Democrats are furious, and they want their leaders to show the same fire. At a recent town hall in California, a constituent urged Representative Gil Cisneros to express more anger. In Minnesota, an activist at an event featuring Democratic attorneys general demanded: “Get angry, man,” punctuating the message with a profanity.
The frustration has been slow to build but is now surging through the electorate, driven by fears that the country is slipping into authoritarianism. With no clear leader to rally behind and limited power in Washington, Democrats are scrambling to channel this rising anger into action.
At rallies, town halls, and protests, voters are venting their frustration over Donald Trump’s return to power and his alignment with Elon Musk’s aggressive push against federal agencies. Many progressive activists see this as the spark for a populist backlash—not just against Trump but also against Democratic leaders they believe are failing to rise to the moment.
Tens of thousands attended “Fight Oligarchy” rallies led by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez across three western states last week. Democratic lawmakers spoke to packed crowds in Republican-held districts, while GOP representatives have been advised to avoid town halls altogether. Meanwhile, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined the growing “Tesla Takedown” movement, ditching his electric car after a public feud with Musk.
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