Have Schumer and Jefferies forgotten how to hold a press conference?

[Chasstev365]

* State that the Davos Speech shows that Trump is a raving loon and an embarrassment to the USA. Talk about Trump's dementia the way Republicans attacked Joe Biden.

* State that ICE is arresting children and the DOJ believes that ICE DOESN’T NEED A WARRANT TO BURST INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES! Hello: the 4th Amendment in the Bill of Rights?

* Explain the according the GOP, the Clinton's must testify to Congress or be held in contempt, yet numerous Republicans, including some on the very committee, blew off their own subpoenas with zero consequences

MY GOD: AT LEAST TRY TO FIGHT THE MADNESS AND EXPOSE THE GOP TO AMERICANS WHO AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION!

[LymphocyteLover]

1. Whatever they ARE doing, it's not enough. It's ridiculous they aren't capitalizing on this moment of abject madness by

the Republican POTUS

[Alliepoo]

92. I agree.

The silence from them is deafening.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Schumer and Jeffries can't believe what good luck they're having

If this holds til November, they're good to go. They don't want to do anything to upset the apple cart, ding the fundraising, nor undermine any of the extensive list of fine candidates they have recruited. They themselves don't want to become the problem. So they're going timid. Explain to us all how that is not a sound strategy. Viewed another way, Democrats don't need to take on political risk and blowback. They just need to trudge forward and let the mass of what they've banked pay off.

SO I find criticism of them ill-informed.

[AloeVera]

6. People are gonna vote for a party led by the "timid".

Sure thing.

[Paladin]

18. Yeah, because timidity has been such a triumph for Democrats, all these years.

At this point, I'd settle for a little public outrage from Democratic leadership. Is that just too much to ask for, as our country devolves into a Goddamned police state?

[jaymac]

44. be careful

I cited "waste of space" about some men in charge and got bounced............if you can't name the problem, how can you fix it?

[bucolic_frolic]

88. Making themselves a target for MAGA and FauxNoise does nothing

Jeffries in particular could become speaker any week or month as the GOP implodes and retires.

Making loud noises and alienating everyone is not sound strategy. Dems need to peak in November, not win a shouting contest in February.

They are executing sound strategy, and have some considerable basis for its effectiveness in polling and past performance.

How is making a lot of noise working for Trump? He keeps plummeting in the polls.

Well guess what? We can plummet to and help Trump if we act that way. It goes both ways.

The people are deciding. We'll be out front leading them on Election Day. For sure.

[Javaman]

23. Jeffries voted to approve jared kushners daddy as a diplomat

why?

because jared's daddio help fund Jeffries campaign.

that's enough for me to oust him as leader.

[returnee]

71. Why did any dem vote for any of TSF's nominees? n/t

[Javaman]

72. exactly. nt

[yardwork]

33. I know that's their strategy but I don't agree with it.

[Tadpole Raisin]

43. If timid was the right strategy, he would never have gotten a

second term. The average person voting Republican has the attention span and memory of a gnat. They forgot how bad it was under him and with him constantly telling people how great his administration was they kind of went along with it.

And the Democratic tendency to wait until after Labor Day (the official start of the election season) to about the talk about what great things Dems have done and how horrible Republicans have been almost guarantees a loss. By that time they are so far behind the 8 ball they barely make a dent until just before the election.

This is a 24/7/365 day effort. It doesn’t have to be in your face but it does require regular reminders to the populace in the moment.

The OP is right, sorry!

[Hieronymus Phact]

46. i think this is milquetoast.

Risk is a required. People follow strength.
Most people don't pay attention to anything outside their own little daily bubble.
The more voices there are standing up and saying this is wacko, un-American shit going on, the more of a possibility that someone who's not paying much attention will hear it and say "yeah it seemed strange when i heard something like that last week, that's messed up".

Being in congress gives them a louder voice than average people, It's their duty to speak up and lead.

[choie]

61. Yeah, right

And we thought Kamala was going to win in 2024. No way should the Dems sit on their asses and do nothing, unless you want the same thing to happen in 2026.

[agingdem]

67. True..

Last edited Thu Jan 22, 2026, 01:17 PM - Edit history (1)

Woodrow Wilson once said “Never attempt to murder a man who is committing suicide”..

Schumer and Jeffries are savvy enough to know when to stay out of the way of a party (Republican), a movement (MAGA), and their psychotic dementia-addled leader are in the process of’ “committing suicide”..

[Ars Longa]

69. So we are fighting Trump/Republicans with Quietness & Timidity? OK, Got it!

There should be zero wonder the Dems approval is at 29%!
And Trump is marauding thru this country like a mad, lawless T-Rex.

[RoseTrellis]

80. Agreed.

Dem leadership is doing the exact proper thing- give the bastards enough rope to hang themselves.
When the enemy is self destructing- LET THEM!

I trust them to stay quiet until the repukes, emboldened by lack of resistance, inevitably go to far with their overreach.
THATS when we can lay all the cards on the table and say the emperor has no clothes!

[SpankMe]

83. I get it, but...

1. Although polls are showing Repubs losing support, there's no evidence or valid analysis so far showing that this will result in electoral gains for Dems in the upcoming election. We're assuming that gripes over Greenland, ICE and authoritarian insanity will mean a Dem landslide in November, but polls are snapshots and voters are fickle.

2. Rocking the boat a little won't sully Dems and throw independents into Republican arms. I think that highlighting the authoritarian behavior with frequent press conferences and public statements keeps these issues on the front burner and tells the public that we're watching.

[PatrickforB]

84. This is NOT a sound strategy. How about talking about compassion, empathy and pounding on the moral compass? n/t

[Alliepoo]

93. I think you forgot the

Snark/sarcasm symbol.

[Cirsium]

94. That is the problem

They can't believe what good luck they're having?

That's the problem. The worse things get for us us, the better it is for them. Our misfortune is their good fortune.

That is true for a small army of people - politicians, consultants, pod casters, MSM pundits. Fascism is good for business.

What was it Carville recommended? Playing 'possum?

That approach is what brought us to where we are.

[Soul_of_Wit]

96. You answered your own question with

"If this holds til November". It won't. The tangerine toddler is in a second term because of timidity. If folks perceive a political party as doing nothing, then they won't vote for them. The lesson of "anyone but W" is that folks will give another term to W and reject the vague "anyone." That lesson is as old as DU.

[SocialDemocrat61]

3. There's an old saying

Last edited Thu Jan 22, 2026, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

‘When your enemy is shooting themself in the foot, let them and don’t get in the way’. And frankly there are democrats who are better spokespersons than either of them.

[OldBaldy1701E]

24. And, the fact that they are also shooting other people while they are shooting themselves in the foot is okay?

I do not agree. They have already 'shot themselves in the foot' enough. If people cannot see how dangerous and insane he and his cronies are, then there is nothing we can do about them and they will just have to go down with their ship of choice.

So how many lives are worth the sticking to your adage and just waiting around until our broken system is used to try and fix our broken system?

10? 100? One percent of the population? (That's three million people, btw.)

[SocialDemocrat61]

73. So what is the solution?

I'm open to any constructive ideas.

[JBTaurus83]

57. If there are better spokespeople

They should be the ones in charge. We have been hearing the “keep the powder dry” since Bush. That sure has worked out tremendously.

[SocialDemocrat61]

75. Two different skill sets

The job of minority leader in either house is not to be the top spokesperson. It's more of an organizational job. Too many confuse our system for parliamentary systems where the leader of the minority is the top spokesperson and who becomes Prime Minister if they win back the majority.

[myohmy2]

4. I think...

...they're afraid of our fearless leader...

...what else could it be...?

...

[LiberalArkie]

19. And the files.... Have to remember that Epstein was a big Democratic Party supporter and financial guy.

[JBTaurus83]

59. Get another job, then.

[JI7]

5. What makes you think those who aren't paying attention

are suddenly going to pay attention to Schumer and Jefferies ?

I think Schumer needs to retire but these posts make no sense.

