Watch and Learn - Ben Wikler - “This Is The Plan” & Taking On Elon Musk In Wisconsin

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This is the plan!

This is the plan

This is the plan.

This is the plan

And let me remind the people--

And let me remind the people-

so they may think to themselves,

so they may think to themselves

oh, Ben Wikler's got a plan.

oh Ben Wikler's got a plan

I don't know Ben Wikler.

I don't know Ben Wikler

I don't know why he would have a plan.

I don't know why he would have a plan

Talk to me a little bit about the genesis of this.

Talk to me a little bit about the genesis of this

Because you ran the DNC in Wisconsin.

Because you ran the DNC in Wisconsin

And for those who do not the story of Wisconsin,

And for those who do not the story of Wisconsin

this century is Scott Walker and

a Republican takeover of a state where

they tried to rig the maps.

they tried to rig the maps

They tried to rig the courts.

They tried to rig the courts

They tried to do supermajorities

of a relatively purple state.

of a relatively purple state

You helped devise the plan to fight that, successfully so.

You helped devise the plan to fight that successfully so

Talk about what happened there.

Talk about what happened there

Absolutely So-- and thank you for--

Absolutely So- and thank you for-

That's all the time we have.

That's all the time we have

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

So my state, Wisconsin, which has

So my state Wisconsin which has

a deep progressive tradition and

a deep far-right tradition--

a deep far-right tradition-

Joe McCarthy's from Wisconsin.

Joe McCarthy's from Wisconsin

JON STEWART: Yes.

JON STEWART: Yes

So is Fighting Bob.

So is Fighting Bob

So is Fighting Bob La Follette.

So is Fighting Bob La Follette

It's the place where workers' compensation, unemployment

It's the place where workers' compensation unemployment

insurance-- the Social Security Act

insurance- the Social Security Act

was written by a Wisconsinite.

was written by a Wisconsinite

All these things-- great things came from our state--

All these things- great things came from our state-

progressive taxation, first state

progressive taxation first state

to ratify the 19th Amendment.

to ratify the 19th Amendment

And also, this far-right streak that runs

And also this far-right streak that runs

through the state's history.

through the state's history

We zigzag, sort of like the country.

We zigzag sort of like the country

But in 2010, there was this huge rightwing wave, fueled

But in 2010 there was this huge rightwing wave fueled

in part by Citizens United.

in part by Citizens United

And my senator, Russ Feingold, who I'd interned for,

And my senator Russ Feingold who I'd interned for

was my political hero-- he'd passed

was my political hero- he'd passed

campaign finance reform to get big money out of politics.

campaign finance reform to get big money out of politics

He was swept out, replaced by Ron Johnson.

He was swept out replaced by Ron Johnson

In the state legislature, Republicans

In the state legislature Republicans

won-- it had been Democratic.

won- it had been Democratic

They won majorities in both chambers.

They won majorities in both chambers

They won the governorship.

They won the governorship

But when they came into power, they

But when they came into power they

didn't just do the rightwing things

that they'd talked about.

that they'd talked about

They immediately tried to rig the system permanently

so they'd never lose control.

so they'd never lose control

They attacked unions.

They attacked unions

They basically declared war on teachers, created

They basically declared war on teachers created

a teacher crisis in the state.

a teacher crisis in the state

They rigged our maps more than the country

is gerrymandered right now.

is gerrymandered right now

They passed one of the most extreme voter suppression

laws in the nation.

laws in the nation

The judge said it was the most extreme

anti-voting law in the nation.

anti-voting law in the nation

The next election, in 2012, Democrats won statewide.

The next election in 2012 Democrats won statewide

Barack Obama won.

Barack Obama won

Tammy Baldwin won in the US Senate race.

Tammy Baldwin won in the US Senate race

Republicans' majority in the state legislature

grew, even though they got less votes than the Democrats,

grew even though they got less votes than the Democrats

because they'd rigged the system

so they'd never lose control.

so they'd never lose control

They were rigging the state legislature--

They were rigging the state legislature-

The state legislature.

