As we head into 2026 and Democrats strive to determine learn how to regain energy, their New 12 months’s decision must be easy: Handle egos higher.
Lately, they appear to have forgotten the time-tested necessity of placating folks. In different phrases, doing the identical fundamental drudgery the remainder of us depend on to get via this chaotic world.
This effort can not merely be directed towards voters, as essential as they’re. It should additionally embody elite stakeholders, a few of whom would possibly (rightly) be thought of kooks, weirdos and in any other case high-maintenance eccentrics.
Lest you assume Dems ought to merely shrug off these people and say “good riddance,” take into account this: Each Trump phrases may need been prevented if Democrats had been extra keen to nurture the nuts in years passed by.
Let’s begin with their therapy of America’s high crank: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
As journalist Michael Scherer, who profiled RFK Jr. for The Atlantic, informed Alex Wagner of “Pod Save America”: As soon as Kennedy’s personal 2024 presidential marketing campaign began to flounder, he and his marketing campaign supervisor started “to make kind of outreach to Democrats … to see if they will open a dialog with Biden to kind of commerce one thing.”
Sadly, “the Democratic response [was] silence.” They wouldn’t meet with him, they wouldn’t speak to him.
Later, as Scherer recounts: “A pal of [Kennedy’s] connects him with Tucker Carlson who connects him with Donald Trump. And that night time, simply hours later, they’re speaking, and Trump at that time needs to make a deal.”
The remaining is historical past.
Now, I do know what you’re considering. “However Kennedy is a nut! Why ought to Democrats have humored him?”
How about this: As a result of Trump narrowly gained the presidency in 2024 by forming a disparate coalition held collectively by duct tape, resentment and (presumably) a cursed amulet.
This motley crew included extra outstanding Dems than simply RFK Jr. Bear in mind when Biden principally ghosted Elon Musk for that huge 2021 White Home electrical automobile summit? Even Kamala Harris — who fortunately agreed with Biden on nearly every part besides her personal polling numbers — referred to as {that a} big mistake.
Then once more, Harris dedicated her personal pricey slight when she determined in opposition to occurring Joe Rogan’s podcast.
For a complete decade now, Democrats have constantly alienated allies — with devastating outcomes. I’m speaking concerning the snubs which may have prevented Trump’s first presidential run completely.
Not simply the well-known humiliation of Trump on the 2011 White Home Correspondents’ Dinner. Right here’s the extra tragic prequel: Former “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd informed the Bulwark’s Tim Miller that earlier than Trump went full birther, he really referred to as the Obama White Home providing “concepts on learn how to enhance the state dinner.”
That’s proper. Donald J. Trump — future chief of the free world — simply needed to speak about higher events. Shrimp trays. Tablecloths. Possibly a chocolate fountain.
Simply because the world would have been higher had the Washington Senators signed Fidel Castro to an enormous baseball contract earlier than he acquired too concerned about politics, America may need been higher if Obama had made Trump the White Home state dinner czar.
However as Todd put it, “The very last thing the Obama White Home was going to do was placate a man like Donald Trump.”
Comprehensible — till you take into account that the choice to humoring him was, you realize … President Trump. Twice.
Look, I completely perceive why a U.S. president would possibly assume she or he shouldn’t should stoop to kissing some crank’s ring or placating some gilded, phony billionaire. However let’s be sincere: It’s a part of the job.
As an alternative of performing this kind of ego cultivation, Democrats — whether or not due to snobbery, elite gatekeeping, geriatric aloofness or a disciplined disdain for “time burglars” — have repeatedly alienated potential allies (or at the least impartial events). Then they act shocked when these identical folks drift into the MAGA photo voltaic system like house particles.
If Trump is really an existential risk — and Democrats say this roughly 87 instances every week — then possibly, simply possibly, they need to Return. A. Cellphone. Name.
In any other case, Donald Trump will. In all probability at 3 a.m., whereas consuming a Large Mac.
So grovel for those who should. Faux curiosity. Smile such as you’re not dying inside. Do the essential humiliations the remainder of us carry out each day to get employed, get promoted or get a date.
It’s the least you are able to do. So make it your New 12 months’s decision and honor it.
However for those who assume you’re too good to carry out the essential glad-handing and ego-stroking, even for the nuttiest eccentrics, unhealthy issues will occur.
Belief me — I’ve seen this film. And we’re solely a 12 months into his second time period.
Matt Ok. Lewis is the writer of “Filthy Wealthy Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”
