Sen. Bernie Sanders Speaks To A Crowd Of 36,000 At The Preventing Oligarchy Rally At Gloria Molina Grand Park In Downtown Los Angeles On April 12, 2025.
Sam Ghazi//AFP through Getty
conceal caption
toggle caption
Sam Ghazi//AFP through Getty
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, has been touring the nation with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to push again towards the Trump administration.
In an interview with Right here & Now’s Robin Youngerhe mentioned Democrats must put up candidates who can channel the anger of voters who’re frightened about current strikes by President Trump.
“I feel assist for this right-wing agenda, which isn’t solely about authoritarianism and oligarchy, it’s a couple of proposal which is able to give over, if handed, over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the highest 1% and permit for large cuts to Medicaid, vitamin, housing and different packages,” Sanders mentioned. “Should you ballot that, I’d guess that 80-90% of the American individuals assume that that’s completely insane. So I feel in reality in some ways the Trump administration is now on the defensive with their tariff insurance policies, that are going to boost costs. Now what we’d like are candidates and a political motion which stands clearly with the working class of this nation.”
The next excerpt has been edited for size and readability.
On considerations from Democrats that the social gathering has moved too far to the left and must pay attention extra
Sen. Bernie Sanders: Effectively, after all the social gathering must pay attention extra. There’s loads to be pleased with. They’ve led the best way in the appropriate for ladies to manage their very own physique, one thing which is beneath assault proper now, led the best way for homosexual rights, led the best way to struggle towards bigotry normally civil rights, however I am going to inform you what Democrats shouldn’t be pleased with: And that’s within the richest nation within the historical past of the world, 60% of the American individuals dwelling paycheck to paycheck.
In America as we speak, one man, Elon Musk, owns extra wealth than the underside 53% of American households. We’re the one main nation on Earth that does not assure well being care to all individuals regardless of spending twice as a lot as most international locations. Sixty thousand individuals a yr die as a result of they do not get to a health care provider on time. In different phrases, what the Democratic Celebration has not accomplished is paid consideration to the working class, they usually paid a political value for that.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Ny) Maintain Arms Throughout A Cease On Their ‘Preventing Oligarchy’ Tour At Grand Park On April 12, 2025 In Los Angeles, California. An Estimated 36,000 Folks Attended The Rally Which Additionally Noticed Neil Younger And Joan Baez Carry out.
Sam Ghazi/AFP through Getty
conceal caption
toggle caption
Sam Ghazi/AFP through Getty
Extra interview highlights
For extra highlights from Sanders’ interview, together with ideas on why Republicans have not paid a political value for insurance policies favoring the rich and how you can get disaffected voters to hearken to the Democratic Celebration and to pay attention, click on by means of to Right here & Now’s web site.
Michael Scotto produced this piece for digital together with Grace Griffin. Mark Navin edited the printed phase.
