On Saturday's edition of MSNBC's The Weekend, the panel had few ideas on what theme Democrats should run on.
But there was consensus on one thing: "Fighting Oligarchy," the name of the national tour by Bernie Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, ain't it.
Co-host Michael Steele: "The 'oligarchy tour,' I think, kind of misses middle America. Folks sitting at the local pub aren't using the term oligarchy."
Eugene Daniels [who will soon be taking over as a host of The Weekend]: "[Democrats] think that the word oligarchy is maybe one that they should skip."
Tara Setmayer [member of the disgraced Lincoln Project]: "I agree with my friend Michael Steele about the term oligarchy. 99% of the American people don't know what that means." [99%? A rather condescending view of her fellow Americans!]
Co-host Symone Sanders: "I agree on the oligarchy situation."
We get it. Message to Democrats: Deep six "the oligarchy."
But what should the message be? Daniels delivered the grim news:
"The problem now, though, is that Democrats don't have an alternative. You have to be able to say, OK, this is what we can offer you that Republicans can't. And that's what they have yet to do."
May we suggest: "A Chicken In Every Pot, And Free Beer Tomorrow!"
Note: The show played a clip from the Denver stop on the tour in which Ocasio-Cortez spoke of "working Americans like us."
Yup: Alexandria's just a working stiff, knocking down a mere $174K, with a staff of 15 to serve her and a host of generous fringe benefits. As for that other "working American" on the stage, Bernie owns three homes and at last report had an estimated net worth of $3 million.
You might say the duo ARE the oligarchy!
Here's the transcript.
MSNBC
The Weekend
3/22/25
8:00 am EDTSYMONE SANDERS: Americans are giving lawmakers an earful at rowdy town halls . . . Democrats, they are trying to fill that void, and angry voters are venting their frustrations at them, calling on the party to do more to push back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
One duo who seems to be channeling that outrage: Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Tens of thousands showed up to their "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Denver just last night.
BERNIE SANDERS: In the hundreds of rallies that I have done, We have never, ever had a rally as large as this! The whole world is watching! And they want to know if the people of America are going to stand up to Trumpism, oligarchy, and authoritarianism.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: We're all here together because we share in the frustration and heartache that comes from watching those in power actively tear down, or refuse to fight for, working Americans like us.
. . .
MICHAEL STEELE: The thing that I want to pick up on, Eugene, is the question I kind of put on the table is, this approach. I love it. First off, you know, the oligarchy tour, I think, kind of misses middle America --
EUGENE DANIELS: A little bit.
STEELE: -- because, again, Democrats, in my view, being tone deaf from what the American people are saying. You know, folks sitting at the local pub aren't using the term oligarchy.
SYMONE SANDERS: Okay, wait, but I'm sorry. They're in middle America. He launched a tour in Omaha, they were in Denver.
STEELE: Look, again, again, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, where you launch it. It's what you say when you launch it. And if you're using terms and phraseology, right, that is not directly connecting people, then that becomes a concern in the process.
I mean, you're covering this here on the Hill and out on the streets. What are you hearing the response is to this?
EUGENE DANIELS: I think, you know, I talked to a bunch of Democrats this week who are happy that this tour, these kinds of things are happening, just like you.
But they agree. They think that the word oligarchy is maybe one that they should skip, right? Or, and go with something like corruption, or something like that, that makes clear that there's a connection there and that people understand in their everyday lives, and one that is already kind of exists in the lexicon of our political environment and that gets people riled up.
. . .
This is kind of a test case to see if these kinds of things will actually end up working. I think the bigger thing is what happens after. You're talking about, do you try to find a way to bring some Republicans over, some of those folks that don't like Trump?
STEELE: Well, you have to. You can't leave Republicans sitting on the sidelines, because a lot of Republicans like myself are like, okay, put me in, coach.
. . .
TARA SETMAYER: I agree with my friend Michael Steele about the term oligarchy. 99% of the American people don't know what that means. And it's important that terms are used that people can relate to.
When the Tea Party was running around doing what they did back in 2009 and 2010, they weren't using terms like oligarchy. They were using very simple phrases like death panels, hands off my healthcare, you know, things that people can relate to.
. . .
SANDERS: Well, I, maybe I feel the need to defend Senator Sanders here. You know, I always. You know, I feel attacked --
STEELE: Why do you feel attacked?
SANDERS: -- on behalf of the senator. Because, look, she --
STEELE: You're a comms person.
SANDERS: I am a comms person.
STEELE: You get it!
SANDERS: Now, one, I agree on the oligarchy situation. I think we've said before, when people are talking about fascism, these are not things that the American people can just readily identify with.
Like, oligarchy is something you got to go look up. So perhaps we should-
SANDERS: That's all we're saying.
SANDERS: Yes, but I mean, I think the Democrats are used to putting a nice little fancy title on something.
STEELE: Well, see where that's gotten us.
SANDERS: And that is a problem. That's a part of the problem.
. . .
DANIELS: The problem now, though, is that Democrats also don't have an alternative. They're clearly the opposition. They're figuring out what that looks like. They have to be able to give people an alternative. So you rile everyone up. You channel it. And you have to be able to say, OK, this is what we can offer you that Republicans can't.
SANDERS: If you put us back in charge.
DANIELS: That's the next step. Exactly. And that's what they have yet to do.
