I have one disagreement with Krugman here. Democrats must have a narrative, a policy to counter Trump's and DOGE's. The Pelosi and Social Security example is not good because the result came from opposition to Bush's attempt at privatization, not from an election, and the point here is to make Trump supporters (different from MAGA) regret their vote. And it happens that Democrats have two good referents, Bill Clinton and FDR, depending on your preferences (I prefer the latter).
Worse, as Schumer's vote for the continuing resolution and Gallego's vote on immigration show, Democrats don't even have a die-hard opposition posture. They are just playing dead, which is terribly irresponsible because the vacuum they are leaving might be filled by a third party that would spoil the next elections. You have to give voters a reason so they don't fear Democrats will come up with another Biden or Harris (unpopular status quo, justifiable or not). Therefore, Democrats have to show they are different from the status quo (even Biden's) and that they are better. You can't get that by just opposing Trump and, much less, by playing dead.
Dr. Krugman, last year, Comcast moved in on my valley here despite a well entrenched cable company with cheap prices. Today's news says a developer wants to build a data center near a big power plant a few miles away that will suck down power we need. I have been trying to warn about data centers purpose for years now. I feel challenged.
Here is my best argument to prove Cryptocurrency is intended for criminal uses; the inventor is unknown. It's a glaring proof that secret money is intended for crimes.
It is feasible for members from both parties to unite and form a majority bipartisan entity within a chamber, thereby altering leadership
Achieving a majority in each chamber would require four members from the Republican Party to collaborate with the Democratic Party.
In the House, some of these 14 vulnerable Republicans may be eager to salvage their nation to salvage their position and be hero’s to all
• Mariannette Miller Meeks (IA-1)
• John James (MI-10)
• Zach Nunn (IA-3)
• Derrick Van Orden (WI-3)
• Tom Barrett (MI-7)
• Bryan Steil (WI-1)
• David Valadao (CA-22)
• Kevin Kiley (CA-3)
• Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6)
• David Schweikert (AZ-1)
• Scott Perry (PA-10)
• Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7)
• Gabe Evans (CO-8)
• Tony Wied (WI-8)
In the Senate,
• Susan Collins (Maine)
o Collins is retiring, leaving an open seat in a state that leans Democratic at the presidential level. While Maine has a tradition of electing moderate Republicans, the absence of an incumbent makes this seat a top Democratic target
• Thom Tillis (North Carolina)
o Tillis is considered one of the most endangered GOP incumbents. North Carolina is a perennial battleground, and Democrats are expected to contest this seat aggressively
o Tillis himself has acknowledged the risk of a midterm backlash against the GOP, especially if the party fails to focus on economic issues.
• John Cornyn (Texas)
o While Texas is still considered a Republican-leaning state, Cornyn faces a shifting electorate and potential Democratic gains, especially if the GOP primary becomes divisive.
o Recent polling shows Cornyn and other potential GOP nominees only narrowly leading a possible Democratic challenger, former Rep. Colin Allred; Ken Paxton, a likely primary challenger, actually trails Allred in head-to-head polling.
o Cornyn is facing intense primary threats from Trump-aligned Republicans, notably Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
o The Texas GOP has shifted further right, and Cornyn’s establishment profile makes him a target for grassroots conservatives. There is speculation he may not even make it out of the primary, with some insiders suggesting he could bow out rather than risk a loss.
• Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)
o Cassidy is expected to face a strong primary challenge, particularly from John Fleming, Louisiana’s state treasurer and a former congressman.
• Jon Husted (Ohio)
• Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)
o are also mentioned as potentially vulnerable,
• The overall Senate map in 2026 is more favorable to Republicans, with most of their seats in solidly red states. However, the handful of competitive races could be used to influence patriotic Republicans to collaborate with a bipartisan group to improve government.
Surely, there are dedicated patriots in both parties who are committed to protecting our nation from its ongoing deterioration. Who among the leadership and elders of the Democratic Party will start the effort to bring this about?