[ColoringFool]

28. Nothing Ventured,...... Etc.

[Orrex]

7. You're gonna get scolded for your lack of faith

And Those strongly-worded letters don’t write themselves, you know

[Ray Bruns]

8. It called"just let him rave and rant" strategy.

Give him enough rope to hang himself

[werdna]

17. I think nine years of rope should be sufficient -

- so why is he still in office?

[Ray Bruns]

48. He's in the office because someone's eggs were supposedly to expensive. (Which is bullshit).

And he’s still in off because Trump keeps al the Republican’s spines in a closet in the White House.

[ColoringFool]

30. Yeah, No. More Like A Bungee Cord.

[choie]

63. Yeah

How’s that been working for us?

Answer: it hasn’t.

[Bettie]

9. They are keeping all of

That “powder” dry. If bad things ever happen, they will be ready…but , apparently what is happening now is not enough to even be particularly upset about.

[Bluetus]

90. Or maybe these guys just aren't that smart.

I mean, what evidence have we seen that tells us these guys are in the top 1% of leaders/fighters/strategists, or even the top 25%?

[Bettie]

95. I don't know what is up with it all

it could be that they aren't all that smart, it could be what their large donors are telling them to do...who knows?

I'm certainly not wealthy enough to understand why congresscritters do what they do...I don't have enough money to matter.

[gay texan]

10. "Oh Bullwinkle, that strongly worded letter never works"

"This time for sure, Rocky!!!!"

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Something is very wrong with the Dem leadership right now.

[ColoringFool]

31. Equal Opportunity Epstein Files? 🤔 🧐 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷‍♀️🤷

[gab13by13]

12. Fuck speeches,

They should be out in the streets in Minneapolis and then Maine.

[democrank]

13. With things this bad, this dangerous in our country

EVERY member of Congress should speak up. It’s a matter of principles to me, not political calculations.

Imagine if there were grave problems in our family and someone suggested we just sit back and wait. Don’t rock the boat. Don’t make waves.

[NoMoreRepugs]

14. DemDUer's with absolute opposite opinions- in the end I sure hope we all pull on the same rope.

[angrychair]

64. We will

Because where we must because we won't have any choice but I will use the primary season to advocate for an other Democrat than a Democrat can calling to abolish ICE.
There is no fixing this. There is no smaller budget. It's abolish or out the door. Just like I will advocate against ANY candidate that votes to approve this latest budget that funds ICE.
I am more than willing to shut down the government to abolish ICE
If you find ice you support them kicking down doors without a warrant and shooting innocent people in the face with no consequences.

There is no other interpretation or opinion.

[werdna]

15. Yes, every single day! n/t

[Johonny]

16. They are good back room leaders, not charismatic

Leaders. In the age of TicToc clips, you need a charismatic leader that is good at 30 second sound bits. Democrats need to find and get those people out. They don't need to be house or senate leadership, but they sure should be your number 2. And they need to be our there constantly. Trump is a daily circus.

[ColoringFool]

34. Gavin. AOC. MIA: Obama, Big Bill, Gore, Dean, HRC.....

Too many stick to Tik-Tok or Bluesky.

[dalton99a]

20. We will win - because victory will come to us in due time - if we pray hard and wait long enough.

Last edited Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Meanwhile, hold your fire until the stars are perfectly aligned

[ColoringFool]

36. I've Been Waiting Since, Oh, 1963.

[JBTaurus83]

60. Jeffries says God is still on the Throne!

Take heart, thousands of peasants in concentration camps!

[dalton99a]

62. Well, God did outlast Hitler and He will outlast Trump.

Our prayers will be answered in the order received. Eventually.

[JBTaurus83]

66. Fair point

[Gingermolly]

21. Cory Booker

needs to do another filibuster. But it shouldn't all be on him.

[Autumn]

22. I think they are waiting.

Until someone does something. Or when god steps down off his throne.

[Javaman]

25. in a time when we are surrounded by madness...

cool heads are always appreciated, but absence is not.

one would think, as leaders of the dems they would have a few things to say to counter the orange asshole, but alas.

time for fresh outlooks and energy.

