Politics with Amy Walter: The Future of the Democratic Party

The Takeaway

The Future of the Democratic Primary

At the beginning of the Democratic nominating contests, the party faced a number of challenges. The field being crowded with candidates with such varied politics demonstrated that there were different visions for the future of the party. And today, while Joe Biden is the presumed nominee, there is concern that he won't drive excitement and turnout in the way a candidate like Senator Bernie Sanders might've been able to.

The Democratic Party's foremost goal is to remove President Donald Trump from office, but they'll need to respond sufficiently to questions surrounding racial and economic inequality in addition to the fault lines exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. A roundtable discussion about the future of the Democratic Party and the role progressive candidates will play within the larger institution. 

Also, a conversation about the killing of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis and how Trump's response demonstrates his need to exploit division.

Guests:

Joel Payne, former aide to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign and host of "Here Comes the Payne"

Maya King, Campaign 2020 Reporting Fellow at Politico

Dave Weigel, National Political Reporter at The Washington Post

Jamaal Bowman, Democratic Primary Candidate for New York’s 16th Congressional District 

The Legacy of Larry Kramer with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci

This week, activist and playwright Larry Kramer died at age 84. He devoted his life to advocating for the gay community during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Kramer was an outspoken critic of the government's response to the crisis and famously criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, who at the time was the face of the federal government's response, in the pages of the San Francisco Examiner.

Dr. Fauci reflects on his friendship with Larry Kramer and how their bond influenced the rest of his career in public health. 

Guest:

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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