Moody's strips US of triple A credit rating & warns of rising debt, deficits & inflation, but hey the price of gas will likely go down...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7u87acNcSU #Resist
It seems to me that this downgrade by Moodys is a strong signal about the Trump plans to inflict more pain, more cuts but at the same time increase the US debt by what could be trillions and is going to bring about not only a stock market drop but also even less confidence in the economy. I’d like to see some comments on this by Mr. Krugman….
Wisconsin reader here, Derrick Van Orden is not a likely candidate. His heart is authoritarian, his values are maga. My hope is he will go down in 2026 for clinging to his base values.
Van Orden will not come around. Efforts would be better focused in supporting his Democratic opponent, Rebecca Cooke.
She has a strong message as a supporter of the local economy, but needs more. Personally, Id advise her to address the issues that non-MAGA voters used as their excuse to support Van Orden: law and order, immigration and the deficit. Who in their district is discussing the failure of Trump to honor and work within the rule of law and order, the costs of a Trump killing the bipartisan immigration bill while welcoming the families of major foreign cartel leaders, and the current and predicted explosion of our federal deficit due to Trump’s tariff slowed economy, loss of IRS agents to hold the wealthy and corporations to our laws, and the now Moody’s downgrading of our Treasury debt?
Ah, we have a new and perhaps better Democratic challenger to WI 3rd district’s Stoogie Van Orden! “Emily Berge, a Democrat running against Van Orden, can beat him, and that's why I'm shouting from the rooftops today to support her and donate to her campaign at https://www.bergeforcongress.com/ “ Yes!
The cause of cynicism towards both parties is Television that has destroyed so many good dignified ladies and gentlemen that we are left with radicals and criminals leading the nation.
9:52...Regarding the 'Higher Level Actual Sheen'....Why would we even try to give tRUMP any intellectual capacity to have a 'Higher Level Sheen' on what he is doing regarding the tarrifs and the dollar???? Just read the transcript from the bizarre rant during his trip to Qatar and rambles about lumberjacks, digging ditches, his MAGA Transportation Secretary climbing "up and down" trees, and Pete Buttigieg riding a bicycle. I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN OUR LESSON FROM THE BIDEN DEBACLE & BIDEN'S DECLINE AND REALIZE WE HAVE ANOTHER DECLINING PRESIDENT!!!
But why did the dem elites prop up a dementia puppet for so long? Why not replace the puppet with a better actor? An actor like Buttigieg or newsome or whitmer etc etc would have beaten trump.
I am not sure that there is one answer to that, to be honest. BUT I would suggest that leaving 'power', the power you get as the President of the U.S.A. is very, very difficult. It's difficult for the staff and those in the administration to give up the power, too. I think that the family has spent so much time protecting the president across all their years in politics that that is the mode they operate in....protect and deny. That is why what Washington did at the start of this country...neither claiming a crown nor staying on as president...makes Washington such a hero and significant historical icon for all future presidents! As I read history, this won't be the first time that we had presidents incapable of fullfilling their duty as president. Consider the following presidents....look s what happened with Franklin Roosevelt (He should NEVER have run for a 3rd term..he wasn't well enough), Ronald Reagan, Biden...and I truly think Trump (he has a much better 'image machine').
I don't think it had anything to do with the donors....it was the Democratic Machine...it could have been the Republican Machine...their focus is on winning and maintaining power.
The big age is 80 now. Trump is obviously slower than he was in 2020 and at 80 he will start looking like Biden the last several years. Biden did a great job but I very seriously doubt he could have lasted through 2028. But we have a VP for a reason and I would have been fine with Kamala taking over in 2026. If you don’t like the VP and succession take it up with James Madison.
Moody's strips US of triple A credit rating & warns of rising debt, deficits & inflation, but hey the price of gas will likely go down...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7u87acNcSU #Resist
Paul, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT expect to teach or explain fine points if a subject when your audio is not working! Fix it or reschedule! It's as bad as lecturing while wandering back and forth at the edge of a stage, your audience missing what you are saying, distracted by waiting for you to step off of the edge. I, and others I'm sure, put great stock in what you have to say and, for me at least, need to hear every word to maintain context. Thanks.
This was a good discussion, and I think it may bring attention to the absence of an intelligent description of the major problems that the country is facing and importantly the opportunities in investing in these problems to improve the standard of living for Americans.
