Sen. Bernie Sanders Speaks To A Crowd Of 36,000 At The Preventing Oligarchy Rally At Gloria Molina Grand Park In Downtown Los Angeles On April 12, 2025.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, has been touring the country with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to push back against the Trump administration.
In an interview with Here & Now’s Robin Young, he stated Democrats have to put up candidates who can channel the anger of voters who’re apprehensive about current strikes by President Trump.
“I feel assist for this right-wing agenda, which isn’t solely about authoritarianism and oligarchy, it’s a few proposal which can give over, if handed, over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the highest 1% and permit for large cuts to Medicaid, diet, housing and different packages,” Sanders stated. “When you ballot that, I might guess that 80-90% of the American individuals suppose that that’s completely insane. So I feel in actual fact in some ways the Trump administration is now on the defensive with their tariff insurance policies, that are going to boost costs. Now what we want are candidates and a political motion which stands clearly with the working class of this nation.”
The next excerpt has been edited for size and readability.
On considerations from Democrats that the social gathering has moved too far to the left and must pay attention extra
Sen. Bernie Sanders: Properly, after all the social gathering must pay attention extra. There’s quite a bit to be happy with. They’ve led the way in which in the correct for ladies to regulate their very own physique, one thing which is beneath assault proper now, led the way in which for homosexual rights, led the way in which to battle towards bigotry generally civil rights, however I am going to let you know what Democrats shouldn’t be happy with: And that’s within the richest nation within the historical past of the world, 60% of the American individuals dwelling paycheck to paycheck.
In America as we speak, one man, Elon Musk, owns extra wealth than the underside 53% of American households. We’re the one main nation on Earth that does not assure well being care to all individuals regardless of spending twice as a lot as most nations. Sixty thousand individuals a yr die as a result of they do not get to a physician on time. In different phrases, what the Democratic Celebration has not achieved is paid consideration to the working class, they usually paid a political worth for that.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Ny) Maintain Fingers Throughout A Cease On Their ‘Preventing Oligarchy’ Tour At Grand Park On April 12, 2025 In Los Angeles, California. An Estimated 36,000 Individuals Attended The Rally Which Additionally Noticed Neil Younger And Joan Baez Carry out.
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Extra interview highlights
For extra highlights from Sanders’ interview, together with ideas on why Republicans have not paid a political worth for insurance policies favoring the rich and find out how to get disaffected voters to take heed to the Democratic Celebration and to pay attention, click through to Here & Now‘s site.
Michael Scotto produced this piece for digital together with Grace Griffin. Mark Navin edited the printed section.
