as far as I know it's the first time Southwestern College has ever won this award in the 99 years they've been giving it,' said Branscomb. This two-year community college newspaper has just one faculty advisor and wrestles with low funding. For the award, it competed with larger programs with better funding and three to five times the staff, but the stories they're producing are superior. Lima explains how she quickly worked her way up to editor-in-chief. 'They just took me under their wing, the leadership here, and they were like okay this is how you report, this is how you write, this is what we like to cover. We like to cover the community here in Chula Vista,' said Lima. That community coverage combined with their diverse staff is what sets them apart. The small but mighty staff consists of students from many different countries speaking a combined total of 11 different languages, allowing them to cover a wide range of topics in a diverse community, giving everyone a voice. 'Some people that come to this newsroom were from other places in the world and they bring their points of views and they contribute to it and I think that they always pitch really good ideas,' said Lima. 'We can send people to speak Tagalog, we can send people to Mexico to do stories in Spanish. So, we have a lot of power. Our diversity gives us power and strength,' said Branscomb. Lima says some of the pieces she's most proud of are stories that highlight the cultural diversity of the region. 'I wrote a story about Rosie Hamlin, she was a local from National City, and she became the first female to go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' she said. The work is done under the watchful eye of Professor Branscomb, who has been training and inspiring student journalists for nearly three decades. 'There's nothing more honorable than protecting democracy and protecting people that don't have a voice and telling the stories of underrepresented people, I can't think of a better way to earn a living,' Branscomb said. The Sun received many other national awards in 2024, and the students behind the success say this is just the start. 'It was a way to show that because of all the hard work we do here we are good enough to compete with all of these Ivy Leagues, but at the same time it just pushes us to be better and to continue to do great work here,' said Lima. To view the award-winning stories written by these student journalists, visit their website Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Internal conflict shakes Arizona Democratic Party leadership
Instability is brewing within the Arizona Democratic Party, due to a recent spat between state and federal elected officials. Arizona Democratic Party chairman Robert Branscomb II leveled several accusations over the weekend. He alleged Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego interfered with and intimidated the chairman over staffing decisions. In response, Kelly and Gallego, joined by other state leaders, said on Saturday they've lost faith in Branscomb to serve as chairman. This freshly exposed internal rift comes at a vulnerable time for Arizona Democrats, who are trying to stay focused on next year's elections. Nine House seats and the governorship will be up for grabs in the swing state, as will control of the state Legislature. Branscomb became chairman after defeating incumbent Yolanda Bejarano, who had the backing of Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and the two senators. But Branscomb's transition into office was far from smooth, as he said the existing leadership withheld information and created roadblocks. 'When I arrived at the state party office just three days after the state committee meeting, I found an empty workspace — no computers, minimal furniture, and no transition documents. What should have been a professional hand off of responsibilities instead became a scramble to uncover critical information,' he wrote. After firing the party's executive director, Morgan Dick, for failing to facilitate a smooth transition, Branscomb received a call from Kelly, who, he said, 'strongly discouraged me from making staffing changes without consulting him.' 'He emphasized his role in raising funds for the party and implied that I should be grateful, even beholden, to him for the party's financial resources,' Branscomb said. Dick denied the allegations and said the chair's statement 'is an attack on me professionally, riddled with inaccuracies, and is counterproductive to the goal of winning in 2026,' according to KJZZ Phoenix. She added she 'worked incredibly hard to provide a successful transition' to Branscomb's office. in his letter, the chairman said that while a committee searched for a permanent executive director, a process he had no role in, he ultimately appointed Michael Ruff to the position. Branscomb said he reached out to the stakeholders before making this news public. Within 15 minutes, the chairman 'received a text from one of our U.S. senators stating he would no longer support or participate in state party fundraising.' 'Shortly after, the other senator called me directly — demeaning me and demanding I reverse my decision within 24 hours or face consequences," he continued, without naming names. In a joint statement, Kelly, Gallego, Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes conveyed they've lost trust in Branscomb. 'Unfortunately, his statement today includes many false claims and is the kind of bad-faith response we've come to expect from the new leadership over the last several weeks,' the statement said, as 12 News' Brahm Resnik reported. 'While the chair has lost our trust, we're not going to let that deter us from our mission of winning in 2026,' they said. In fact, three of the names on the letter — Hobbs, Fontes and Mayes — have to defend their seats next year.
