Latest news with #FLAGRANT
Axios
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Democrats eyeing 2028 court the "manosphere"
Ambitious Democrats are increasingly jumping into a universe of podcasts and internet shows they once shunned: right-leaning ones geared toward men. Why it matters: President Trump won the majority of male voters last November — and made huge gains among those under 30, a group Joe Biden had won in 2020. Now Democrats are scrambling to counter Trump's version of masculine appeal. Trump made a point of going on popular shows that are part of the "manosphere" — including those hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Lex Fridman and Andrew Schulz. Driving the news: Since November, several potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have appeared on those shows, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California. Buttigieg, sporting a new beard, joined the "FLAGRANT" podcast and its right-leaning comedian hosts for more than two hours. (Trump appeared on it last fall). Earlier this month, Shapiro joined "The Men At Work Podcast," which describes itself as asking "thoughtful, dumb guy questions." Shapiro also has been making the rounds to talk about football and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. In January, Khanna was on the PBD podcast, which is hosted by right-wing commentator Patrick Bet-David and has a mix of politics and sports. Trump went on the podcast last fall. Between the lines: As these podcasts boomed, prominent Democrats shied away because of the hosts' controversial, sometimes offensive, comments that could upset the base of the party. Buttigieg acknowledged that dynamic to the hosts of "FLAGRANT," telling them that, sometimes unfairly, there's a "contagion of cancel culture" associated with sitting down with some hosts. "To me, it's worth some risk in order to reach everybody," he said. Buttigieg later wrote in a note on Substack that "one thing that is clear from the last election is that my side of the aisle must examine not only what we have to say, but how and where we say it." Zoom in: Schulz, one of the "FLAGRANT" co-hosts, has stirred controversy in the past with his jokes about race. Earlier this year, he said that "with Black people, if a white person isn't like a little racist around you, then you shouldn't trust them ... They got to be a little racist ... You got to let a little out." The liberal group Media Matters wrote last year that Bet-David's podcast was "a platform for far-right figures to promote conspiracy theories and bigotry." Since Trump's victory, however, Democrats — for now, at least — aren't getting as much backlash for appearing on such shows — a marked change from how many Democrats reacted during Trump's first term. During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, Democrats bashed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for appearing on Rogan's show and touting Rogan saying he probably was going to vote for Sanders. Biden and Democratic groups such as MoveOn and the Human Rights Campaign criticized Sanders, given that Rogan had said a transgender woman fighter shouldn't be allowed to fight against women. "Let's be clear: Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time," Biden tweeted. "There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights." Other Democrats also criticized Sanders because Rogan had said the n-word on his show. Rogan would apologize for that in 2022. Last year, some members of Kamala Harris' campaign were queasy about her appearing on Rogan's show. She ultimately didn't. Trump appeared on the show and Rogan later endorsed him, a move that some Democrats believe was important to Trump's victory. Sanders has defended his early venture to Rogan's show and has continued to go on similar podcasts.
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pete Buttigieg Lays Out Three Things Democrats Need to Do
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the Democratic Party needs to figure out what their message is after the 2024 presidential election loss, how to say the message, and where to say it. Newsweek reached out to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) via online form for comment. Why It Matters Democrats have seemingly been in disarray since losing the White House, Senate and Congress after the election. Uproar over certain policies and uncertainty about which figureheads to get behind within the party have frayed internal cohesion. It is unclear who the party will get behind as polling shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading the pack of potential presidential 2028 candidates, followed by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Buttigieg. What To Know While speaking with host Andrew Schultz and others on the FLAGRANT podcast in a video that aired on Wednesday, Buttigieg spoke about the state of the Democratic Party and what could be done better. "I do think my party needs to do a much better job, especially with the kind of finger-wagging that you're talking about; I think we are like very prone to that," Buttigieg said, adding that he has seen it on both sides of the aisle. Buttigieg then spoke about the message Democrats should focus on in this period following the election loss. "Part of it is like where do we go," he said. "To me, especially after we party or any party has this debate of like 'what do we have to say and how do we say it?' To me, there is actually three things we need to deal with." "What do we have to say? I mean, like, the policies, the ideas," Buttigieg outlined. "If they're right we should hold to it, if were not so sure they're right we should rethink them." "Then there's how do we say it. That's the tone, the message, the style, whether people think you're wagging a finger at them or not. Whether people think you get the kind of pain they're going through or not," He added. Rounding out the list, the former Biden official said, "And then the part nobody talks about is where we say it. And I think right now where we say it is kind of everything." "It's really important for anyone practicing politics, and definitely my party after what just happened to it, to be saying ok, where else do we need to be," Buttigieg noted. During the campaign cycle, Trump was praised for going on Joe Rogan's show, while Harris did a segment with Alex Cooper on her podcast Call Her Daddy. Rogan then endorsed Trump right before the election, leading many to believe he helped the president secure the younger male vote. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg seen speaking on FLAGARANT podcast that aired April 23, 2025. (Photo from FLAGRANT podcast) Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg seen speaking on FLAGARANT podcast that aired April 23, 2025. (Photo from FLAGRANT podcast) What People Are Saying Former Harris advisor and Democratic strategist Mike Nellis on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: "Anybody mad about Pete Buttigieg going on Andrew Schulz's podcast is not serious about winning elections. You have to meet people where they are—not expect them to come to you. The question you should be asking is why your favorite Democrat isn't going into the lion's den and defending our values?" Democrat Harry Sisson, who has nearly 300,000 followers on X, on Wednesday: "Pete Buttigieg going on the Flagrant podcast is a perfect example of what Democrats need to be doing right now. He flawlessly explained the importance of government research and funding in 2 minutes to a crowd that normally wouldn't hear this stuff." House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, on X last month: "Democrats have no leader, no vision, and no message—other than profanity. Screaming about our popular America First agenda is not a winning political strategy." What Happens Next Polling regularly comes out surveying who Americans envision leading the Democratic party and polling their favorability.
