Latest news with #Chakrabarti
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Can young Democrats really threaten Pelosi's old guard?
His message: "People are fed up with the old guard." More: Elon Musk's rise and fall: From Trump's chainsaw-wielding sidekick to a swift exit Pelosi's not sweating But the old guard is unimpressed. Pelosi told USA TODAY she doesn't view Chakrabarti's challenge as serious. "Not at all. Not even slightly," she said. Chakrabarti, a tech millionaire, is making gerontocracy - rule by the aged - a big part of his campaign. He says he's building an insurgent base through Zoom calls with voters and regular TV appearances. Amid a storm of Trump-induced crises, Chakrabarti says, "The Democratic party has an inability-to-change problem." While political scientists say it will be tough to beat seasoned pols like Pelosi, the bids expose a growing divide as Chakrabarti and others seek a more publicly assertive party. In Georgia, 33-year-old Everton Blair is running to unseat twelve-term incumbent Rep. David Scott, 79. And Jake Ravok, 37, who was eight when his former boss, California Rep. Brad Sherman, 70, was first elected to Congress in 1996, launched a primary challenge in April. It's been a bumpy uprising. Related: Too old or very wise: U.S. leaders are among the world's oldest. Is it a problem? On April 16, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, 25, announced his support for young progressives challenging "out of touch, ineffective" incumbents, earning a rebuke from Democratic brass. "This is probably the best opportunity for younger Democrats to run for Congress since the Watergate Babies overran the House in 1974," said David Niven, associate professor of politics at the University of Cincinnati. "For a lot of Democrats, new voices represent hope." "Traditional voices represent defeat," Niven said. A new generational tide Chakrabarti got his political start with Bernie Sanders in 2016 and was chief of staff to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35. He launched his uphill campaign against Pelosi in February, arguing Democrats "are not recognizing this political moment for what it is." Progressives were furious in March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, voted to advance a Trump-approved spending bill. Some progressives were appalled as Democrats joined Republicans in voting for a transgender sports ban and the Laken Riley Act, which requires officials to detain undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes. Rakov said his campaign is driven by the generational divide. "I think not everything has to be a fight to the death, but there absolutely does need to be some fight in our leaders, and I think the voters are wanting to see that," he said. This old House There are currently 13 House members between 80 and 89, according to a January Pew Research Center survey, and 68 between 70 and 79. One Senator is older than 90, five are between 80 and 89, and 27 are between ages 70 and 79. Trump turns 79 on June 14. Joe Biden was 82 when he left office. Blair, who was chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Education in Georgia, said Democrats are missing opportunities to reach voters on Twitch, TikTok, gaming platforms and podcasts. "I think we just keep it real. People don't necessarily want to hear the wonky principles of your policy agenda," he said. "They kind of want to hear that you feel the pain that they feel, and that you have a plan for it." Running on a record Senior Democrats brushed off age concerns. Pelosi, a Bay Area powerhouse, is now serving her 20th term. She made history in 2007 as the first female House speaker - and frequently sparred with Trump during his first term. Sherman, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, typically gets at three to six primary challengers every year; some in their 30's like Rakov. "If I'm ever beat, it's going to be somebody with a long record of active involvement in the community organizations of my district," he said. "But it's not going to be by somebody who just shows up in the district and says, 'I worked for Sherman back in 2017,'" he said of Rakov. Rakov said he lived in Texas, New York and Connecticut before moving to California earlier this year. But the insurgents cling to hope, recalling Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 upset over Rep. Joseph Crowley, a top House Democrat. Ocasio-Cortez, then 28, ousted Crowley by more than 10 percentage points. "Know your community. It's important to have the right message. It's important to have the right values," Ocasio-Cortez told USA TODAY when asked how young Democrats can win. Age not an issue The old guard isn't worried. "No matter how old you are, you still got to run on your you want to dance, you got to pay the fiddler," said Connecticut Democrat Rep. John Larson, 76. Larson was in the spotlight after freezing on the House floor in February due to a "complex