Latest news with #FightingOligarchy
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bernie Sanders Offers Blunt Breakdown Of Why Kamala Harris Lost
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is getting blunt about why Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election. While speaking to BBC Radio 4 during the London leg of his 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, the two-time presidential candidate said it was wrong to pin Harris' defeat on then-President Joe Biden's late retreat from the race. 'It was the fault of Kamala Harris and her consultants,' he said plainly, before laying out how Democrats failed to 'run a campaign designed to speak to the American working class.' Sanders told the station that while President Donald Trump may be 'reasonably popular,' Democrats could have beaten him if they addressed the struggles everyday Americans face during the campaign. 'I ran all over the country trying to elect Kamala Harris and begged them: Talk to the needs of the working class. Talk about raising the minimum wage to a living wage,' he continued. 'Talk about real health care reform. Talk about building the kinds of massive amounts of housing that we need, and putting checks on landlords' greed on housing.' But instead of listening to Sanders, the Harris campaign decided to rely on 'billionaire friends' and anti-Trump Republicans like former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.). 'Kamala spent more time with Liz Cheney almost than with anybody else. What is that message out to working-class people?' he asked. Sanders added that using billionaire 'Shark Tank' star Mark Cuban as a surrogate was also a major misstep for Democrats. 'To my mind that was a campaign that absolutely should have been winnable,' but consultants and the 1% led them astray, he said. 'The bottom line here is the Democrats have to answer a very simple question: Which side are you on?' Talking about the party's current strategy in an interview with The Washington Post published last week, the senator had a similar message. 'Do Democrats do enough?' he asked himself. 'No.' 'The difference that I have with the Democratic leadership is not in the need to vigorously oppose Trump,' he explained. 'It's to bring forth an agenda that resonates with working-class families. And I think there are a number of Trump people who will support that agenda.' Even before ballots were cast, observers were wary about Democrats' decision to bank on big-name supporters like Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez and more, wondering whether it would pay off. And in the fallout from the 2024 election, politics insiders were even more critical. 'Celebrity endorsements say a lot: they say you're a liberal, an elitist, and a cultural progressive. An Oprah or Clooney endorsement is the kiss of death in large swaths of the country now,' Republican strategist William F.B. O'Reilly told The New York Times in a postmortem election analysis. Bernie Sanders Warns Paramount Not To Settle Trump's 'Bogus' Lawsuit Bernie Sanders To Democrats: Resisting Trump Is 'Not Good Enough' Bernie Sanders Fiercely Rejects 1 Notion About Trump-Era Democrats: 'Have The Courage'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Progressive chair on possible Ocasio-Cortez White House bid: ‘The sky is the limit'
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said he thinks 'the sky is the limit' for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) when asked whether she could be a contender for president. 'I think the sky is the limit for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, and she will be making her own decisions about whether she stays in the House or runs for anything else in the future,' Casar told NBC News's Kristen Welker in an interview Wednesday on 'Meet the Press Now.' Ocasio-Cortez has been crisscrossing the country in recent months as part of the 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that has drawn massive crowds and reignited speculation about the congresswoman's political future. The tour has been billed as 'hitting the road to have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country.' Casar said Democrats need to pay attention to the way Ocasio-Cortez, who is 'just a member of the House, continues to be able to speak to so many millions of people all across the country.' 'For too long, I think, in the House, we just had this view that whoever's been there the longest should be the first person in line,' Casar said in the interview, reflecting on the future leadership of the party. 'When, instead, I think, as a Democratic Party, we should be looking to messengers like Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez that could speak to millions of people.' Casar also suggested Democrats model some of the New York Democrat's messaging, including on billionaires, adding, 'And we shouldn't try to avoid controversy.' 'Donald Trump certainly doesn't avoid controversy,' Casar said. 'We should be willing to take strong stands that get people talking about who the Democrats really are — so that the Republicans don't fill the void talking about us.' 'I think we should be going right after guys like Elon Musk, but Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, too. We should stop acting like these billionaires are friends of the working person,' he continued. 'Trump, Musk, Bezos, all of them should be the folks that the Democratic Party is standing up against, so that way people know that we're actually for them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Progressive chair on possible Ocasio-Cortez White House bid: ‘The sky is the limit'
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said he thinks the 'sky is the limit' for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) when asked whether she could be a contender for president. 'I think the sky is the limit for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, and she will be making her own decisions about whether she stays in the House or runs for anything else in the future,' Casar told NBC News's Kristen Welker in an interview Wednesday on 'Meet the Press Now.' Ocasio-Cortez has been crisscrossing the country in recent months as part of the 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that has drawn massive crowds and reignited speculation about the congresswoman's political future. The tour has been billed as 'hitting the road to have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country.' Casar said Democrats need to pay attention to the way Ocasio-Cortez, who is 'just a member of the House, continues to be able to speak to so many millions of people all across the country.' 'For too long, I think, in the House, we just had this view that whoever's been there the longest should be the first person in line,' Casar said in the interview, reflecting on the future leadership of the party. 'When, instead, I think, as a Democratic Party, we should be looking to messengers like Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez that could speak to millions of people.' Casar also suggested Democrats model some of the New York Democrat's messaging, including on billionaires, adding, 'And we shouldn't try to avoid controversy.' 'Donald Trump certainly doesn't avoid controversy,' Casar said. 'We should be willing to take strong stands that get people talking about who the Democrats really are — so that the Republicans don't fill the void talking about us.' 'I think we should be going right after guys like Elon Musk, but Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, too. We should stop acting like these billionaires are friends of the working person,' he continued. 'Trump, Musk, Bezos, all of them should be the folks that the Democratic Party is standing up against, so that way people know that we're actually for them.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UI must invest $14.8M for maintenance of Macbride Nature Recreation Area, report says
