The hosts of the liberal podcast “Pod Save America,” who are former staffers of President Obama, criticized President Biden’s Washington Post article about the January 6 Capitol riot. They called the op-ed “feckless” and criticized the Democratic Party for acting self-righteous. Jon Favreau, one of the hosts, argued that Democrats need to stop using terms like “institutions” and “democracy” that don’t resonate with ordinary people. He believes this language is outdated and not helpful to connect with voters.
In his op-ed, Biden warned that America could face another January 6 if the country forgets the events of that day. He quoted the famous saying, “Any nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it.” Biden urged Americans to remember the lessons of the insurrection and avoid repeating such a disaster. However, the podcast hosts disagreed with his message, with Jon Lovett saying Biden misunderstood the famous quote and compared him to a “stubborn old man” who is too focused on the past. The hosts felt Biden’s words didn’t match what Americans cared about, as most voters, according to them, didn’t think much about the events of January 6 anymore.
The podcast hosts also criticized Biden for not offering specific actions to counter what they called Trump’s “coup attempt” during the January 6 events. They felt the op-ed was an example of how the Democratic Party had become ineffective and disconnected from voters. Tommy Vietor, another host, said the Democrats’ focus on explaining how terrible the insurrection was didn’t work politically and only made things worse. Vietor also expressed frustration with Biden, particularly over his decision to run for re-election, which the hosts felt would not help the party.
The criticism wasn’t just about Biden’s leadership; it extended to the party’s overall approach. Many Democrats, including Clinton campaign strategist James Carville, have called for a shift in how the party communicates. Carville argued that Democrats should stop using academic and “woke” language and instead focus on speaking plainly and authentically. The hosts of “Pod Save America” echoed this sentiment, arguing that the current style of Democratic politics isn’t working. They believe it’s time for the party to change its approach if it hopes to stay relevant.
