The Post Populist World

Interesting take here about what Democrats (and the broader liberal order) should do post-Trump. This presumes twin Democratic victories in the race for the White House and control of the Senate. If things get worse - and sure as shit looks like things will get worse - then Trump could preside over a massive electoral college wipe out. Right now I'd estimate 52 Senate seats is doable, but that map could expand to include two races in Georgia, Doug Jones holding on in Alabama and potential upsets in Kentucky (please God) and Kansas. There's even a plausible but unlikely road to 58 Senators.  If you add DC and Puerto Rico Senate seats, that gets you to 62, which you can make the new threshold for the filibuster if you feel you need to keep it for some reason.  Frankly, they should scrap it.

Anyway, let's assume Biden is President, Pelosi is Speaker and Democrats have 53 Senate seats and no filibuster. What's the agenda?

First should be a far reaching set of electoral reforms.

• Mandated transparency on tax returns and business dealings.
• Campaign finance laws (let the Court wait)
• Anti-gerrymandering laws
• Electoral access, including early voting, vote-by-mail and a national holiday

Next should be some "wish list" reforms

• Immigration reform that prioritizes people here already including DREAMers
• A guest worker program and improved visa process
• Increased rights for labor unions
• Increased minimum wage

Finally, bigger structural changes that are locked into a 10 year timeline

• A dramatic expansion of Medicaid and Medicare (again let the Courts wait)
• A form of the Green New Deal that address climate change and unemployment
• Reform of the Courts, including - perhaps - a new Circuit court with existing judges moved around to dilute right wing ideologues on the Court
• Substantive and massive tax increases on the wealthy and on wealth.

There are probably a bunch of other things, including a massive reinvestment in the federal workforce, reinforcing foreign alliances with other democracies, curbing financial globalization...the list is long. But a guiding principle should be addressing the structural inequality and xenophobia that created Trump.