2020 Democrats have some not-so-subtle rebukes for Joe Biden's nostalgia campaign
Democratic presidential candidates may have found a new singular enemy, and it's not President Trump.
Over the weekend, fourteen candidates descended on the California Democratic Party's convention and made it clear they're not onboard with Joe Biden's campaign to bring back the old America. And while they didn't exactly mention Biden by name, their takedowns of his ideas mark a big development among tame campaigners who've so far hesitated to even mention Trump, Bloomberg reports.
Biden wasn't among the candidates who traveled to California this weekend, but it seemed pretty clear that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was talking about the former vice president when he pledged there can be "no middle ground" on certain liberal priorities. "We cannot go back to the old ways, we have got to go forward with a new and progressive agenda," Sanders said — an obvious callback to Biden's announcement video promise to restore "everything that has made America America."
Subscribe to 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.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, rebuked the idea that "if we all just calm down, the Republicans will come to their senses." That sounds an awful lot like how Biden said last month that Republicans will have "an epiphany" and start working with Democrats again once Trump loses. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg similarly said "the riskiest thing we could do is to try to play it safe" because "there's no going back to normal right now."
Read more about Democrats' anti-Biden swings at NPR and Bloomberg.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Puppet shows, pagodas and pho: a guide to Hanoi
The Week Recommends Vietnam's capital city blends the ancient with the new
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'There are benefits, but not acknowledging them would tell only half of the story'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big Tech
Talking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published