This is one reason our party's approval is in the toilet

[RoseTrellis]

30. I'm sure many agree with you on some of this

Your post highlights a challenge for dems - balancing bold ideals with broad appeal. You’re right—Trump has a knack for framing positions that resonate with many Americans, often sounding like common sense to the majority while we hear them as dog whistles. It doesn’t always help we oppose everything out of his filthy mouth 100% of the time, either. A broken clock is correct twice a day after all. We can (in some cases) agree there is a problem, but focus on our ways to solve them over the authoritarian methods he proposes.
His rhetoric taps into shared concerns like safety, affordability, and fairness, but he avoids alienating swing voters by sidestepping divisive “wedge” issues or cloaking them in vague, populist terms. It’s a bad look to deny that some places do have a lot of crime, that people feel unsafe, and that homelessness with people living on the streets isn’t a bigger issue.
Progressives could learn from this. Focusing on widely supported ideas—clean air/water, fair taxes, racial equality, school safety, affordable healthcare—builds a stronger coalition. Pushing niche issues (where only 10% agree) risks losing the middle. Trump’s genius lies in simplifying complex issues into slogans that feel universal, even if the subtext is divisive.
Dem leadership. might counter by sharpening their messaging on shared values, avoiding traps that paint them as out-of-touch. Stick to what unites—most Americans want practical solutions, not ideological battles.