partial seizure" and suffering a brief pause at a press conference in April. He's been in Congress since 1999. Other elder Democracts include Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, 85, California Rep. Maxine Waters, 86 and Illinois Rep. Danny Davis, 83. Hogg announced in April that his group, Leaders We Deserve, would spend $20 million on young challengers in safe blue districts. But DNC chairman Ken Martin urged committee officers to stay neutral in primaries, giving Hogg an ultimatum: Resign from the committee or end his role in primary challenges. The DNC credentials committee later voted in favor of a May 12 resolution that recommended voiding Hogg's election as vice chair. Fighters vs folders Some have argued the biggest divide in the Democratic party isn't over age, but who's willing to pick a fight. "It's about fighters versus folders," said Texas Rep. Greg Casar, 35, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "You know, Lloyd been in Congress for 30 years. He is a fighter," Casar said of his fellow Lone Star Democrat. "Nobody accuses him of being a folder. Bernie got more energy than half the chamber combined." People "know we're not going to win every fight, but they need to see us taking every single fight on because Trump's rhetoric is hitting different," said Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who scored a major upset against a ten-term Democratic incumbent in 2018. "We have to move differently. We have to match their energy. I'm not 25 and I feel that way," Pressley, 51, said.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard?
Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard? Young Democrats launch primary challenges against senior incumbents in Congress, arguing that the party has an "inability to change" problem. Show Caption Hide Caption AOC sounds off after Schumer says he'll support Trump's funding bill Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn't hold back after Chuck Schumer said he would support the Republicans' stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Fox - 32 Chicago Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she isn't fazed by a challenge from Saikat Chakrabarti. Chakrabarti is a former aide to Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and to Bernie Sanders. "For a lot of Democrats, new voices represent hope," said David Niven, associate professor of politics at the University of Cincinnati. 'No matter how old you are, you still got to run on your record…if you want to dance, you got to pay the fiddler," said Connecticut Democrat Rep. John Larson, 76. WASHINGTON − Thirty-nine-year-old Saikat Chakrabarti is looking to pull off a political earthquake: Oust California Democrat Nancy Pelosi in next year's primaries. The 85-year-old former House Speaker has been in Congress since 1987, almost as long as Chakrabarti's been alive. He's part of a movement of young progressives looking to knock off their Democratic elders in blue state primaries next year, arguing the veterans aren't doing enough to take the fight to President Donald Trump. His message: "People are fed up with the old guard." More: Elon Musk's rise and fall: From Trump's chainsaw-wielding sidekick to a swift exit Pelosi's not sweating But the old guard is unimpressed. Pelosi told USA TODAY she doesn't view Chakrabarti's challenge as serious. 'Not at all. Not even slightly,' she said. Chakrabarti, a tech millionaire, is making gerontocracy − rule by the aged − a big part of his campaign. He says he's building an insurgent base through Zoom calls with voters and regular TV appearances. Amid a storm of Trump-induced crises, Chakrabarti says, "The Democratic party has an inability-to-change problem." While political scientists say it will be tough to beat seasoned pols like Pelosi, the bids expose a growing divide as Chakrabarti and others seek a more publicly assertive party. In Georgia, 33-year-old Everton Blair is running to unseat twelve-term incumbent Rep. David Scott, 79. And Jake Ravok, 37, who was eight when his former boss, California Rep. Brad Sherman, 70, was first elected to Congress in 1996, launched a primary challenge in April. It's been a bumpy uprising. Related: Too old or very wise: U.S. leaders are among the world's oldest. Is it a problem? On April 16, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, 25, announced his support for young progressives challenging "out of touch, ineffective" incumbents, earning a rebuke from Democratic brass. 