In the research I have been doing on how to raise the standard of living for Americans and all humanity, I have found we need to concentrate on defining the major barriers for global economic progress and keep investing in the R&D, and innovations to attract the cultures of the world to a better standard of living: good food, indoor plumbing, electric lights, TV, HVAC homes, washers and dryers, clean sheets, comfortable beds, towels, and warm showers, comfortable shoes and clothes. Access to books, education, and good nutrition should also be the goal. Social insurance for those who have a bad turn at living and assuring affordable travel and commuting, and work group and community participation.
Our enlightened behavioral scientists, and cultural entrepreneurs need to step up to the plate and sort out our common interests that are better served by the government. Where are the "white papers" and the community discussions? We are missing something in this MAGA cult drivel that I see being reported. The easy stuff of reporting on the Trump theatrics is begging for a serious discussion of real problems and their potential for new ideas. We flourish on innovation. That is what sets our species apart.
Human healthcare should be more accessible than it is. I think, all things considered, that human health, clean air, clean water, and family-oriented homes are a human right. We are crazy if we don't pursue this kind of societal living standard and use our collective efforts to ensure that our society provides this basic hierarchy. This tariff stuff is BSC.
I specialize in identifying missing key facts. You gentlemen said there are no policy papers outlining Trump's economic strategy. That may indicate a secret strategy.
I enjoy reading Dr. Krugman’s newsletters and these interview sessions. Unfortunately Audio with Ryan was bad and the session was incomplete in Part 1 . It isn’t a whole lot better in part 2.
I have one disagreement with Krugman here. Democrats must have a narrative, a policy to counter Trump's and DOGE's. The Pelosi and Social Security example is not good because the result came from opposition to Bush's attempt at privatization, not from an election, and the point here is to make Trump supporters (different from MAGA) regret their vote. And it happens that Democrats have two good referents, Bill Clinton and FDR, depending on your preferences (I prefer the latter).
Worse, as Schumer's vote for the continuing resolution and Gallego's vote on immigration show, Democrats don't even have a die-hard opposition posture. They are just playing dead, which is terribly irresponsible because the vacuum they are leaving might be filled by a third party that would spoil the next elections. You have to give voters a reason so they don't fear Democrats will come up with another Biden or Harris (unpopular status quo, justifiable or not). Therefore, Democrats have to show they are different from the status quo (even Biden's) and that they are better. You can't get that by just opposing Trump and, much less, by playing dead.
Dr. Krugman, last year, Comcast moved in on my valley here despite a well entrenched cable company with cheap prices. Today's news says a developer wants to build a data center near a big power plant a few miles away that will suck down power we need. I have been trying to warn about data centers purpose for years now. I feel challenged.
Here is my best argument to prove Cryptocurrency is intended for criminal uses; the inventor is unknown. It's a glaring proof that secret money is intended for crimes.
It is feasible for members from both parties to unite and form a majority bipartisan entity within a chamber, thereby altering leadership
Achieving a majority in each chamber would require four members from the Republican Party to collaborate with the Democratic Party.
In the House, some of these 14 vulnerable Republicans may be eager to salvage their nation to salvage their position and be hero’s to all
• Mariannette Miller Meeks (IA-1)
• John James (MI-10)
• Zach Nunn (IA-3)
• Derrick Van Orden (WI-3)
• Tom Barrett (MI-7)
• Bryan Steil (WI-1)
• David Valadao (CA-22)
• Kevin Kiley (CA-3)
• Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6)
• David Schweikert (AZ-1)
• Scott Perry (PA-10)
• Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7)
• Gabe Evans (CO-8)
• Tony Wied (WI-8)
In the Senate,
• Susan Collins (Maine)
o Collins is retiring, leaving an open seat in a state that leans Democratic at the presidential level. While Maine has a tradition of electing moderate Republicans, the absence of an incumbent makes this seat a top Democratic target
• Thom Tillis (North Carolina)
o Tillis is considered one of the most endangered GOP incumbents. North Carolina is a perennial battleground, and Democrats are expected to contest this seat aggressively
o Tillis himself has acknowledged the risk of a midterm backlash against the GOP, especially if the party fails to focus on economic issues.
