Staff Reports
Trump’s meteoric rise to the presidency may have left a few liberal heads spinning, but it appears some Democrats have decided to trade their angry tweets for a more pragmatic approach. After all, the man has returned to the Oval Office, and it seems certain party members are grudgingly acknowledging the necessity of collaboration, if not outright cooperation.
Among these cooperative minds is Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania. While he’s been labeled as one of the more progressive voices among Democrats, his willingness to engage with Trump is noteworthy. After Trump’s recent election triumph, Fetterman promptly hopped onto Truth Social, signifying an unusual embrace of dialogue. He stands ready to support Trump’s cabinet nominees and has already thrown his weight behind Elise Stefanik’s bid to be Trump’s Ambassador to the United Nations. With Pennsylvania tipping red in the last election, one wonders if Fetterman sees the writing on the wall and is eager to position himself as a uniquely independent voice among his colleagues.
Then there’s Representative Jared Moskowitz from Florida, who prides himself on bipartisan credentials, especially on issues related to Israel and fiscal responsibility. His announcement to join the so-called DOGE Caucus shows he is intent on forging connections with Trump supporters like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. While Moskowitz doesn’t shy away from progressive topics, he recognizes that a nuanced approach—one that melds liberal and conservative values—might resonate better with his constituents. This visionary congressman even has his sights set on restructuring FEMA and Secret Service operations. Perhaps the sight of a few House members straying from party lines will lead to more constructive discussions than Twitter meltdowns.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, too, seems to be approaching Trump with open arms, or at least a somewhat welcoming attitude. Unlike her California counterpart Gavin Newsom, who is diving headfirst into opposition against Trump, Hochul sees potential areas for collaboration, namely in infrastructure development. A rare breed, she even went so far as to express her willingness to contact ICE should undocumented immigrants commit crimes. It seems she understands that there’s business to be taken care of rather than simply running the potential for cooperation into the ground with lofty rhetoric.
On the more unlikely front, Senator Elizabeth Warren—whose infamous feud with Trump has made her a household name—has expressed readiness to discuss credit card interest rates. While it’s hard to picture the two sitting at the same table without a few raised eyebrows and snarky comments, it appears that some economic issues could unify even the most polarizing figures. After all, capping interest rates at 10% would certainly benefit many Americans, including those precisely in Warren’s core constituency.
Five Democrats who signaled they’ll work with Trump on policy https://t.co/D1muwsOOuz
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 23, 2024
Lastly, there’s the ever-interesting figure of Bernie Sanders, who appears to have found some common ground with Trump, notably concerning credit card interest rates and, strikingly, military spending. While the Vermont senator has long been known for his anti-establishment messages, perhaps Trump’s shared dissatisfaction with the Pentagon’s budgetary follies is enough to foster unexpected partnerships. With Sanders and Trump contemplating various economic reforms, this could lead to surprising synergies—or at the very least, good fodder for future headlines.
In the chaotic wake of Trump’s re-election, it seems that some Democrats have chosen a practical route over the typical resistance playbook. Will this lead to meaningful legislative progress, or will it simply serve as another example of politicians speaking out of both sides of their mouths? Only time will tell, but for now, the prospect of bipartisan cooperation seems to be a tantalizing if somewhat ironic twist in the saga of American politics.
