Sen. Bernie Sanders (00:07):
Thanks everybody for coming. I'm going to say a few words and then I'm going to give the mic over to Senator Slotkin of Michigan.
(00:17)
The election on Tuesday was an election, in my view, about change. It was an election in which the American people said loudly and clearly they are tired of a president who lies all the time, who undermines our constitution and the rule of law, who is a narcissist and who thinks that he can do anything he wants.
(00:49)
But it was also something else. It was an election across the country in red states and blue states where people were looking around them and saying, "What is going on in America when I am struggling to put food on the table, pay for healthcare, pay for housing?" And I'm worried not only that my life economically is going nowhere, everything being equal, my kid in the richest country in the history of the world is going to have a lower standard of living than I do."
(01:25)
And while all of this is going on, the billionaire class has never ever had it so good. We have more income and wealth inequality today than we've ever had in the history of the country; Mr. Musk himself owning more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households.
(01:46)
So if this campaign was about anything, it was about change, and the need for the Democratic Party, in my view, to move in a new and bold direction. I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years. And I like Chuck. Nobody who works harder than Chuck Schumer. But in my view, the time is now for change and I will not be supporting Chuck to be reelected as the Democratic leader.
(02:22)
And I think as Senator Slotkin is going to get to in a moment, we need a process. We need a vigorous debate about the direction of the Democratic Party. I have my ideas, Elissa's here may be different. But we need to have that out in the open to show the American people that a new day has come and that their votes meant a new direction in Washington.
(02:46)
Listen.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (02:48):
Thank you. Hi everybody.
(02:51)
I mean, I think it is very clear that on election night, the American people voted for change and they voted for their pocketbooks, and they're exhausted by costs and corruption. And I think we need to hear that. I think whoever wants to run this caucus should come forward with a plan on how they're going to govern differently, what they're going to do in the first 100 days to put money in people's pockets, and then in particular, how they're going to communicate differently.
(03:23)
I am not actively seeking this job. I am seeking change. I've been very consistent for a very long time that we need a new generation of leadership. I said it before when I served in the House, I said it about Joe Biden and I'm saying it here. I think we need to acknowledge that Senator Sanders and I disagree on some items, but we agree on the need for change.
(03:51)
Now we have a bunch of new members. We just had our first big meeting with the new caucus. They're from all kinds of new states. It's extremely exciting. We need leadership that's going to govern for the entirety of the caucus, for folks from blue states, purple states and red states.
(04:11)
But I think it's important to demonstrate that we've heard what people want from this last election. So I think it's important to have a fulsome conversation on things like AI. I want this new generation of leadership to be doing a joint committee, House and Senate, on AI. I think the country is desperate for us to actually put some left and right limits there. I think we should have the voices of freshmen and sophomore senators in leadership helping to guide what happens when we take the majority.
(04:43)
But at the end of the day, I don't think it's a radical idea to ask whoever wants to lead to come forward with a concrete plan, not just in words, but in deeds how they're going to govern differently. So that's why we're here today and interested, again, across ideological lines in something different for the Democratic caucus.
Leigh Ann Caldwell (05:08):
Senators-
Sen. Bernie Sanders (05:09):
Just give us your name please.
Leigh Ann Caldwell (05:10):
Leigh Ann Caldwell for Puck.
(05:13)
Has Senator Schumer responded to some of your concerns? Has he started to discuss a plan, for instance? And secondly, who else is there that would run or that you would support for Senate leader?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (05:28):
Well, yeah, Elissa and I just came from a meeting where there was some serious discussion about a general idea of going forward. So the answer to that is yes. Was it as definitive as it should be? In my view, it was not.
(05:40)
And I think one of the names that's out there is Chris Van Hollen. I think Chris has indicated some interest, but you'll have to talk to him. There may be others.
(05:50)
Yes.
Julian Andreone (05:52):
Julian Andreone with Drop Site News.
(05:54)
I just wanted to ask you, you know, Chuck Schumer is somebody who's taken loads of corporate PAC money, APAC money throughout his career. He also, sort of his stated electoral strategy was to abandon folks in the blue collar cities and communities in favor of moderate Republicans in the suburbs. And his daughter is a top lobbyist for OpenAI.
(06:14)
So I'm wondering how are you going to secure not only generational change, but also ideological change and change in integrity in finding this new leader?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (06:23):
Do you want to go or do you want ...