The state legislature

--so that they would always have a majority or

-so that they would always have a majority or

supermajority or something-- - At that point--

supermajority or something- At that point-

- --akin to that? - At that point, majority.

-akin to that At that point majority

They went for supermajorities later.

They went for supermajorities later

JON STEWART: And where's the Wisconsin Supreme Court

in this, right in that moment?

in this right in that moment

So Wisconsin State Supreme Court

was almost evenly divided.

was almost evenly divided

There was an incredibly close state supreme court

race in the spring of 2011.

race in the spring of 2011

Republicans held on to their majority

by less than 1 percentage point.

by less than 1 percentage point

And that meant that the state had

a state supreme court that rubber-stamped

everything they did.

everything they did

So basically, Wisconsin--

So basically Wisconsin-

JON STEWART: All the maps, everything.

JON STEWART: All the maps everything

All the maps, the voter suppression law.

All the maps the voter suppression law

They basically allowed Scott Walker and his friends and

cronies, the Koch brothers network,

cronies the Koch brothers network

the far-right billionaire donor network,

the far-right billionaire donor network

to break election laws.

to break election laws

And then they changed the campaign

finance and election laws to suit their model

of winning elections.

of winning elections

And once they'd broken democracy,

And once they'd broken democracy

they started defunding public services.

they started defunding public services

So there were suddenly-- people call them "Scottholes"

So there were suddenly- people call them Scottholes

after Scott Walker-- potholes in the roads

after Scott Walker- potholes in the roads

all over the state.

all over the state

People had to spend hundreds of dollars a year--

People had to spend hundreds of dollars a year-

So what they're doing is unpopular in the state.

So what they're doing is unpopular in the state

But the way that they have Jerry-rigged the system,

But the way that they have Jerry-rigged the system

unpopularity was no longer a barrier to re-election.

unpopularity was no longer a barrier to re-election

That's exactly it.

That's exactly it

And that's the con.

And that's the con

JON STEWART: That's why I've written a book.

JON STEWART: That's why I've written a book

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

This is the Jon Stewart plan.

This is the Jon Stewart plan

So it almost worked.

So it almost worked

Donald Trump, in 2016, won Wisconsin.

Donald Trump in 2016 won Wisconsin

JON STEWART: Yes, narrow margin.

JON STEWART: Yes narrow margin

Narrow margin, less than 1 percentage point.

Narrow margin less than 1 percentage point

A lot of our elections come down to less

than 1 percentage point.

than 1 percentage point

They had cemented what looked like,

They had cemented what looked like

for the foreseeable future, control

for the foreseeable future control

of the state legislature.

of the state legislature

And the state supreme court was so dominated by the right

that in 2017, there was only one uncontested

that in 2017 there was only one uncontested

far-right candidate.

far-right candidate

No one wanted to run against that person.

No one wanted to run against that person

Someone wrote that it looked like the right was

going to dominate the state supreme court

for a generation to come.

for a generation to come

It seemed as though they'd succeeded.

It seemed as though they'd succeeded

And Wisconsin wasn't the only state where this happened.

And Wisconsin wasn't the only state where this happened

Take Iowa.

Take Iowa

JON STEWART: Florida.

JON STEWART: Florida

Take Florida.

Take Florida

Wisconsin, in 2018--

Wisconsin in 2018-

No, I'm saying take Florida.

No I'm saying take Florida

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

State after state, in 2018, the right had a plan.

State after state in 2018 the right had a plan

They called it redmap.

They called it redmap

They invested in winning state legislative races.

They invested in winning state legislative races

And then as soon as they won, they used their power,

And then as soon as they won they used their power

like getting a genie and wishing for more wishes,

like getting a genie and wishing for more wishes

to lock in control so that even if voters rejected them

in the future, they would always

in the future they would always

have majorities of the votes in the legislature.

have majorities of the votes in the legislature

They could not be fired.

They could not be fired

To make themselves unaccountable.

To make themselves unaccountable

North Carolina's try to-- a Democratic governor, whenever

North Carolina's try to- a Democratic governor whenever

they win North Carolina, the North Carolina legislature,

they win North Carolina the North Carolina legislature

if it has Republicans on it, makes a new law saying,

if it has Republicans on it makes a new law saying

yeah, the governor's not allowed to do anything.

yeah the governor's not allowed to do anything

That's exactly it.

That's exactly it

And they did the same thing in Wisconsin.

And they did the same thing in Wisconsin

And my view-- and I argue this in the book--

And my view- and I argue this in the book-

is that Project 2025 is reheated Project 2011.

is that Project 2025 is reheated Project 2011

This is a nationalized version of what they've

been doing in the states when they took control, which

been doing in the states when they took control which

is to defund public services, to rip off the public, to give

is to defund public services to rip off the public to give

tax cuts to the super wealthy, and then break democracy

tax cuts to the super wealthy and then break democracy

so that when people don't like what they're doing,

so that when people don't like what they're doing

they have no say in the matter of fixing it.

they have no say in the matter of fixing it

But as we stand here today, the governor of Wisconsin

But as we stand here today the governor of Wisconsin

is now a Democrat.

is now a Democrat

The state supreme court of Wisconsin

now has a more progressive majority.

now has a more progressive majority

5-2 pro-democracy majority.

5-2 pro-democracy majority

And the legislature in Wisconsin is also now--

And the legislature in Wisconsin is also now-

Fair maps.

Fair maps

And Democrats have at least an even chance

of flipping both legislative chambers on November 4.

of flipping both legislative chambers on November 4

So riddle me this, Batman.

So riddle me this Batman

How?

How

Because writ large, that seems to be what is happening

Because writ large that seems to be what is happening

now on a national level.

now on a national level

So what did you do?

So what did you do

So this is--

So this is-

I'm proud of having played a role.

I'm proud of having played a role

This is thousands of people.

This is thousands of people

Including the state party chair before me,

Including the state party chair before me

who worked on the groundwork laid by the state party chair

before her.

before her

Allies, national unions, they've been,

Allies national unions they've been

like, decimated in Wisconsin.

like decimated in Wisconsin

People still kept investing and kept volunteering.

People still kept investing and kept volunteering

But what happened in Wisconsin is that we, a big we,

But what happened in Wisconsin is that we a big we

built a movement of people, who rolled up their sleeves

built a movement of people who rolled up their sleeves

and decided to keep fighting in mayors' races, school board

and decided to keep fighting in mayors' races school board

races, in local judicial elections,

races in local judicial elections

in state supreme court races, where it seemed

in state supreme court races where it seemed

like we were gonna always be outgunned

and had basically no hope.

and had basically no hope

We fought for all these different offices

and mapped out a plan for what it would actually

take to unrig the system so that when people were

like, why should I even work in the state legislative race

like why should I even work in the state legislative race

when we know who's gonna have the majority?

when we know who's gonna have the majority

The answer is, if we stop the Republican supermajority,

The answer is if we stop the Republican supermajority

then if we win the state supreme court race

and flip the majority there, they can pass new maps,

and flip the majority there they can pass new maps

and the supermajority can't override the governor's veto.

and the supermajority can't override the governor's veto

It's this intricate zigzagging puzzle--

It's this intricate zigzagging puzzle-

Which one of these is Milwaukee?

Which one of these is Milwaukee

I can't figure out.

I can't figure out

But how did you inspire people to not feel anxious and

helpless, like they couldn't do anything,

helpless like they couldn't do anything

like this was a fait accompli?

like this was a fait accompli

What was done?

What was done

Somebody had to design the idea of how you could take it back,

Somebody had to design the idea of how you could take it back

but somebody had to activate all those regular people

to get involved.

to get involved

I will tell you this.

I will tell you this

When this-- this system was built starting in 2017,

When this- this system was built starting in 2017

before I moved home to Wisconsin.

before I moved home to Wisconsin

The idea was, we're gonna find people in their living rooms

The idea was we're gonna find people in their living rooms

who want to be part of the solution,

who want to be part of the solution

ask people to get friends together

and, say, we're going to be responsible for

and say we're going to be responsible for

our neighborhood.

our neighborhood

There's this huge big picture.

There's this huge big picture

We're all part of this big fight.

We're all part of this big fight

But we're gonna start here in this neighborhood

in the election that's coming up

in April that no one else in the country

even knows is happening.

even knows is happening

But we're gonna roll up our sleeves.

But we're gonna roll up our sleeves

And elections here are so close, so often,

And elections here are so close so often

that it might be that the five extra voters we find

add up to enough around the state to tip this thing

by a couple thousand votes.

by a couple thousand votes

And it actually started to work in races

where Democrats kind of hadn't been focused in the same way.

where Democrats kind of hadn't been focused in the same way

Nationally, love-- love me some Democrats.

Nationally love- love me some Democrats

Democrats can get focused on who

the next presidential candidate will be in 2028.

the next presidential candidate will be in 2028

It's 2026 right now.

It's 2026 right now

Instead of saying there's a judicial election happening

in a month that could determine whether the state is

gerrymandered for the next 16 years--

gerrymandered for the next 16 years-

and we brought the focus to these local races that added up

in the kind web of how American political power works

in this country, that added up to enough power

in this country that added up to enough power

to unrig our state system.

to unrig our state system

And it's a great-- but what I love about the book is--

And it's a great- but what I love about the book is-

[CHEERING]

CHEERING

--you get specific on what actually--

-you get specific on what actually-

what, on a molecular level, make up

what on a molecular level make up

the levers of power from local to state areas

and how you need to get involved.

and how you need to get involved

And it's very much a logistical and architectural blueprint

for that.

for that

And I haven't seen something like that

written in such an accessible way for people to get ahold of.

written in such an accessible way for people to get ahold of

And it's great.

And it's great

Thank you.

Thank you

JON STEWART: Who-- who is--

JON STEWART: Who- who is-

[APPLAUSE]

APPLAUSE

But who is the Ben Wikler who is

going to do that for what Democrats

should stand for at the same level

of specificity and connection?

of specificity and connection

Because the blueprint is great.

Because the blueprint is great

It strikes me as, you've built an incredible vehicle.

It strikes me as you've built an incredible vehicle

But the fuel is the inspiration that people

get from candidates.

get from candidates

I feel like the conditions that sparked this rightwing

revolution, that people started to feel like government was

revolution that people started to feel like government was

no longer responsible in any meaningful way to the effects

that their policies had on people

writ large, that's the area where

writ large that's the area where

this fills in a ton of gaps.

this fills in a ton of gaps

Who's filling in that other side that isn't boilerplate,

Who's filling in that other side that isn't boilerplate

like, we've got to talk to them like real people

like we've got to talk to them like real people

at the kitchen table.

at the kitchen table

And you're like, shut up.

And you're like shut up

Who's doing that work?

Who's doing that work

Here's what I'll say.

Here's what I'll say

There are dozens of people thinking

about running for president.

about running for president

There are amazing people running

for governor and Senate and Congress around the country.

for governor and Senate and Congress around the country

They are talking, you know, a lot of the great ones

They are talking you know a lot of the great ones

are talking about they want this policy.

are talking about they want this policy

They want that policy that will solve a problem

in people's actual lives.

in people's actual lives

What I try to do in this book is say, if you actually

What I try to do in this book is say if you actually

want to pass policies that can stick and actually deliver

for people in ways that they can touch and see and feel,

for people in ways that they can touch and see and feel

you have to unrig a political system that right now is built

to allow a handful of far-right billionaires

to write the rules for everyone and face no accountability.

to write the rules for everyone and face no accountability

In Wisconsin after 2024, Elon Musk came to my state to try--

In Wisconsin after 2024 Elon Musk came to my state to try-

JON STEWART: He bought it. - He tried to buy it.

JON STEWART: He bought it He tried to buy it

JON STEWART: Yeah.

JON STEWART: Yeah

He tried to undo what we'd done

in the state supreme court.

in the state supreme court

That's right.

