Civic Cocktail - Civic Cocktail: State of Our Democracy: Bridging the Political Divide in WA

Civic Cocktail: State of Our Democracy: Bridging the Political Divide in WA

03/03/21 • 43 min

A new president has established a different tone, but politics nationally remains as contentious as ever. Is the same true in this state? The leaders of Washington's two major political parties join host Joni Balter to discuss bridging the political divide. The conversation revealed there's still work to be done. "I think Republicans, at this point, have zero, none, nada ground to stand on when talking about bipartisanship" said Washington state Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski. Her counterpart for the Republican Party, Caleb Heimlich, responded, "If the Democrats viewpoint is that you have to abandon all your principles, you have to give up on the people that voted for you... than our country is never going to come together." Heimlich did agree the election is over and that Joe Biden is clearly the president. Despite their differences, each party chair was given the opportunity to say something positive about the other person. And it was more than just, "no comment."
This episode of Civic Cocktail is the second in a multi-part series on "The State of Our Democracy." Watch January's conversation with Rick Wilson and Bill Bryant.

Previous Episode

Civic Cocktail: State of Our Democracy: Rick Wilson + Bill Bryant

After losing both the White House and control of the U.S. Senate, even longtime Republicans are wondering, what's the future of the GOP? Lincoln Project Co-founder Rick Wilson and 2016 GOP nominee for Washington governor Bill Bryant share strong opinions with host Joni Balter on what they see on the road ahead. Wilson says the Republican party is at a juncture, and warned, "they're going to be the Whig Party and die, or they're going to take a very difficult step and say we're not a party about the dear leader." Bryant agrees, saying it's time to move past the Trump era. He says Republicans must "focus on the real reasons we lost and why we're not responding to the needs of people and neighborhoods all around the country." Both guests say the country is in desperate need of a center-right party. Wilson summed it up this way, "offer a vision that is optimistic, prospective, big, inclusive, smart, and forward-looking." This episode of Civic Cocktail is the first in a multi-part series on "The State of Our Democracy."

Next Episode

Civic Cocktail: State of Our Democracy: Pramila Jayapal & Suzan DelBene

The President and Congressional Democrats are moving fast to work through a list of major projects demanded by the American public. Two U.S. House members from Washington state, helping to lead the way, speak to host Joni Balter about the challenges ahead. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Progressive Caucus, says "I just watched the American Rescue Plan go through with not a single Republican vote when 76% of Americans believe it was the right thing to do." Democrats hope the multi trillion-dollar plan to revamp the nation's crumbling infrastructure will have more bipartisan support. Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the New Democrat Coalition, which includes 94 congressional moderates says, "We have great needs across our country...long-term going forward we want to make sure we are getting things done for the American people." Other subjects discussed include gun control, the future of the filibuster, immigration policy, and what each congress member believes is the biggest threat to democracy.
This episode of Civic Cocktail is the third in a multi-part series on "The State of Our Democracy."