[betsuni]

26. Ah, the magic fighting spirit press conference that Americans huddled 'round the TV like in the '60s

will all see and believe and be inspired by and finally, finally, Trump and the GOP will be exposed and stopped.

[ColoringFool]

37. Well, There WAS That "I Have A Dream" Speech. Plus,...

There WERE the "Pentagon Papers" that a hero like Daniel Ellsberg could replicate today with the "Epstein Files."

But faint heart ne'er won democracy.

[littlemissmartypants]

27. Waiting for the "rope" portion of the 'rope-a-dope' program? 🤷‍♀️

I'm not going to share what I really think.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope-a-dope

[Abstractartist]

29. IMO

In my opinion, when the democrats retake the house and maybe senate? Not sure on senate, but anyway, when this happens, the new majority should NOT elect Jefferies speaker and Schumer as minority leader. These two leaders have shown that they are NOT leaders when we need them to be NOW. Not when it’s convenient. AOC would make a phenomenal leader, and I’d like to see Mark Kelly or Amy Klobuchar as minority lead in the Senate. Time for change….

[4bonhoffer]

32. I agree. BUT

Democratic messaging has to get better, but remember, and I tend to forget this, the progressive caucus in the house hold press, conferences almost every day, and it is never covered by the mainstream media.
Republican press conferences almost always get covered.

[ColoringFool]

39. Then Our Guys Need To Actually CHALLENGE THE MEDIA, DARE THEM TO ...

Cover the Democrats! Say into the microphones, "Hey, networks! Televise THIS! What are you afraid of? Has Trump 'grabbed' you?"

[maliaSmith]

35. Schumer and Jeffries are pussies

Time to vote out these two and vote in leaders with fire in their blood. I'm disgusted with both of these men. JFC

[Easterncedar]

54. Wrong word.

[Clouds Passing]

38. LAME "LEADERS"

[murielm99]

40. Just what we need.

More whining and bashing of Democrats on a Democratic website.

[LittleGirl]

41. Absolutely

Where are they? How about former leaders? Where are they? I used to hear that Ds were feckless and I didn’t think that. Now? I’m so disappointed in anyone coming up and speaking out. I have to see Adam Mockler or Leigh The Politics Girl make great points instead. Come on! Our best voices are influencers? Sheesh. What have we done?

[LR3]

42. I don't think seeing them wobble around is going to be very inspiring

Milquetoast doesn't win a lot of elections.

Gallego has the right approach--call the insane MFer an insane MFer. All that our current leaders will be able to muster is bland admonishments, at best.

[ratchiweenie]

45. There are lots of Dems in both houses who would be much tougher than those two.

[Joinfortmill]

47. Should be out there every DAMN DAY, especially Jefferies

I love Nancy Pelosi, she was a rock star, but Jefferies? WTF, woman?

[dalton99a]

51. +1. Seriously. What the fuck are they doing?

It is The Party of Silence vs. The Party of Evil

[Cheezoholic]

49. Think they will slowly ramp up as we get into Spring. Citizens attention span is as long as a hummingbirds wing flap n/t

[QueerDuck]

50. Good grief. 🙄🥱

Demanding that our leadership have public temper tantrums helps nothing. If they're not paying attention to Trump, then they won't be paying attention to Democratic temper tantrums behind a lectern. Even if they did comply with these demands, it would change nothing.

Let them do their jobs and instead complain that the media isn't doing their job. Or, spread the word yourself rather than blaming everything on "lazy" Democrats or "do-nothing" Democrats or "fearful" Democrats.

I'm sure it feels good for some people to have convenient targets to blame for everything, but I assure you that it's not the Democrats and it's not Democratic leadership. Posts like that are divisive and counterproductive.

[spanone]

52. K&R

[Tadpole Raisin]

53. Timid gets us every other election when we should be

winning them hand over fist all the time. I think they should be out there more but I also don’t think they are capable of it. It is not in their political DNA.

As proof I’m reminded of Schumer standing at a podium not too long ago chanting “We will win, We will win!”

Please….

[karin_sj]

55. Could not agree more

They are failing us miserably.

[JBTaurus83]

56. I'm very proud of we the people

And our responsive reps standing up. What I could say about these two and their supporters would get me banned I’m sure.