That's right

He went to Green Bay, Wisconsin.

He went to Green Bay Wisconsin

He put on a cheesehead.

He put on a cheesehead

And he said, you might not think

And he said you might not think

that this election will affect the entire destiny of humanity,

that this election will affect the entire destiny of humanity

but I think it will.

but I think it will

And for him, this was his demonstration

And for him this was his demonstration

that these pesky little Wisconsinites could not

stand up to the world's richest man, that everyone

stand up to the world's richest man that everyone

needed to fear him.

needed to fear him

He spent more money in that race

than anyone's ever spent in any judicial election

in American history.

in American history

And then we beat his ass by 10 percentage points.

And then we beat his ass by 10 percentage points

And he was booted out of the White House.

And he was booted out of the White House

[APPLAUSE]

APPLAUSE

I get it.

I get it

See, this is-- what I like about this

See this is- what I like about this

is what you present here is the theory of the case for power.

is what you present here is the theory of the case for power

You even make the case that the filibuster should be abolished.

You even make the case that the filibuster should be abolished

And I generally, knowing how the Senate is in many ways

And I generally knowing how the Senate is in many ways

affirmative action for Republicans and just in the way

that it's established now, that made me nervous.

that it's established now that made me nervous

But the case you make is no.

But the case you make is no

Blow it up.

Blow it up

Let them do the thing they want to do when the country sees

what it is, there will be a backlash to the poor nature

what it is there will be a backlash to the poor nature

of the policy.

of the policy

And then Democrats can come in.

And then Democrats can come in

And if they develop proper policies

and can execute them competently,

and can execute them competently

we'll have a chance to finally execute them.

we'll have a chance to finally execute them

The American political system right

now is, Democrats get control.

now is Democrats get control

They mess everything up.

They mess everything up

The country goes into crisis.

The country goes into crisis

Imagine 2008. JON STEWART: Flip that.

Imagine 2008 JON STEWART: Flip that

I think you might have--

I think you might have-

Excuse me.

Excuse me

Thank you, good point.

Thank you good point

Let me say that again.

Let me say that again

Have you read this book--

Have you read this book-

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

--Winkler?

-Winkler

Do I have to do everything around here?

Do I have to do everything around here

Let me try again.

Let me try again

Right now, the way our political system

Right now the way our political system

works, the US Supreme Court has had a majority appointed

works the US Supreme Court has had a majority appointed

by Republicans since 1970.

by Republicans since 1970

Yes.

Yes

And in electoral politics, Republicans come in,

And in electoral politics Republicans come in

they get control of the federal government.

they get control of the federal government

They screw everything up.

They screw everything up

JON STEWART: Yes.

JON STEWART: Yes

George W. Bush, we get to 2008,

George W Bush we get to 2008

global financial meltdown, disastrous forever wars

global financial meltdown disastrous forever wars

going on and on, mass death.

going on and on mass death

Then you have a Democrat coming in,

Then you have a Democrat coming in

Barack Obama, great, very exciting.

Barack Obama great very exciting

Some emergency legislation passes to clean up that mess.

Some emergency legislation passes to clean up that mess

But so much of what Democrats fight for and organize for and

advocate for, so much of the inspiring vision

advocate for so much of the inspiring vision

cannot pass because of the 60-vote

filibuster in the US Senate.

filibuster in the US Senate

Bills pass through the House, they die in the Senate.

Bills pass through the House they die in the Senate

It's a mausoleum for the policies

that people are begging for.

that people are begging for

Overwhelming majorities of the public,

Overwhelming majorities of the public

things people want, things like healthcare, things like--

things people want things like healthcare things like-

- Sure. - Yeah.

Sure Yeah

So then what happens?

So then what happens

Then people are like, oh, this sucks.

Then people are like oh this sucks

Democrats--

Democrats-

JON STEWART: You haven't delivered.

JON STEWART: You haven't delivered

--you haven't delivered. JON STEWART: That's right.

-you haven't delivered JON STEWART: That's right

Let's vote for change.

Let's vote for change

Let's get the other guy.