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (06:24):
Yeah. I mean ...
Sen. Bernie Sanders (06:24):
Go ahead.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (06:26):
So look, I think one of the big messages out of this election was also that it's not just progressive versus moderate. It is literally economic security at the forefront of people's minds. "How am I going to provide for my kids, my grandkids, and how are they going to live a life that's as good as me if not better?" And I think we need to hear that.
(06:50)
Similar issues to what was happening in 2024, right? Iran in 2024 and economic issues were the top of those issues. So I think we're moving to a point where if you listen to the American people, it's not about one wing or the other wing. It's about are we going to have a strong middle class in this country or not? Okay?
(07:10)
Now, I was very proud, we just had an election in Michigan; Abdul and I are the youngest single delegation if you combine our years. And we're the first delegation where neither of us have taken corporate PAC money. We don't agree on everything, I've been open about that, but we can work together to come up with solutions in a serious way.
(07:32)
So I think that is, to me, one of the strongest messages coming out of Tuesday is that the public is done with people who say a lot of words, but aren't actually going to put more money in people's pockets. And I personally will work with anyone who wants to work on that mission instead of looking like we're doing things.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (07:54):
Let me just say ... I don't want to get into all the policy issues. I think many of you know where I'm coming from. But I think Elissa is exactly right in saying that we need a serious debate about serious issues and about the future and the direction of the Democratic Party.
(08:09)
Foreign policy is a very important part of that debate in my view. The war in Vietnam was based on a lie. The war in Iraq was based on a lie. The war in Iran is based on a lie, in my view. I think US military aid to Israel is certainly a very sensitive subject among tens of millions of people. These are issues that have got to be debated and discussed.
(08:32)
Yes.
Lisa (08:33):
Thank you. Lisa from PBS.
(08:35)
I just want to make sure I clarify that we're getting your positions correct. Senator, I hear you saying that you are a no on Schumer?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (08:40):
Yes.
Lisa (08:40):
Senator Slotkin, are you a no until you see a plan or are you a definite no, not changing your mind on Schumer right now?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (08:49):
Whoever wants my vote is going to have to show me a concrete plan that's definitively different. I'm a no until and unless I see that from anyone, and frankly suggest that my peers withhold quorum. If there's only going to be one candidate, withhold quorum until you get that plan and you feel like you have a voice in that plan. That's my personal view.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (09:11):
Sir.
Bill Melugin (09:11):
Bill Melugin with Fox.
(09:12)
Senator Slotkin, you met with Senator Van Hollen yesterday. If he would announce a run for leadership, would you support him, yes or no?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (09:19):
So we had a really productive conversation yesterday. And again, I really think this idea that it's progressive versus moderate is just very 2019, right? It's team fight versus team flight. Like do you actually want to fight hard for the things that are going to help people or do you kind of want to just sit there and look like you're doing something?
(09:40)
So we had a productive conversation, but I have the same feeling about anyone who runs as I do about Senator Schumer. I want to see what that plan is. I want to see how it represents newer members. I want to see how it represents people across these new states who just won. And I would require that for anyone who says they're running.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (10:03):
I would just add, I think the evidence is overwhelming. The polling is overwhelming. The elections made it very clear that, in my view, status quo policies and status quo politics is not what the American people want. They want change, they want bold change. And I think Elissa is quite right. We want to see some definitive ideas from those people who are running for leader.
(10:26)
Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:27):
Senator Slotkin, just to [inaudible 00:10:31].
(10:28)
Is there a checklist that you have, for example, given to Senator Van Hollen, to Senator Schumer saying, "I need X, Y, Z on this particular topic area that I think the public said in their votes last week needs to be addressed?" Like how are you grading on whether or not it's met the moments?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (10:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:48):
And is there a risk separately to both of you that ... I mean, Senator Schumer's world seems to think he had most of these votes that he needs. By retracting this and dragging this out, is there a risk of internal conflict within the party that doesn't need to be here at a moment of victory?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (11:03):
Well, I would say I think the public is very clear that they want this discussion. Certainly I'm getting that in my office, I'm getting that from people texting me. I don't think it's a secret that people are looking for change and they're voicing that. And there's nothing wrong with having a healthy debate of ideas and a healthy debate on governance to get to something better.