'This is probably the best opportunity for younger Democrats to run for Congress since the Watergate Babies overran the House in 1974,' said David Niven, associate professor of politics at the University of Cincinnati. "For a lot of Democrats, new voices represent hope." "Traditional voices represent defeat,' Niven said. A new generational tide Chakrabarti got his political start with Bernie Sanders in 2016 and was chief of staff to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35. He launched his uphill campaign against Pelosi in February, arguing Democrats 'are not recognizing this political moment for what it is.' Progressives were furious in March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, voted to advance a Trump-approved spending bill. Some progressives were appalled as Democrats joined Republicans in voting for a transgender sports ban and the Laken Riley Act, which requires officials to detain undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes. Rakov said his campaign is driven by the generational divide. 'I think not everything has to be a fight to the death, but there absolutely does need to be some fight in our leaders, and I think the voters are wanting to see that," he said. This old House There are currently 13 House members between 80 and 89, according to a January Pew Research Center survey, and 68 between 70 and 79. One Senator is older than 90, five are between 80 and 89, and 27 are between ages 70 and 79. Trump turns 79 on June 14. Joe Biden was 82 when he left office. Blair, who was chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Education in Georgia, said Democrats are missing opportunities to reach voters on Twitch, TikTok, gaming platforms and podcasts. 'I think we just keep it real. People don't necessarily want to hear the wonky principles of your policy agenda,' he said. 'They kind of want to hear that you feel the pain that they feel, and that you have a plan for it.' Running on a record Senior Democrats brushed off age concerns. Pelosi, a Bay Area powerhouse, is now serving her 20th term. She made history in 2007 as the first female House speaker − and frequently sparred with Trump during his first term. Sherman, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, typically gets at three to six primary challengers every year; some in their 30's like Rakov. 'If I'm ever beat, it's going to be somebody with a long record of active involvement in the community organizations of my district,' he said. 'But it's not going to be by somebody who just shows up in the district and says, 'I worked for Sherman back in 2017,'' he said of Rakov. Rakov said he lived in Texas, New York and Connecticut before moving to California earlier this year. But the insurgents cling to hope, recalling Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 upset over Rep. Joseph Crowley, a top House Democrat. Ocasio-Cortez, then 28, ousted Crowley by more than 10 percentage points. "Know your community. It's important to have the right message. It's important to have the right values," Ocasio-Cortez told USA TODAY when asked how young Democrats can win. Age not an issue The old guard isn't worried. 'No matter how old you are, you still got to run on your record…if you want to dance, you got to pay the fiddler," said Connecticut Democrat Rep. John Larson, 76. Larson was in the spotlight after freezing on the House floor in February due to a 'complex partial seizure' and suffering a brief pause at a press conference in April. He's been in Congress since 1999. Other elder Democracts include Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, 85, California Rep. Maxine Waters, 86 and Illinois Rep. Danny Davis, 83. Hogg announced in April that his group, Leaders We Deserve, would spend $20 million on young challengers in safe blue districts. But DNC chairman Ken Martin urged committee officers to stay neutral in primaries, giving Hogg an ultimatum: Resign from the committee or end his role in primary challenges. The DNC credentials committee later voted in favor of a May 12 resolution that recommended voiding Hogg's election as vice chair. Fighters vs folders Some have argued the biggest divide in the Democratic party isn't over age, but who's willing to pick a fight. 'It's about fighters versus folders,' said Texas Rep. Greg Casar, 35, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. 'You know, Lloyd been in Congress for 30 years. He is a fighter," Casar said of his fellow Lone Star Democrat. "Nobody accuses him of being a folder. Bernie got more energy than half the chamber combined.' People 'know we're not going to win every fight, but they need to see us taking every single fight on because Trump's rhetoric is hitting different," said Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who scored a major upset against a ten-term Democratic incumbent in 2018. 'We have to move differently. We have to match their energy. I'm not 25 and I feel that way,' Pressley, 51, said.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'I envision a country like my dad came into': What Indian-origin Saikat Chakrabarti said on H-1B