Let's get the other guy

But to be fair, oftentimes, they don't.

But to be fair oftentimes they don't

- Yeah, but-- - Why is that?

Yeah but- Why is that

It's because the system right now

is structured to stop things from actually happening.

is structured to stop things from actually happening

JON STEWART: Well, I'll give you that, that's for sure.

JON STEWART: Well I'll give you that that's for sure

You have to change the system itself.

You have to change the system itself

This is my argument, if you don't change the system.

This is my argument if you don't change the system

So right now in Wisconsin, and

So right now in Wisconsin and

I'm going to move my hands as much as you.

I'm going to move my hands as much as you

You can't out-- - Let's do this.

You can't out- Let's do this

You can't out-move me.

You can't out-move me

I've long arms, man.

I've long arms man

Just because they're longer, my chair rolls.

Just because they're longer my chair rolls

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

Let me tell you something, Winkler!

Let me tell you something Winkler

This is about who writes the rules in our system.

This is about who writes the rules in our system

- That's right. - But.

That's right But

All right, so now you got a governor's

All right so now you got a governor's

election now in Wisconsin.

election now in Wisconsin

Evers is out, right?

Evers is out right

He's done.

He's done

- He's served two great terms. - You've got a system.

He's served two great terms You've got a system

Yeah.

Yeah

You've got some progressive candidates,

You've got some progressive candidates

you've got some establishment candidates.

you've got some establishment candidates

The party is not backing any of the progressive candidates

that have the plan.

that have the plan

They want to stick with the establishment

candidates that might not want to rock that boat.

candidates that might not want to rock that boat

Why is that?

Why is that

Because what you're discussing is

what moderates those plans sometimes,

what moderates those plans sometimes

what makes it not be able-- people always say,

what makes it not be able- people always say

don't let perfect be the enemy of the good.

don't let perfect be the enemy of the good

But don't let the good be the enemy of what will fix it.

But don't let the good be the enemy of what will fix it

And we tend to be in that position all the time.

And we tend to be in that position all the time

So in Wisconsin, the way that the party works, which I think

So in Wisconsin the way that the party works which I think

is a good way that the party works, the party says,

is a good way that the party works the party says

whoever comes out of the primary,

whoever comes out of the primary

we're going to be the boots on the ground

to support that person, get them to the finish line.

to support that person get them to the finish line

But the party itself, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin,

But the party itself the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

will not put its finger on the scale.

will not put its finger on the scale

I'm now the former chair.

I'm now the former chair

My successor, Chair Devin Booker, his commitment

My successor Chair Devin Booker his commitment

is we're going to work with every candidate

to make sure they know how the general election can unfold.

to make sure they know how the general election can unfold

And then we hit go.

And then we hit go

I think that people lose trust when

they feel like the party is trying to decide these things

in smoke-filled rooms.

in smoke-filled rooms

It should be the voters who choose the nominees.

It should be the voters who choose the nominees

JON STEWART: Yes.

JON STEWART: Yes

And then we go--

And then we go-

Isn't Evers--

Isn't Evers-

--with whoever that is.

-with whoever that is

In some ways, there's a real energy

In some ways there's a real energy

amongst the progressive candidate in Wisconsin.

amongst the progressive candidate in Wisconsin

Would you agree?

Would you agree

I think there's tons of grassroots energy.

I think there's tons of grassroots energy

And yeah, there's a--

And yeah there's a-

Yeah.

Yeah

You can see it surging, and you know--

You can see it surging and you know-

sure.

sure

But it feels like they're trying to not make that happen.

But it feels like they're trying to not make that happen

There are different elected-- so there are currently

There are different elected- so there are currently

five candidates for governor.

five candidates for governor

Yes.

Yes

I think a lot of candidates have a lot of big ideas.

I think a lot of candidates have a lot of big ideas

And a lot of them describe themselves

as definitely progressive.

as definitely progressive

One's a Democratic socialist.

One's a Democratic socialist

There's a variety of different views and strategies

for how to get there.

for how to get there

And different elected officials are endorsing different people.