(11:26)
So I sort of reject the premise that by debating how we can get better, we somehow are showing weakness, especially when the House of Representatives just elected Jim Jordan as the minority leader. Like people are making choices about who their leaders are, and I think it's good to think about that and push and pull on each other.
(11:46)
So if that's answering your question, I think it's a healthy thing no matter who wants to be majority leader.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (11:54):
Look, I think the point is, I don't think you heard the Senator and I make any personal attacks on Schumer or anybody else. This is a democracy. We believe in democracy. And that means a vigorous debate over the most important issues facing America. That is healthy and we should open that discussion up, hear from the American people.
(12:17)
In fact, my own view is, to tell you the truth, that if there is a contest, as I hope there will be for majority leader, that we have that on one of the major television stations. Let the American people also tell us the direction that they want the Democratic Party to go in. But having a healthy, honest debate is a positive thing in my view.
(12:38)
Sir?
Michael Jones (12:39):
Thank you. Michael Jones from Once Upon a Hill.
(12:40)
I just want to ask, you all are asking for someone to put forward a vote plan. You both have said that you're not running for the position. There doesn't seem to be anyone else besides Senator Schumer and Chris Van Hollen thinking about it. Why do you think there aren't more of your Democratic colleagues who are coming forward and saying that they want the position? What is it about this position that you both don't want it, there aren't a lot of Democratic senators publicly saying that they're wanting it? Senator Van Hollen is like, "I got to take a lot of time to think about it." What is it about the position that you think is something that you both wouldn't want to pursue?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (13:18):
Well, you know, inside the Beltway taking on the leadership is not something that's easily done. And Chuck over the years has made a lot of friends and developed a lot of alliances and so forth, so ...
(13:34)
Yeah.
Anne-Marie (13:35):
Anne-Marie with NewsNation.
(13:36)
Schumer's running in large part on his record of recruiting most of the candidates who gave Democrats a major win. Do you think he deserves credit for that?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (13:44):
Well, I think Chuck and Kirsten raised a whole lot of money, which is of great help to many candidates, and I think they do deserve credit. But I think there are a whole lot of people who were busy running around the country holding rallies and supporting candidates, and sometimes taking on candidates that the Democratic leadership actually supported. So I think there's a lot of praise to go across the board. Chuck does, but so do a lot of other people.
(14:15)
Yeah.
Joel Kaplan (14:16):
Joel Kaplan, Associated Press.
(14:17)
Has leader Schumer indicated whether this would be his final two years and would you need to hear that from him to potentially ... You know, would that change your calculation?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (14:25):
I've not heard that at all.
(14:26)
Elissa?
(14:26)
No.
Joel Kaplan (14:26):
Have you asked him that? Is that ...
Sen. Bernie Sanders (14:31):
I don't think that question has come up.
(14:32)
Yeah.
Alison Steinberg (14:33):
Thank you. Alison Steinberg with LindellTV.
(14:36)
Can you just outline specifically where you think Chuck Schumer has fallen short as leader and why he's no longer compatible with the current Democrat party?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (14:43):
Do you want to take a shot at it or do you want me to start it?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (14:48):
I mean, I'm happy-
Sen. Bernie Sanders (14:49):
I'm sorry.
(14:49)
All right, look, I don't want to get too much into issues today, but poll after poll, I think suggests that the American people want bold change. In other words ... In my view. I speak only for myself. And I've been all over this country and I've held dozens and dozens and dozens of rallies. And if you ask the American people about the nature of the healthcare system, what they will tell you, it is broken, it is dysfunctional, and it's incredibly expensive. They can't afford it. In my view, it's not tinkering around the edges of healthcare anymore. The time has finally got to come, in my view, that we move in a new direction. I believe in Medicare for ...
(15:31)
I don't want to get into specific proposals, but I think the time and the moment when you have more income and wealth inequality than we've ever had in the history of this country, when our younger generation will have a lower standard of living than their parents, the time is now to deal with the need to create an economy that works for all, not just the people on top.
(15:55)
And do I think Chuck has been leading in that direction? No, I don't.
(15:59)
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 12 (16:00):
So we're heading into a 2028 presidential cycle-
Sen. Bernie Sanders (16:03):
Oh God.
Speaker 12 (16:04):
... where there obviously will be a debate among the parties about new leadership at the very top. And I think that probably takes away some of the candidates. Even Van Hollen, who said he's considering this, had previously held out and said that he was focused on that as a better platform for having this debate for new leadership.