[ALBliberal]

58. Pelosi held regular conferences at least during Covid

As minority leader. Inexcusable for them to sit on their hands.

[JonAndKatePlusABird]

68. Not a Cuomo fan, but I appreciated his daily pressers during Covid

And sure, it was a fair amount of self-aggrandizement, but I felt like it was a welcome counter to Trump’s bleach-injecting lunacy.

[ALBliberal]

81. Same.

[hay rick]

65. When your enemy is making a mistake, don't interrupt him.

Everything that Trump and his sycophants are currently doing is getting negative and shocked coverage in the media. Let the media, which has so often defaulted to complicity, be the messengers. A Schumer or Jeffries press conference would be an opportunity to shift narratives away from Minneapolis, ICE, Greenland, Canada, NATO, etc.

[justaprogressive]

70. Would you feel this same way

If YOU were in a concentration camp?

I think not!

I've got a better quote for you:

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

[hay rick]

77. It looks to me like Sun Tzu agrees with me (and himself since I borrowed his point).

"Let your plans be dark and impenetrable" does not sound like an argument for holding a press conference.

On your hypothetical question about being in a concentration camp- I would not be looking for press conferences, I would be looking for the intervention of allied bombers and soldiers.

[leftstreet]

74. DURec

[yellow dahlia]

76. So many topics to cover. Unambiguous topics!

My observation is - they still think they can skulk to the side and wait for the R's to implode, so they can pick up the pieces in the midterms.

[OneGrassRoot]

78. I think leadership and the consultant class...

are making a HUGE mistake by assuming people turning away from Trump and the GOP means they will turn toward Democrats. More and more people are disgusted because they don’t see anyone fighting hard and consistently for them, so they may ditch voting altogether even more than they have been lately.

[dalton99a]

82. Consultant advice so far seems to be silence and prayerful meditation.

In other words, wait for the tyrant to croak

[usonian]

79. Morning rant. TALK IS CHEAP. Show me the action.

Not blaming Chuck, but if he treated Trump like he was the rerun of Adolph Hitler (which he is) he would have strapped on a dynamite vest (or ketchup vest) to prevent ACB's confirmation and the BallBusterBill that enabled all this crap.

He did!



Chuck?




OK. so he didn't have the leverage, but he could have brought up Epstein, the cause of every bit of destruction you see since Jan 2025.

Sighted Achilles heel, Ignored it.

[Quanto Magnus]

85. It is sad

that we have such weak leadership in the Dem party right now....

Quite frankly (IMO) that's part of why Trump has managed to get so far in his fascist takeover.....

Sternly worded letters or press conferences won't have any effect on the Nazis....

[Scubamatt]

86. If we are to win the midterms

We are going to to have to have a blue tsunami, given all the vote suppression/vote stealing the cons are putting in place as we type this. You do not energize the average person who does not marinate in politics to take time away from their regular lives to go vote, by being silent. If folks don't see what you stand for, their attitude is "why bother." You have to energize them and lead them. Sitting around doing nothing except blasting the rank and file with hundreds of texts and emails asking for contributions is a sure recipe for losing.

[danieljsf]

87. It's a losing strategy to be quiet and timid

Democrats are not exactly rallying voters to their side by hiding and letting the monsters rule the day. Yes, people are tiring of Trump but they also say that they have no faith in the Democratic party because it stands for nothing other than "We aren't Trump." Stand up for something and speak out against what is happening, for God's sake.

[flashman13]

89. Au contraire , They want to talk about bipartisanship to solve the affordability crisis.

Insert thingy here.

Not just Schumer and Jefferies, but dozens of Democrats everyday hammering the MAGAts' miscreant deeds. They should start every press gaggle by reminding everyone that Trump is mad as a hatter.

[W_HAMILTON]

91. Ironic that as Jeffries is giving a press conference right now, no one here is talking about it.

Maybe those that wanted a press conference so badly can start a live thread here now to discuss it?

PS - Is the fascist threat to our country over with now that Jeffries has held his first press conference since his last one a week or two ago?