Wanted to share this piece I put together with you—it’s about how the Democratic Party can’t afford to sit on the sidelines for the next four years and why they need to take control of the narrative now. It lays out a strategy for a Democratic shadow government and how it could be the key to winning back Congress in 2026 and the White Ho…
Wanted to share this piece I put together with you—it’s about how the Democratic Party can’t afford to sit on the sidelines for the next four years and why they need to take control of the narrative now. It lays out a strategy for a Democratic shadow government and how it could be the key to winning back Congress in 2026 and the White House in 2028.
Would love to hear your thoughts when you have a minute.
"Democrats Need a Shadow Government Before It’s Too Late"
Jason, great work! On Hopium I have posted your title and a link to your substack page, with the following comment:
Under this title, Jason Egenberg has a fine substack post, shares thoughts very much in line with what Simon and the Hopium community have been discussing. He makes some very interesting detailed suggestions.
Countries without parliaments to my knowledge don't have shadow governments as such. Who would decide who would be each shadow minister in this system?
The congressional caucus leadership. Schumer and Jeffries could work it out. Could bring the DNC chair into it too. Unlike in a parliamentary system the goal would not explicitly be for them to be the cabinet-in-waiting, so a lot (but not all) of the ego trading could be skipped.
The point would be more media focused so get some people who are good in front of a camera but with relevant policy knowledge. If we do this, don't pick the people with the most seniority on the relevant committees. Pick people that can speak effectively and stay on message when shoved in front of a camera — and without them being so boring you could bottle their speeches up as a cure for insomnia.
Yeah. Dont these parliaments also pick their own members to be in charge of the departments/ministries? Really easy to have a shadow government when it’s always politicians who are basically just doing their job.
That’s exactly the problem. The Democratic leadership is stuck in a cycle of playing it safe while the GOP rewrites the rules in real-time. Fear of trying something new is a luxury they can’t afford—not when the stakes are this high. They need to understand that hesitation isn’t leadership. Bold, aggressive action is the only way forward.
I would have both of them resign their leadership roles so Brian Schatz and Tammy Duckworth or others like them can take over. They have more fire in their belly.
Unfortunately neither seem willing to give up power right now under some delusion that their experience is needed in this current moment when it's their experience that's the biggest hindrance in this moment.
Wanted to share this piece I put together with you—it’s about how the Democratic Party can’t afford to sit on the sidelines for the next four years and why they need to take control of the narrative now. It lays out a strategy for a Democratic shadow government and how it could be the key to winning back Congress in 2026 and the White House in 2028.
Would love to hear your thoughts when you have a minute.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonegenberg/p/democrats-need-a-shadow-government?r=3nm35j&utm_medium=ios
"Democrats Need a Shadow Government Before It’s Too Late"
Jason, great work! On Hopium I have posted your title and a link to your substack page, with the following comment:
Under this title, Jason Egenberg has a fine substack post, shares thoughts very much in line with what Simon and the Hopium community have been discussing. He makes some very interesting detailed suggestions.
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate you. I am happy the piece resonated with you. For me, it’s the pathway forward for the party.
Hopium comment from Tom de Boor: "Thanks, AS, I think that's the best articulation of the shadow government concept I've read."
Countries without parliaments to my knowledge don't have shadow governments as such. Who would decide who would be each shadow minister in this system?
exactly
The congressional caucus leadership. Schumer and Jeffries could work it out. Could bring the DNC chair into it too. Unlike in a parliamentary system the goal would not explicitly be for them to be the cabinet-in-waiting, so a lot (but not all) of the ego trading could be skipped.
The point would be more media focused so get some people who are good in front of a camera but with relevant policy knowledge. If we do this, don't pick the people with the most seniority on the relevant committees. Pick people that can speak effectively and stay on message when shoved in front of a camera — and without them being so boring you could bottle their speeches up as a cure for insomnia.
I hardly see any of this actually coming into being
Yeah. Dont these parliaments also pick their own members to be in charge of the departments/ministries? Really easy to have a shadow government when it’s always politicians who are basically just doing their job.
exactly
On Monday, House and Senate Democrats held a great press conference outside the DC office of USAID!
https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/senate-and-house-dem-presser-outside
Multiple voices, taking turns to speak, some very good and articulate. Transcript button is below the video.
I, and others, have been saying this for a while. Yet the one thing the Democratic leadership in congress fear the most is trying something new.
That’s exactly the problem. The Democratic leadership is stuck in a cycle of playing it safe while the GOP rewrites the rules in real-time. Fear of trying something new is a luxury they can’t afford—not when the stakes are this high. They need to understand that hesitation isn’t leadership. Bold, aggressive action is the only way forward.
Schumer and Durbin do NOT inspire confidence. Both need to go.
I would have both of them resign their leadership roles so Brian Schatz and Tammy Duckworth or others like them can take over. They have more fire in their belly.
Unfortunately neither seem willing to give up power right now under some delusion that their experience is needed in this current moment when it's their experience that's the biggest hindrance in this moment.