Indian-origin Democrat leader Saikat Chakrabarti said he is in favor of expanding H-1B visa program. Indian-origin Saikat Charabarti who announced his run in the 2026 Democratic primary for California's 11th Congressional District, has recently expressed his opinion in favor of the H-1B visa program. He said he thinks the US should have more H-1B visas as he envisions the country as the one that his father came into. "My position on H-1B visas is that I think we should have more immigration. I kind of envision trying to create a country like the one my dad came into where we are recruiting people that come, you know? Where it doesn't look as if we're in zero-sum game when it comes to immigration," the Democrat leader who worked for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders said. But he pitched for reforms in the program to push the wages. "As I mentioned at the event, America in the 1970s actually had immigration offices around the world RECRUITING people to come to this country. We were such a place of growth, optimism and opportunity that we were actually begging immigrants to come help build this country. We had just put a man on the moon, built the interstate highway system, and had decades of wages and quality of life going back up," he posted on X later. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo "I believe we can create that country again and not be a shrinking pie. I want us to be a country that is hopeful and growing, rather than trying to figure out who to kick out." "I fundamentally disagree with anyone who believes America is stuck where it's at now, and we must have a zero-sum mindset moving forward. If we accept that, we are accepting our decline," he said. Though Chakrabarti was born in Texas, his father came to the US from India. In his campaigning, Chakrabarti made it a point to tell how his family learned that they could come to the US. America was where dreams came true. "My father came from poverty in India, often going days without food. But in America, he got the chance to build a stable, middle-class life for us and lift our family in India up from poverty as well — on just one salary. I believe America can be a country that rises above its divisions to create a society where everyone is excited for the future--their own future, their children's future, and the future of the entire country," he wrote.
Boston Globe
14-05-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
UMass Lowell takes space weather research to new heights with camera on NASA balloon
The mission, led by UMass Lowell's The research center, directed by physics Professor Chakrabarti, covers a wide range of space science topics from observing exoplanets to designing and building space-flight missions. Advertisement This month's mission involved a partnership with NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility to attach a camera on a long-duration balloon flight, up to 100,000 feet above Earth's surface. The UMass Lowell team has previously worked with NASA to launch cameras on several short-duration balloon flights from Fort Sumner, N.M., but this month's launch was the team's first long-duration balloon mission, and only 'Balloon experiments are a vital part of our work,' Chakrabarti said. 'They let us collect data without interference from clouds or pollution.' Advertisement The camera is designed to study airglow which occurs when solar radiation interacts with Earth's ionosphere. By placing instruments high up in Earth's atmosphere researchers aim to gather clearer, more accurate data. 'With better models and more data, we can prepare for the kinds of technological disruptions we've seen in the past,' Chakrabarti said. The balloon launched from New Zealand, called a super-pressure balloon, offers better research capabilities than those launched from New Mexico, called zero-pressure balloons. 'Our current mission, SN12, is part of a broader campaign. It's NASA's second test flight from New Zealand in this series,' Chakrabarti said. 'They control the balloon's descent remotely, which ensures safety and helps us collect as much data as possible.' Zero-pressure balloons are designed to keep internal pressure equal to ambient pressure to prevent bursting, meaning they change altitude with temperature. As the air temperature cools at night, the balloon descends, typically ending the flight in less than 24-hours. Super-pressure balloons are designed to maintain a constant volume and pressure, allowing them to stay at a steady altitude regardless of temperature changes, meaning flights can last for over a month at nearly the same altitude. The camera used in this month's mission is part of a broader technology development effort, much of it spearheaded by LoCSST researcher Sunip Mukherjee. Mukherjee designed the team's first camera in 2017. In the near future, the team hopes to broaden their research by launching cameras on small satellites known as CubeSats. 'We designed a camera that is about four inches by four inches by three inches roughly,' Mukherjee said. 