And different elected officials are endorsing different people

Governor Evers just made an endorsement

of one of the candidates.

of one of the candidates

As the Democratic socialist candidate

who's currently in first in the primary,

who's currently in first in the primary

she said, everyone can have their own voice in this,

she said everyone can have their own voice in this

and the voters decide who's going to win.

and the voters decide who's going to win

JON STEWART: Right.

JON STEWART: Right

That is how democracy works.

That is how democracy works

The party and the structure shouldn't advantage one

candidate or one set of ideas.

candidate or one set of ideas

It should be the voters who make the choice.

It should be the voters who make the choice

And then we should come together and say,

And then we should come together and say

let's do this, and let's not only win the governorship,

let's do this and let's not only win the governorship

let's win the assembly majority and the state senate majority,

let's win the assembly majority and the state senate majority

and then actually pass the things

that can unrig the system and make

the difference that we need. - That's what I'm saying!

the difference that we need That's what I'm saying

That's called democracy. That's the whole idea.

That's called democracy That's the whole idea

Winkler, talking my language!

Winkler talking my language

[APPLAUSE]

APPLAUSE

And now-- and we're in that same bullshit place

And now- and we're in that same bullshit place

now, where all these new ideas, suddenly the Democrats are,

now where all these new ideas suddenly the Democrats are

these Democratic Socialists, they're crazy.

these Democratic Socialists they're crazy

And you're like, well, but that-- generally,

And you're like well but that- generally

their crazy ideas aren't where the energy is.

their crazy ideas aren't where the energy is

The energy isn't around like, we shouldn't

The energy isn't around like we shouldn't

have prisons or borders.

have prisons or borders

The energy is around a belief that their economic populism.

The energy is around a belief that their economic populism

And when you call it socialism, I

And when you call it socialism I

think it's a misnomer, in the same way

think it's a misnomer in the same way

that if you call Social Security socialism,

that if you call Social Security socialism

that's kind of a misnomer.

that's kind of a misnomer

It's about strengthening a safety net for a country that

has suffered too long, overvaluing capital and money

has suffered too long overvaluing capital and money

and undervaluing labor and work.

and undervaluing labor and work

That's all [BLEEP] it is.

That's all BLEEP it is

That's it. [APPLAUSE]

That's it APPLAUSE

And it's--

And it's-

So I don't get the whole hullabaloo.

So I don't get the whole hullabaloo

I think one of the reasons why you see some candidates

catching fire right now is that they speak directly to what

a total meltdown crisis we're in as a country,

a total meltdown crisis we're in as a country

what people are actually experiencing

in their day-to-day lives.

in their day-to-day lives

And then they tell people you can do something about this.

And then they tell people you can do something about this

And I invite candidates.

And I invite candidates

And there are candidates who identify as centrist running

in some states.

in some states

There are Democratic Socialists in other states.

There are Democratic Socialists in other states

JON STEWART: Takes everybody.

JON STEWART: Takes everybody

It takes-- it is a big tent.

It takes- it is a big tent

And I would say that right now, the most exciting parts

And I would say that right now the most exciting parts

of the tent, wherever you are in the geography,

of the tent wherever you are in the geography

are the parts where people say, this is not working.

are the parts where people say this is not working

And we need to change it.

And we need to change it

We don't need to go back to something

that wasn't so great before.

that wasn't so great before

We need to go forward to something where it's not--

We need to go forward to something where it's not-

And there's specificity to it.

And there's specificity to it

Yeah, here's what we're going to do, XYZ things,

Yeah here's what we're going to do XYZ things

and they lay it out.

and they lay it out

And then again, to This Is The Plan, when you get in power,

And then again to This Is The Plan when you get in power

you need to be willing to change how the system works

so you can actually change the policy, deliver for people

so you can actually change the policy deliver for people

and sustain it.

and sustain it

If the US Supreme Court, to take one example,

If the US Supreme Court to take one example

if the US Supreme Court keeps striking down

everything a Democrat does, anything that is

everything a Democrat does anything that is

intended to protect democracy from the power of big money--

intended to protect democracy from the power of big money-

Or workers or--

Or workers or-

--or workers, striking down workers protections--

-or workers striking down workers protections-

- Anti-corruption laws. - Anti-corruption laws.

