The Democratic Senator Taking Cues From Trumpism

Democrats are stumbling — badly. While the Trump administration redefines the limits of executive overreach, the Democratic party remains at odds over how to — even whether to — respond. But Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has a plan for beating Republicans in 2026, and it involves taking a cue from President Trump. He shares it with Ross Douthat on this episode of Interesting Times.

• 02:07 - The First 100 Days for Trump and the Democrats • 04:06 - The Threat to Democracy Wasn’t Enough Then or Now. • 06:49 - How Dems Fight Trump • 13:41 - Where Chris Murphy Can Agree With the Populist Right • 16:38 - Is Connecticut a Model of What is Wrong with Democrats? • 25:54 - The Spiritual Crisis in American Life • 27:56 - The Problem with Big Tech • 33:45 - How Do Democrats (And Murphy) Talk About Religion? Should They? • 45:35 - Is Trump Really Running An Oligarchy? • 50:34 - Does the Democratic Party Need a Bigger Tent? • 53:54 - A Need for a National Consensus on Immigration • 57:09 - “A Democracy Dies Without a High Stakes Confrontation”

(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)

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