*Two Democratic progressives plot new ways to fight back against Republican gains.
Republicans are threatening to take over the House of Representatives in this year's midterm elections. More than 30 House Democrats are heading for the exits. And progressives have seen several major legislative proposals stall out.
But two progressive lawmakers in the House, Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin and Ro Khanna, say they're developing a plan to turn around the cascade of bad news for their caucus.
Raskin of Maryland and Khanna of California tell NPR they're on the ground floor of talks to fuel new victories for the party's liberal wing.
"We need to defend American constitutional democracy with everything we've got at this point," Raskin said from his office in the Rayburn House Office Building while seated next to Khanna. "And that calls upon us to be as ambitious as we can be in terms of reaching out to people all over America."
Raskin and Khanna are trying to shake up discussions for the progressive caucus and the Democrats ahead of the midterms and map out a new winning strategy beyond.
They say this includes coalition-building, sharing a more optimistic message with voters and less preaching. Democrats should also reclaim issues of patriotism, stay out of the political correctness business and improve their dialogue on racial divisions, they said.
Khanna warns if the GOP does indeed take over the House next year, President Biden will be impeached and certain Democrats will be forced off committees. But Khanna is trying to stay optimistic they can defy the political handicappers.
"I think the polling is in a vacuum because elections are a choice," Khanna said. "And I don't think people fully have grasped the choice of what it means for the Republicans to actually win the House."'>>>
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1094288815/two-democratic-progressives-plot-new-ways-to-fight-back-against-republican-gains?