Anti-corruption laws Anti-corruption laws

Wisconsin created the first workplace protection agency,

Wisconsin created the first workplace protection agency

forerunner for Wisconsin.

forerunner for Wisconsin

Wisconsin I know, I know.

Wisconsin I know I know

But this is my point.

But this is my point

They will keep--

They will keep-

Jersey's no piece of shit, by the way.

Jersey's no piece of shit by the way

I mean, it's great.

I mean it's great

Every state-- I mean, Wisconsin.

Every state- I mean Wisconsin

All right. Fair enough.

All right Fair enough

But the US Supreme Court is going

to keep striking the stuff down until we reform,

to keep striking the stuff down until we reform

meaning either expand or put term limits

on the US Supreme Court.

on the US Supreme Court

We got to do that, too.

We got to do that too

Going big.

Going big

Go big or go home, baby.

Go big or go home baby

[APPLAUSE]

APPLAUSE

We are-- the pendulum swings in American politics.

We are- the pendulum swings in American politics

But what the right does is when it swings their way,

But what the right does is when it swings their way

they catch it, and they grab it.

they catch it and they grab it

And they don't want to let it go.

And they don't want to let it go

And you need to electrify the pendulum

so that you cannot grab the thing and stop it from moving.

so that you cannot grab the thing and stop it from moving

Were you ever a magician?

Were you ever a magician

[LAUGHTER]

LAUGHTER

I think I saw the pendulum?

I think I saw the pendulum

What I lay out in the book is step by step.

What I lay out in the book is step by step

It starts-- at the end of the book,

It starts- at the end of the book

there's a chapter called this is the plan, that

there's a chapter called this is the plan that

ties together all the pieces.

ties together all the pieces

The first part of This Is The Plan's

plan is this week, every Tuesday,

plan is this week every Tuesday

there's an election somewhere.

there's an election somewhere

Yes.

Yes

And most of those elections have no volunteers

across the country.

across the country

They have no people chipping in $27 from wherever.

They have no people chipping in 27 from wherever

Nobody gets involved.

Nobody gets involved

JON STEWART: A lot of them are unopposed.

JON STEWART: A lot of them are unopposed

A lot of are unopposed.

A lot of are unopposed

But if you look around and find the races that actually start

a row of dominoes that can affect future legislation

around gerrymandering, or affect money

around gerrymandering or affect money

in politics in a state where people like Elon Musk

want to waltz in and take over everything,

want to waltz in and take over everything

then getting involved in a mayor's race here,

then getting involved in a mayor's race here

a county recorder's race here can have a huge effect.

a county recorder's race here can have a huge effect

JON STEWART: That's right.

JON STEWART: That's right

But it goes from that step, something any of us can do,

But it goes from that step something any of us can do

where the margins of victory are

often sometimes a single vote.

often sometimes a single vote

And I list some of those races in the book.

And I list some of those races in the book

It goes all the way to then '26, we win in states,

It goes all the way to then '26 we win in states

we win in Congress, '28, we win a federal trifecta, '29, we--

we win in Congress '28 we win a federal trifecta '29 we-

You even deal with the backlash

to all these victories.

to all these victories

I do.

I do

And that's to remove the power of that backlash,

And that's to remove the power of that backlash

to break our democracy from 2030--

to break our democracy from 2030-

To be accountable to post-mortem policy,

To be accountable to post-mortem policy

not just process! - That's it!

not just process That's it

- Come on! - You have to have-- yes.

Come on You have to have- yes

You have to actually deliver and make the difference.

You have to actually deliver and make the difference

- This is the plan! - That's the plan.

This is the plan That's the plan

And we can do it!

And we can do it

Come on!

Come on

Every person here can do this plan!

Every person here can do this plan

Yes, we can!

Yes we can

Yes, we can!

Yes we can

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