The University of Iowa may soon need to invest nearly $15 million if the school hopes to continue operating a popular recreation area. A UI committee report released May 1 determined that for the school to maintain the Macbride Nature Recreation Area "in a safe and reliable manner," it must commit a one-time investment of roughly $14.8 million to repair and update existing facilities, current technology, as well as the natural landscape. The 485-acre nature area at 2095 Mehaffey Bridge Road near Solon is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and leased to the University of Iowa. The UI began leasing the land in 1959 for use by researchers, naturalists, and students from kindergarten through college. The Macbride Nature Area is home to Coralville Lake, various hiking and mountain bike trails, a disc golf course, and an archery range. It's open year-round. The report found that the University of Iowa must invest in annual operational and upkeep costs of roughly $917,000 per year if it plans to continue using the space for research and education purposes. "There is currently no specific UI or departmental source of funds allocated for these expenses, which are associated with the no-cost lease from the Corps of Engineers," the report says. More: Why Bernie Sanders hired an organizer in Iowa in midst of 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour The University of Iowa has leased the land, cost-free, for more than 65 years. The school is responsible for maintaining the landscape, all structures, and the roads. The report was prepared by a committee that was formed in the summer of 2024. It was delivered to the office of UI President Barbara Wilson, a spokesperson confirmed. The university spokesperson declined to comment further or speculate about a timeline for future decisions. More: The UI is reviewing its partnership with the Macbride Nature Area, asks for public feedback The university's current lease for the Macbride Nature Recreation Area expires in the summer of 2029. The report was compiled by a 10-person committee from the various university departments that use the 485-acre Macbride Nature Recreation Area (MRNA) for educational or research purposes, including UI WILD, the Iowa Raptor Project, Iowa Wildlife Camps and the School of the Wild. Their feedback was "unbelievably positive," the report said. Students in the College of Education said the MNRA was "transformative for their future classrooms." About 300 elementary education students participate in "practicum experiences" each year. More: 'Drag racing' teen guilty of vehicular homicide sentenced for fatal Iowa City crash Other stakeholders said that the area is "critical" because it offers a "unique," completely natural space for research compared to Iowa City parks such as F.W. Kent Park and Hickory Hill Parks, which have been "regrown" and "altered." Scientists from across the globe flocked to the park to study cicadas last summer, the report said, and it is a "crucial" piece for "teaching fundamental biology principles." The one-time, $14.8 million estimate for repairs is largely centered around the aging portions of the park, including roads and facilities, which are in need of "urgent repairs," the report said. The roadways haven't been repaired in more than 65 years, according to the report, and "a significant part" of the roads need repaired, which will cost about $6.6 million. The report also noted that Macbride Nature Recreation Area has a "lack of reliable cell phone service" throughout the park, creating challenges for students and visitors. More: Leistikow: Powered by moose meat and basketball, Layla Hays' Alaska-to-Iowa story is here The report estimates installing better cell service coverage would cost about $800,000, plus a few thousand dollars each year for wireless service in buildings and classrooms. The report also mentions additional needs, including a severe storm shelter, new restrooms, equipment repairs and tree removal, though no cost estimate was included. More: Iowa State Fair VIP experiences range from yoga with goats to ghost hunts for 2025 The UI committee also assessed the possibility of collaborating with "community partners" that included complete or partial, shared financial responsibility. The unnamed community organizations "declined the opportunity," the report said. More: New Iowa teachers made some of the lowest salaries in 2023-24. When will raises start? If the university does decide to end its lease, the land will be given back to the Army Corps of Engineers. The UI may be on the hook for building demolition at an approximate cost of $500,000, the report says. No firm timeline for a final decision was outlined in the report. Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@ or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Report says UI needs to invest $15M for Macbride nature area facelift
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US Senator Bernie Sanders says Democrats are 'threat to Democracy' on podcast
Senator Bernie Sanders with Andrew Schulz in a podcast Senator Bernie Sanders agreed that the Democratic party is a " threat to democracy " in a new podcast interview and also admitted that Democrats had not held a fair primary since 2008. Speaking on an episode of Andrew Schulz's popular "Flagrant" podcast, Sanders said no argument when the co-host Akaash Singh claimed that over the last four elections, Democrats didn't have a say on who could be president. When Singh said, "But then could. Could we not also say if ostensibly there hasn't been a fair primary for The Democrats since 2008, are they not also a threat to democracy? We often hear, fair enough, that is." To this Sanders replied, "Yeah, I'm not going to argue with that point." Schulz said he felt the party stole the nomination from Sanders in 2016, when he narrowly lost the Democratic primary to establishment favorite Hillary Clinton, who went on to lose to Donald Trump. This has been a long-standing contention in Democratic circles that Bernie's bid was scuttled in 2016 and he was more popular than Hillary. "And I'll be honest, it broke my heart when you supported them," Schulz told Sanders. Currently, Sanders is conducting nationwide appearances alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, which has attracted substantial attendance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Sanders responded, "In the world that I live in, you've got a choice. And I know a lot of people, including my wife, agree with you, but you're down to a choice. Is it going to be Hillary Clinton? Or is it going to be Donald Trump? Not a great choice."
