Bernie Sanders moving out of 'gadfly role' in Senate, former Obama adviser says


Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) played "a kind of gadfly role" in the upper chamber for many years, David Axelrod, who served as an adviser to former President Barack Obama, told Politico. But now, the de facto leader of progressive Democrats is at the center of congressional deal-making, including Democrats' recent agreement on a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint.
Sanders had been pushing his fellow Democrats to embrace an even larger $6 trillion proposal, but now, it seems, that was a tactic to push everyone else a little higher. "We wouldn't be there without him putting out $6 trillion," Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told Politico.
"You're seeing a very pragmatic Bernie Sanders, but he's pragmatic in a principled way," Axelrod said, adding that Sanders and President Biden "have come together in the sunset of their careers to do something potentially historic" despite coming "from different places in the party."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sanders didn't sound so sure "pragmatic" is the right word, though the fact that he told Politico that he's going about his business the way he is because "there are 50 members of the Democratic Caucus" in the Senate "and unfortunately not all of them agree with me on everything" did little to dispel that notion. Read more at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats