Overview of Democrats Might Take Back the House. Then What?
In this New Yorker Radio Hour interview, David Remnick speaks with Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin about what Democrats might do if they retake the House—and possibly the Senate—in the midterms. Raskin argues that Republicans have warped the political system through gerrymandering, voter suppression, and loyalty to Donald Trump, and he says Democrats must be prepared not only to govern but also to investigate corruption, defend democratic institutions, and consider impeachment as one tool among many. The conversation moves from election integrity and redistricting to the Supreme Court, Trump’s influence over the GOP, and the Democratic Party’s future.
Main Themes and Arguments
The midterms are about more than control of Congress
Raskin frames the coming elections as a test of whether Democrats can reverse what he sees as years of authoritarian drift, corruption, and rule-bending under Trump and his allies.
- He says Democrats are prepared to win under unfair conditions.
- He argues that the real battle is not just Election Day, but the structural manipulation before it.
- He sees a possible Democratic wave as a repudiation of Trumpism rather than a pure endorsement of the Democratic brand.
Gerrymandering and voter suppression are central concerns
Raskin emphasizes that the electoral playing field is already distorted.
- He points to North Carolina as an example of Republicans controlling congressional representation despite Democrats’ strength statewide.
- He blames decades of GOP gerrymandering for locking in power.
- He describes Trump’s push for an aggressive Texas redraw as a mid-decade power grab.
- He argues that Democrats have repeatedly tried to create independent redistricting commissions but have been blocked by Republicans.
What Democrats Might Do If They Win
Investigations and oversight would return
Raskin says a Democratic House would likely revive scrutiny of Trump-era conduct and current abuses of power.
- He expects hearings and investigations into Trump and allied officials.
- He says Democrats must also focus on restoring public benefits and policy priorities, not only pursuing accountability.
- He treats oversight as essential, but not as something that should crowd out urgent governance.
Impeachment is possible, but not automatic
Raskin does not rule out impeachment if Democrats retake the House, but he resists making it the first or only priority.
- He says impeachment is a constitutional tool, not a taboo.
- He stresses that Democrats must weigh impeachment against immediate needs like Medicaid, ACA subsidies, and SNAP.
- He argues the framers intended impeachment to be a political judgment, not a purely legal one.
- He says Trump and possibly other officials could face impeachment if they are seen as abusing power.
The Senate matters because of the Supreme Court
Raskin says winning the Senate would be crucial for stopping further conservative entrenchment on the Court.
- He argues the Court has already been shaped by Republican hardball, especially after Merrick Garland’s blocked nomination.
- He says Democrats should be willing to play hardball too.
- He criticizes the Court’s immunity ruling and calls the current Court illegitimate in some respects.
- He insists Democrats need a Senate majority strong enough to block harmful nominations.
Raskin’s View of Trump and the GOP
Trump still dominates the Republican Party
Raskin says Republicans have become a personality cult around Trump.
- He believes internal dissent has largely been purged.
- He compares Trump’s operation to a family business or mob organization.
- He argues that Trump prioritizes money, loyalty, and power over policy.
- He says Trump’s influence over the GOP remains intact even if Democrats win big.
Corruption is the defining feature, in Raskin’s view
He repeatedly returns to the idea that Trump’s political project is fundamentally about money and self-dealing.
- He cites Trump’s business interests and alleged profit-making while in office.
- He says the administration has become a “money-making operation.”
- He portrays Trump’s foreign policy posture as aligned with authoritarian leaders, especially Vladimir Putin.
Trump would likely respond to a blue wave with denial and blame
Raskin predicts that Trump would first deny the results and then blame Republicans for losing.
- He says Trump would not accept defeat gracefully.
- He expects Trump to scapegoat other Republicans rather than acknowledge rejection by voters.
- He believes Trump’s rallies may actually hurt down-ballot Republicans in red states.
Broader Democratic Party Questions
The party should not choose between affordability and accountability
Raskin rejects the idea that Democrats must pick either kitchen-table issues or anti-corruption politics.
- He says the two are connected.
- He argues that corruption and policy failure come from the same governing culture.
- He wants Democrats to pursue both social benefits and institutional accountability.
He sees socialism talk as less important than material outcomes
Asked about socialism’s popularity among young Democrats, Raskin says the label matters less than the policies behind it.
- He treats “socialism” largely as shorthand for social democracy and public care.
- He says it does not provide the main analytical framework for understanding the moment.
- He suggests the movement toward universal health care is more important than the label attached to it.
He sees the party moving toward stronger populist and progressive politics
Raskin describes a generational shift within the Democratic Party.
- He praises Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a major future leader.
- He thinks she is more likely to run for Senate soon than for president.
- He says figures like Abdul El-Sayed point toward a more expansive health-care agenda.
- He suggests the party’s center of gravity may be moving.
Other Notable Points
On Ilhan Omar and political targeting
Raskin says Democrats should stand united against what he sees as vindictive investigations and prosecutions of their members.
- He references the search of Ilhan Omar’s home as part of a broader pattern of political persecution.
- He says Democrats should resist media framing that treats corruption and economic policy as mutually exclusive issues.
On Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner
Raskin says he does not know the details of Jeffries’s meeting with Kushner, but he is suspicious of Kushner’s conflicts of interest.
- He criticizes Kushner’s role in foreign policy and business entanglements.
- He declines to directly condemn Jeffries without more context.
On Chuck Schumer and generational change
Raskin avoids directly saying Schumer should step aside, but he acknowledges the pressure of generational turnover.
- He says many long-serving politicians should ask whether it’s time to make room for new leaders.
- He frames this as a difficult personal and political decision, not an automatic one.
Closing Note
The episode ends with a note that Raskin and House Democrats had just released a report on the Epstein files, alleging Trump was an “active participant” in criminal abuse. The implication is clear: if Democrats retake the House, Raskin is likely to be at the center of investigations into Trump and his circle.