Sen. Bernie Sanders says Democratic governors have “no choice” but to redraw congressional maps in response to Texas Republicans’ redistricting plan – which the Vermont impartial describes as an try by President Donald Trump to “rig the system.”
“What we have now is a terrible situation, and Republicans are making it worse. Well, what are you going to do? If Republicans are doing it, you have to respond. It’s pathetic, but I think you have to respond,” Sanders mentioned.
The progressive senator, kicking off a brand new swing of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, spoke to NCS “State of the Union” anchor Dana Bash in Wheeling, West Virginia, final Friday in a wide-ranging interview that lined the redistricting combat, Israel’s plans to expand the conflict in Gaza, the 2028 presidential election, and his view that the “Democratic Party has turned its back on what was its base.”
As Democrats within the Texas House have left the state to stonewall Republicans from transferring ahead with the redistricting plan, which goals to acquire 5 GOP US House seats, governors of Democratic-controlled states like California and New York have threatened to reply with the identical ways. Sanders, who has lengthy opposed gerrymandering, acknowledged that he nonetheless believes partisan line-drawing undermines the political course of, but that “Democrats have got to fight back.”
“(Trump) is trying to, you know, in his authoritarian way, say, ‘Hey, I don’t want to lose elections. Let’s rig the system. Give me five more votes in Texas, maybe some other states,’” Sanders mentioned. “So, what should Democrats do? Sit back and say, ‘Oh, gee, Trump is doing this terrible — we can’t do anything. Let them win the election,’ when they shouldn’t?”
Sanders’ tour has aimed to impress individuals searching for some type of political motion and resistance to the Trump administration with rallies throughout the nation – typically with company like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.
Sanders on Friday argued the case to a crowd in West Virginia – a state that Trump gained overwhelmingly – that the Democratic Party has turned its again on the working class. He accused former Vice President Kamala Harris of listening to billionaires who backed her presidential bid in 2024.
Speaking to NCS afterward, Sanders referred to as Harris a “friend of mine,” but mentioned her marketing campaign’s core consultants have been “heavily influenced by very wealthy people.”
NCS has reached out to Harris’ workplace for remark.
“How do you run for president and not develop a strong agenda which speaks to the economic crisis facing working families?” he mentioned. “You have more income and wealth inequality today than we’ve ever had.”
Sanders argued that the “clue to Democratic victories is to understand that you got to stand unequivocally with the working class of this country.”
The Democratic Party’s favorability ranking amongst Americans was at a file low in a March NCS ballot conducted by SSRS. Sanders had the third-most votes within the ballot (8%) when Democratically aligned respondents have been requested which chief they really feel “best reflects the core values.” When requested whether or not he would run for president in 2028, although, Sanders pointed to his age.
“Let’s not worry about that. I am going to be 84 years of age next month, as a matter of fact,” he mentioned. “I think that speaks for itself.”
But he informed NCS there would “absolutely” be a candidate in 2028 who may take up his mantle representing the occasion’s progressive wing. “I can think of some great young people,” he mentioned, with out naming names.
Trump, in the meantime, has instructed that Vice President JD Vance could inherit the “MAGA” movement. Sanders informed NCS “it doesn’t matter to me” who heads the Republican Party in 2028, arguing “the Republicans of today don’t have anything of significance to say to working class people.”
Sanders on world points
Sanders is pushing the Trump administration not to ship weapons to Israel amid a dire humanitarian disaster in Gaza and a serious escalation within the conflict, after Israel approved plans to capture Gaza City.
“Israel had a right, of course, to defend itself from the terrible terrorist attack from Hamas, but what they have done since then is gone to war against the entire Palestinian people,” he argued. Sanders, who’s Jewish, pressured two Senate resolutions that might block some US arms gross sales to Israel that finally failed with no Republicans voting in help of them.
But he informed NCS, “I think Republicans at a grassroots level are also catching on that it is not a great idea to provide billions to a government that starves children.”
Sanders, who has lengthy been vital of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mentioned the nation’s actions have turned it into “almost a pariah state.”
With Trump set to meet with Putin this week, Sanders condemned the Russian chief as “a really awful guy.”
“You know, when you talk about oligarchs, Putin is one of the richest guys in the world, running a kleptocratic society, and then he invaded Ukraine with incredible destruction,” Sanders mentioned. “People in Ukraine are suffering terribly because this guy wanted to start the largest war since World War II in Europe.”
Sanders mentioned he’s “not a fan of Putin,” but would welcome any peace deal if the “people of Ukraine feel that the agreement is positive.” He cautioned Trump from an settlement that might sideline Ukraine’s pursuits.
“If, in fact, an agreement can be negotiated which does not compromise what the Ukrainians feel that they need, I think that’s a positive step forward,” Sanders mentioned. “We all want to see an end to the bloodshed.”