• John Cornyn (Texas)
o While Texas is still considered a Republican-leaning state, Cornyn faces a shifting electorate and potential Democratic gains, especially if the GOP primary becomes divisive.
o Recent polling shows Cornyn and other potential GOP nominees only narrowly leading a possible Democratic challenger, former Rep. Colin Allred; Ken Paxton, a likely primary challenger, actually trails Allred in head-to-head polling.
o Cornyn is facing intense primary threats from Trump-aligned Republicans, notably Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
o The Texas GOP has shifted further right, and Cornyn’s establishment profile makes him a target for grassroots conservatives. There is speculation he may not even make it out of the primary, with some insiders suggesting he could bow out rather than risk a loss.
• Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)
o Cassidy is expected to face a strong primary challenge, particularly from John Fleming, Louisiana’s state treasurer and a former congressman.
• Jon Husted (Ohio)
• Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)
o are also mentioned as potentially vulnerable,
• The overall Senate map in 2026 is more favorable to Republicans, with most of their seats in solidly red states. However, the handful of competitive races could be used to influence patriotic Republicans to collaborate with a bipartisan group to improve government.
Surely, there are dedicated patriots in both parties who are committed to protecting our nation from its ongoing deterioration. Who among the leadership and elders of the Democratic Party will start the effort to bring this about?
Moody's strips US of triple A credit rating & warns of rising debt, deficits & inflation, but hey the price of gas will likely go down...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7u87acNcSU #Resist
It seems to me that this downgrade by Moodys is a strong signal about the Trump plans to inflict more pain, more cuts but at the same time increase the US debt by what could be trillions and is going to bring about not only a stock market drop but also even less confidence in the economy. I’d like to see some comments on this by Mr. Krugman….
Wisconsin reader here, Derrick Van Orden is not a likely candidate. His heart is authoritarian, his values are maga. My hope is he will go down in 2026 for clinging to his base values.
Thanks, Let's take him off the list. that aside, Who's appropriate to groom others to help with the switch? All we need is 4
Van Orden will not come around. Efforts would be better focused in supporting his Democratic opponent, Rebecca Cooke.
She has a strong message as a supporter of the local economy, but needs more. Personally, Id advise her to address the issues that non-MAGA voters used as their excuse to support Van Orden: law and order, immigration and the deficit. Who in their district is discussing the failure of Trump to honor and work within the rule of law and order, the costs of a Trump killing the bipartisan immigration bill while welcoming the families of major foreign cartel leaders, and the current and predicted explosion of our federal deficit due to Trump’s tariff slowed economy, loss of IRS agents to hold the wealthy and corporations to our laws, and the now Moody’s downgrading of our Treasury debt?
Ah, we have a new and perhaps better Democratic challenger to WI 3rd district’s Stoogie Van Orden! “Emily Berge, a Democrat running against Van Orden, can beat him, and that's why I'm shouting from the rooftops today to support her and donate to her campaign at https://www.bergeforcongress.com/ “ Yes!
He'd lose by 5 points today. Maybe we need the British parliamentary system.
Call a confidence vote!
A little off topic, but I keep wondering about Trump's promise that we will pay for drugs the lowest price in the world.
My dusty econ degree suggests to me that drug companies can raise their prices for the rest of the world to make up for any lost income from the US.
Those markets are not fixed.
Thanks
The cause of cynicism towards both parties is Television that has destroyed so many good dignified ladies and gentlemen that we are left with radicals and criminals leading the nation.
It's worse than getting past the current administration. Half the country supports it. The future is dangerous.
krugman's audio is far from professional grade!
There is a transcript.
9:52...Regarding the 'Higher Level Actual Sheen'....Why would we even try to give tRUMP any intellectual capacity to have a 'Higher Level Sheen' on what he is doing regarding the tarrifs and the dollar???? Just read the transcript from the bizarre rant during his trip to Qatar and rambles about lumberjacks, digging ditches, his MAGA Transportation Secretary climbing "up and down" trees, and Pete Buttigieg riding a bicycle. I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN OUR LESSON FROM THE BIDEN DEBACLE & BIDEN'S DECLINE AND REALIZE WE HAVE ANOTHER DECLINING PRESIDENT!!!
