Critical Reflections on the Democratic Party’s Challenges in Trump’s America

Hosted by Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada, and Lydia Polgreen

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The Democratic Party finds itself at a critical juncture and must engage in some serious self-reflection, and that urgency cannot be overstated. In this week’s episode of ‘Matter of Opinion,’ we are joined by Lydia Polgreen, a prominent Opinion columnist and a valued friend of the show. Together, we delve into the myriad factors that contributed to the recent setbacks for Democrats and discuss the type of leadership that is essential for regaining the trust and support of voters in the turbulent landscape of Trump’s America.

Additionally, we offer some engaging alternatives to the all-too-common habit of doomscrolling.

(A complete transcript of this audio essay will be made available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Credit… Photo Illustration by The New York Times. Photo: Thalassa Raasch for The New York Times

Recommended in this episode:

“A Party of Prigs and Pontificators Suffers a Humiliating Defeat” by Bret Stephens
“Stop Pretending Trump Is Not Who We Are” by Carlos Lozada
Toshi Reagon

Thoughts? We encourage you to share your insights with us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com. You can also follow our hosts on X: Michelle Cottle (@mcottle), Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT), and Carlos Lozada (@CarlosNYT).

“Matter of Opinion” is brought to life by a talented team: produced by Sophia Alvarez Boyd, Phoebe Lett, and Andrea Betanzos, with editing by Jordana Hochman. The engineering is expertly handled by Carole Sabouraud, and mixing is done by both Pat McCusker and Carole Sabouraud. Original music is crafted by Isaac Jones, Sonia Herrero, Pat McCusker, Aman Sahota, Carole Sabouraud, and Efim Shapiro. Our dedicated fact-checking team includes Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker, and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy is managed by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski, while our executive producer is Annie-Rose Strasser.

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