2 progressive House lawmakers are working on a strategy to keep their seats

2 progressive House lawmakers are working on a strategy to keep their seats

Transcript¹

House Democratic progressives Jamie Raskin and Ro Khanna say they have a midterm campaign strategy to ward² off the looming³ threat that Republicans could seize control of Congress.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

The threat that Republicans will take over the House of Representatives hovers⁴ over the progressive movement of the Democratic Party. There's also a new wave of candidates fighting for congressional seats in the November midterms. Two progressive lawmakers in the House, Democrats⁵ Jamie Raskin and Ro Khanna, are working on new strategies they believe will rack up new victories for the party's liberal wing.

JAMIE RASKIN: We need to defend American constitutional democracy with everything we've got at this point. And that calls upon us to be as ambitious as we can be in terms of reaching out to people all over America.

MARTIN: They say this includes coalition⁷-building, sharing a more optimistic message and less preaching. NPR congressional reporter Claudia Grisales sat down with Raskin and Khanna. And she joins us now. Good morning, Claudia.

CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE⁸: Good morning, Rachel.

MARTIN: How are progressive Democrats outlining the stakes in this election?

GRISALES: Democrats are deeply worried about this threat in November. And this is part of how this conversation began for Raskin and Khanna. Khanna warned if the GOP does indeed take over, President Biden will be impeached⁹. Certain Democrats will be forced off committees. But he's trying to stay hopeful that they can defy political projections¹⁰. He says it will be critical to remind Americans that Democrats passed the trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure¹¹ plan into law, along with the nearly $2 trillion pandemic relief bill last year.

MARTIN: So these two lawmakers think they have a plan to help Democrats, in particular progressives. They both entered Congress in the same year, 2017, from opposite sides of the country, though - Raskin from Maryland, Khanna from California. How did they become the leads on this?

GRISALES: They said that there is a new urgency. And they saw in each other partners to address it, to grow Democrats' reach. Khanna said their brainstorming¹² session started after a phone call from President Biden into a closed-door Congressional Progressive Caucus¹³ meeting last October, where Raskin made a poignant¹⁴ remark to the president.

RO KHANNA: I don't know if Jamie remembers this. But he got up, and he said, yes, we're all progressives. But we're also Democrats. And most importantly, we have to recognize that the challenge against us is the return of authoritarianism¹⁵ and that those are the stakes.

GRISALES: Khanna is seated next to Raskin. The two have met up this afternoon in Raskin's office in the House Rayburn Building to lay out their new mission to shake up discussions for the Progressive Caucus and Democrats. Khanna, of California, is a Silicon¹⁶ Valley progressive, while Raskin, of Maryland, a constitutional scholar. Both have tired of purity politics that have overtaken Democrats' message. In each other, they see coalition builders and pragmatists who can work to reorient how their wing of the party reaches voters and expands that reach along the way.

RASKIN: You know, I hear from Republicans frequently in my district who say they can't take it anymore. And they want to become Democrats. But they want to make sure that there's a place for them in our party, and I assure them that there is.

GRISALES: Raskin and Khanna argue that former President Trump¹⁷ was able to encroach on what was traditionally Democrats' turf - that is, middle America - by speaking their language. Still, voters have issues with both parties. During a recent visit to Pennsylvania, Khanna learned about a focus group that characterized Republicans as, quote, "crazy" and Democrats as preachy. Khanna and Raskin say that preachy tone has got to go - for example, when talking about sweeping¹⁸ proposals for progressives, such as Medicare for All. Here's Khanna.

KHANNA: Preachy is just go on TV and say, well, if you're not for Medicare for All, then you must be evil. And you must want people to die. And you must be wrong - right? - as opposed to saying, here is why.

GRISALES: Khanna says Democrats can make the case for Medicare for All for voters, start a dialogue and listen to their concerns. And he says progressives face a constant challenge along the way, asking the right questions.

KHANNA: How do we get people on board with it? And how do we make sure that if we have to compromise on something that we get something done? My view is we should be firm in our ideals, but then also pragmatic about what it's going to take to move the ball forward.

GRISALES: Raskin, who is also a member of the House panel investigating the January 6 attack, argues the right wing is trying to demolish¹⁹ faith in democracy. He says it's time for progressives and Democrats to better defend against Republican attacks.

RASKIN: I call myself a liberal because I think that liberty has got to be a central value of what we're doing. But these days, I love to call myself a conservative, too, because I want to conserve²⁰ the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the land, the air, the water, the climate system, the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, the National Labor²¹ Relations Act, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Everything that our friends across the aisle²² seem to want to be tearing down is everything that we want to conserve.

GRISALES: Khanna says there's pockets of America that have been left behind that Democrats are not reaching today.

KHANNA: And so we have a skepticism out there for a large part of the country that has fallen behind, that's lost jobs. And when I or Jamie or someone's up on TV saying, here's what's going to happen, there's a skepticism whether - those communities, whether people feel like they're going to benefit.

GRISALES: Raskin says Democrats need to restore the idea that it's the American people's government, it's a democracy and they can make government work to get stuff done. And that, he says, is how you win back new voters to the party, warts²³ and all.

RASKIN: What people say about the Democrats is, you guys are too big and disorganized and chaotic²⁴. And what's the message and all that? I hear all of that. I agree with all of that. But that is democracy. We are the party of democracy, and it's messy. We are not a religious cult²⁵. So we're going to work it out. And we want people to come and join us and to be part of this big, sometimes messy conversation, but the conversation that's actually moving America forward and making progress for the people.

MARTIN: Claudia, so interesting to hear the two congressmen there laying out their vision for Democrats and, in particular, progressives in this election. But they noted²⁶ that President Trump made a lot of inroads in parts of the country that Democrats had taken for granted for a long time, in particular the middle of the country. Did they talk about how they expect to defend against that?

GRISALES: They say they need to reclaim²⁷ issues of patriotism²⁸, talk about race more openly. For example, Khanna says it's naive²⁹ to believe that becoming the first major multiracial, multiethnic democracy in the world could happen without conflict. Also, Raskin said Democrats should reject the socialist³⁰ label and should not be in the political correctness business, noting that times have changed.

RASKIN: All of the political dogmas of the past are not serving particularly well. And we need to be opening up our minds to new interpretations³¹ of democracy.

GRISALES: He said the GOP has gotten a jump on Democrats on some issues and in some spaces in social media. And Democrats need to fend⁶ off Republicans, which they see as a, quote, "ruled or ruin" party.

MARTIN: NPR's Claudia Grisales. Thank you, Claudia. We appreciate it.

GRISALES: Thank you much.

(SOUNDBITE OF GOGO PENGUIN'S "TO THE NTH")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

3 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

4 hovers   

鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovers in the sky. 一只老鹰在天空盘旋。
• A hen hovers her chicks. 一只母鸡在孵小鸡。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

9 impeached   

v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议

参考例句：

• Elected officials can be impeached. 经过选举产生的官员可以被弹劾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The judge was impeached for taking a bribe. 这个法官被检举接受贿赂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 projections   

预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物

参考例句：

• Their sales projections are a total thumbsuck. 他们的销售量预测纯属估计。
• The council has revised its projections of funding requirements upwards. 地方议会调高了对资金需求的预测。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

12 brainstorming   

献计献策,合力攻关

参考例句：

• With Brainstorming, treat the view on how to solve the problem rightly. 利用脑激励法(Brainstorming)，正确对待学生实验中的问题解决观。
• We are going to do some brainstorming soon. 我们很快就要做些脑力激荡。

13 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

14 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

15 authoritarianism   

权力主义，独裁主义

参考例句：

• Modern authoritarianism is a vestige of traditional personal rule. 现代独裁主义则是传统的个人统治的残余。
• In its latter days it was a byword for authoritarianism, incompetence, and corruption. 在后期，它是独裁、无能和腐化的代号。

16 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

17 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

18 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

19 demolish   

v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)

参考例句：

• They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。
• He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

20 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

21 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

22 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

23 warts   

n.疣( wart的名词复数 )；肉赘；树瘤；缺点

参考例句：

• You agreed to marry me, warts and all! 是你同意和我结婚的，我又没掩饰缺陷。 来自辞典例句
• Talk about trying to cure warts with spunk-water such a blame fool way as that! 用那样糊涂蛋的方法还谈什么仙水治疣子！ 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

24 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

25 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

26 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

27 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

28 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

29 naive   

adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的

参考例句：

• It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致，你未免太单纯了。
• Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。

30 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

31 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》