'This flight's version is larger, … about the size of a Dunkin' Donuts cardboard coffee dispenser, … but the technology can be scaled down.' Advertisement Since Mukherjee began at the research center in the summer of 2017, the team has expanded from four color filters to eight. These filters are carefully selected to isolate specific wavelengths of light, helping the researchers analyze emissions from gases ionized by solar radiation. Unlike other experiments that use narrow-band filters, UMass Lowell has opted for commercial wide-band filters to capture a broader range of data and minimize the effects of background light. 'Our balloon-based observation offers a completely passive technique for monitoring the ionosphere,' Chakrabarti said. The technique differs from other methods, which often rely on active tools like radio waves or GPS signals. 'We want to understand what's happening in the upper atmosphere between 80 to 300 kilometers above Earth. Satellites can't fly that low, and balloons can't go that high — it's a tough region to study,' Chakrabarti said. 'But we're bridging that gap.' In addition to providing data to improve models for space weather prediction, Chakrabarti's personal mission also includes inspiring and training future space scientists. With funding from Massachusetts Technology Collaborative — a $5.5 million 'Our goal is to develop the next generation of space explorers,' Chakrabarti said. 'They're helping answer fundamental questions about our planet's atmosphere and beyond.' Advertisement This month's mission, the second test flight of NASA's 2025 New Zealand Super Pressure Balloon Campaign, was Image shows the path of NASA's second super pressure balloon test flight, which ended at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 (U.S. Eastern Time) over Argentina. NASA Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This ex-Silicon Valley engineer served as AOC's chief-of-staff. Now, he's challenging Nancy Pelosi
The Brief Saikat Chakrabarti launched his campaign to challenge Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The former chief-of-staff for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is frustrated with how Democrats have responded to the 2024 election. He says Democrats need to have a "transformative economic agenda." OAKLAND, Calif. - Saikat Chakrabarti is trying to accomplish something no one's been able to do for nearly four decades. "The biggest challenge in this campaign for me, is trying to get out that I'm running first of all, and that I'm running on a real message," said Chakrabarti. "I'm not just running to try and be the next person in there for another 40 years." The backstory Chakrabarti isn't just running to represent San Francisco in the House, he's running against one of the biggest names in American political history: Nancy Pelosi. He said he's been driven by his disappointment with how the Democratic Party handled its loss to President Trump in November. "She gave an interview, where he asked her point-blank, 'what did Democrats do wrong,' and her answer was basically nothing, Democrats don't need to change," said Chakrabarti. "I really disagree with that." Before turning to politics, Chakrabarti found success as a Silicon Valley engineer. He launched his campaign in February, 21 months before the 2026 midterms, understanding the tall task ahead of him. Pelosi was the first female Speaker of the House, a position she held twice, as part of her ongoing trailblazing career. "There's no comparison to the power that Nancy Pelosi has, and what she brings," said David McCuan, political science professor at Sonoma State University. What's next Pelosi, who will be 86 when her current term ends, has not said whether she'll seek another term or retire. She has filed a statement of candidacy, which allows her to raise money. Her campaign spokesperson declined to comment for this story. Her supporters will tell you she's been on the front lines of challenging President Trump, but Chakrabarti disagrees. "I think people want to see leadership that's fighting the current administration," said Chakrabarti. "This is the reason there are tens of thousands of people coming to these rallies that Bernie and AOC are doing all over the country." Chakrabarti is well-acquainted with the progressive power players. He worked on Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign and helped recruit and guide Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to victory in 2018. He went on to serve as her chief-of-staff. He talks about issues like universal healthcare, universal childcare and ending corruption in politics. But, he says the top priority for Democrats should be a focus on a rapid change of the economy. "The Democrats actually need to have a transformative economic agenda that shows people a route to improving their lives," said Chakrabarti. Chakrabarti is working on getting that message out to as many voters as he can, because he knows, like many others do, this is a tall mountain to climb. "She will outraise him," said McCuan. "She will out-endorse him, she'll probably even outwork him in some ways, because that's Nancy Pelosi."