(16:17)
Do you think that having this conversation at the time where you're also having a conversation about new leadership at the presidential level makes it harder to find someone?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (16:25):
I'm going to give you my own prejudiced feeling about this. I think the media pushes ... It's easy to write about who's running for 2028. Most Americans don't care about it. What most Americans want to know is how they're going to be able to afford healthcare, how they're going to afford to pay for housing, how their kids are going to have a decent life, how we're going to deal with AI and the other major crises facing this country. That's very easy to write, "This candidate may run and that may ... " I don't think we have to worry about 2028. I think we have to worry about how we deal with the major issues, the crises.
(16:59)
This country today, in my view, faces more serious crises than we've ever had in the modern history of this country. Okay? We've got to deal with that. And I think starting that debate right in the Democratic caucus, Elissa and I may disagree on an issue; put it on the table. How do you address healthcare? Is healthcare a human right, is it not? Should billionaires not pay their fair share of taxes? Let's debate that issue. Should Mr. Musk and a handful of billionaires push AI down the throats of the American people? Let's debate that issue. Do we continue endless wars? Let's debate that issue.
(17:36)
So I think serious debate ... And we need the help of the media on this issue. It's easy to talk about personalities. "Is AOC going to run for president?" Well, you can write 50 articles on that. Well, what about writing an article about why we're the only major country on earth not to guarantee healthcare to all people? What about writing an article about is it appropriate that one guy owns more wealth than the bottom half of American households?
(17:58)
Let's talk about the important issues, and I think a debate within the Democratic Caucus is a damn good way to start that.
(18:04)
Yes, ma'am.
Emma Janssen (18:05):
Emma Jansen from the New Republic.
(18:07)
Senator Slotkin, for you. You said you're not actively seeking this role, but if say Senator Van Hollen doesn't put his name forward ultimately, would you put forward a plan?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (18:18):
Well, certainly, I mean, I acknowledge that I had conversations with Senator Van Hollen yesterday because I have a point of view on after two years in this caucus. Right? I'm now a sophomore and I've sat in that room and tried to figure out what our plan was for two years. And I think maybe it's because I come from a national security background; you can't lead people if you can't lay out where you're going. And it's maybe one thing when you're in the minority, but it's very different when it's now your responsibility to deliver. And I think I'm just going to be clear, again, with whoever, I'm saying it right to Senator Schumer as well, "Here are the things that I think are important to get right."
(19:08)
Now, I don't have to win, but I think there needs to be something different than what we've had in these last two years by way of planning, and I've been like a broken record on this issue. And I think we had such a generational election, right? It was such a wave, such a tsunami. And I don't want people to overlearn the lesson or take the wrong lesson away from it. People are so exhausted with Trump and so exhausted at the economic stress in their life that they're willing to vote for anything different. That's very different than people falling in love with Democrats and saying, "That's where my heart is." We have to earn their vote by what we do in January, and that's why I see it as so pivotal to getting right and then communicating right.
(20:04)
And again, our newest members have shown great prowess at communication. It's half the reason we got the big majority we got. So maybe think differently about this institution, this place, and how we strategize and communicate. I think at this point, the American public is like, "If you're not looking at new ways of doing things, you're not doing your job."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (20:26):
All right, maybe one more. Is that ...
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (20:28):
Yeah.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (20:28):
Yeah, please.
Speaker 14 (20:29):
Thanks Senator Sanders.
(20:30)
Question for both of you. Would you support removing the filibuster in this current session over the next two years in order to try to get bills passed?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (20:37):
That's a very important question and I haven't reached an answer on it. I think there are a lot of reasons to support it, and that is the majority ... You know, we believe in majority rule, not necessarily having 40 people be able to deny what the majority wants. I am worried about protecting minority rights as well.
(20:55)
But what I do believe, absolutely, is that we can, with a major budget reconciliation bill, do a whole lot. You know, Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill, which I consider to be one of the worst pieces of legislation ever passed, was done through reconciliation. So I think what we've got to do is sit down, and I think many people agree with this, how do we deal with healthcare? How do we deal with wages? How do we deal with war? How do we deal with many, many things? We can put that into a reconciliation bill.
(21:29)
All right, with that, thank you all very much. Take care.