05| Who's in charge here? Reader Poll 🗳️

'Will the real senate leader please stand up?'

It’s easy to say things are broken; it’s harder to find answers. It’s simple to criticize others; it’s more difficult to lead. Most of you agree the Democrats need leadership. But who? We’ve suggested a few people who can bring the energy, change, and—most importantly—courage needed in the Senate. It’s not enough to be ‘next in line.’ They must meet this moment and help lead the charge through these historic times. Who do you think is ready? Are you? Vote in the poll below. - Stacey

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3 Big Things

1️⃣ 87.6% 📣🗳️
Of DisRev readers who voted in polls we sent out, an overwhelming majority of you said Democrats need new leadership in Congress. And the country seems to agree: Two House Democrats have openly called for Schumer’s resignation as Senate minority leader; 91 percent of Indivisible leaders nationwide said the same; and voters at town halls across the country this week asked the question—what are you doing to remove Schumer?

2️⃣ “It's important for people to know when it's time to go” 👋❌
The political earth is starting to shake under Sen. Chuck Schumer’s feet. One Sen. Michael Bennet (CO) told voters, “We've been having debates about what the future should look like… I think we should be looking at all the Democratic leadership,” and “the leadership had no vision, no plan, no strategy.” He stopped just short of asking Schumer to step down. If this all sounds like déjà vu to you, that’s because it is—Bennet was the first sitting Senator to suggest Biden drop out of the race nine months ago.

3️⃣ 86,000 ✊🪧
That’s how many people came out to see Bernie and AOC at five rallies in the span of 72 hours as part of the “Fight the Oligarchy” tour of western states. The stops included thousands in Vegas 🎰, in a swing state Democrats desperately need to win back; 15k in Tempe 🌵 & 23k in Tucson 🏜️, in yet another state Dems must retake; 11k in Greeley 🐮 (CO), in a congressional district currently held by Republicans; 34k in Denver 🌄, the largest rally ever for Sanders (including his two presidential campaigns) and the largest rally for any elected official in that city since Obama. All this to say: Approval for Democrats is at a record low, yet Bernie and AOC are filling arenas in GOP districts and beyond. There’s hope.

Featured this week

• Our nominees to replace Schumer: Here’s why we believe these five senators are ready to take the gavel, plus some honorable mentions. Nominate your own.

• Why Democrats need new leadership. Instead of fighting for bold, transformative change, party leaders have prioritized corporate donors over working people, embraced half-measures over real progress, and ceded ground to the right in the name of bipartisanship.

Editor’s Note:

We’ve all sensed a cognitive shift in the electorate of late: Democrats in Washington still believe we live in a world of progressives versus centrists. Like so many norms, the old rules have fallen away. It’s change versus status quo now. And without a substantive option from the Democratic Party, voters will seek that change wherever they can find it, in whomever they sense it—conman or not. Now, that change can be progressive, it can be bold, it can be beautiful. It can be everything we want it to be. It can also be dangerous, terrifying, and ugly. That choice is ours. Yours in Revolution - Álio

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Cowardly Lion: All right, I'll go in there for Dorothy. Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch, guards or no guards, I'll tear them apart. I may not come out alive, but I'm going in there. There's only one thing I want you fellows to do.

Tin Man and Scarecrow: What's that?

Cowardly Lion: Talk me out of it!