But why did the dem elites prop up a dementia puppet for so long? Why not replace the puppet with a better actor? An actor like Buttigieg or newsome or whitmer etc etc would have beaten trump.
Maybe....the donors....wanted trump all along?
I am not sure that there is one answer to that, to be honest. BUT I would suggest that leaving 'power', the power you get as the President of the U.S.A. is very, very difficult. It's difficult for the staff and those in the administration to give up the power, too. I think that the family has spent so much time protecting the president across all their years in politics that that is the mode they operate in....protect and deny. That is why what Washington did at the start of this country...neither claiming a crown nor staying on as president...makes Washington such a hero and significant historical icon for all future presidents! As I read history, this won't be the first time that we had presidents incapable of fullfilling their duty as president. Consider the following presidents....look s what happened with Franklin Roosevelt (He should NEVER have run for a 3rd term..he wasn't well enough), Ronald Reagan, Biden...and I truly think Trump (he has a much better 'image machine').
I don't think it had anything to do with the donors....it was the Democratic Machine...it could have been the Republican Machine...their focus is on winning and maintaining power.
The big age is 80 now. Trump is obviously slower than he was in 2020 and at 80 he will start looking like Biden the last several years. Biden did a great job but I very seriously doubt he could have lasted through 2028. But we have a VP for a reason and I would have been fine with Kamala taking over in 2026. If you don’t like the VP and succession take it up with James Madison.
No the donors pick the puppets. The puppets dont pick themselves LOL.
Uh, or Harris because she was the actual VP?
Yes. Someone with barely hidden shizophrenia is an upgrade on a 82 year with severe dementia for public speaking I guess.
Moody's strips US of triple A credit rating & warns of rising debt, deficits & inflation, but hey the price of gas will likely go down...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7u87acNcSU #Resist
Paul, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT expect to teach or explain fine points if a subject when your audio is not working! Fix it or reschedule! It's as bad as lecturing while wandering back and forth at the edge of a stage, your audience missing what you are saying, distracted by waiting for you to step off of the edge. I, and others I'm sure, put great stock in what you have to say and, for me at least, need to hear every word to maintain context. Thanks.
Fascinating conversation - unfortunately, for me, a non-native speaker, audio quality is an issue, so I missed some of his views.
Dr. K,
This was a good discussion, and I think it may bring attention to the absence of an intelligent description of the major problems that the country is facing and importantly the opportunities in investing in these problems to improve the standard of living for Americans.
In the research I have been doing on how to raise the standard of living for Americans and all humanity, I have found we need to concentrate on defining the major barriers for global economic progress and keep investing in the R&D, and innovations to attract the cultures of the world to a better standard of living: good food, indoor plumbing, electric lights, TV, HVAC homes, washers and dryers, clean sheets, comfortable beds, towels, and warm showers, comfortable shoes and clothes. Access to books, education, and good nutrition should also be the goal. Social insurance for those who have a bad turn at living and assuring affordable travel and commuting, and work group and community participation.
Our enlightened behavioral scientists, and cultural entrepreneurs need to step up to the plate and sort out our common interests that are better served by the government. Where are the "white papers" and the community discussions? We are missing something in this MAGA cult drivel that I see being reported. The easy stuff of reporting on the Trump theatrics is begging for a serious discussion of real problems and their potential for new ideas. We flourish on innovation. That is what sets our species apart.
Human healthcare should be more accessible than it is. I think, all things considered, that human health, clean air, clean water, and family-oriented homes are a human right. We are crazy if we don't pursue this kind of societal living standard and use our collective efforts to ensure that our society provides this basic hierarchy. This tariff stuff is BSC.
I specialize in identifying missing key facts. You gentlemen said there are no policy papers outlining Trump's economic strategy. That may indicate a secret strategy.
It’s impossible to open the video in the Substack App.
I enjoy reading Dr. Krugman’s newsletters and these interview sessions. Unfortunately Audio with Ryan was bad and the session was incomplete in Part 1 . It isn’t a whole lot better in part 2.