Can Senate Democrats Push A Progressive Agenda?

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with John Nichols on if Senate Democrats can push a progressive agenda.

The United States Senate has ground to a halt just days after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. Because the Democratic Party controls only 50 seats and, by virtue of Vice President Kamala Harris is technically considered the majority party, lawmakers are fighting over the rules by which the body can legislate.

Republicans want to preserve the use of the Senate filibuster.

Meanwhile, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders who caucuses with the Democrats, and who has a new role as the powerful Senate Budget committee chair, wants to use a process of budget reconciliation to pass major legislation without GOP support. To top it all off, the second impeachment of Donald Trump looms large.

John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, ‘Next Left.’ He is a contributing writer for The Progressive and In These Times and the associate editor of the Capital Times. He is also the author of numerous books including Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse: A Field Guide to the Most Dangerous People in America (Nation Books) and The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party: The Enduring Legacy of Henry Wallace’s Anti-Fascist, Anti-Racist Politics.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience. Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

Missed an episode? Check out Rising Up on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV , AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.o;i

Democratic Party Democrats Free Speech TV GOP Joe Biden John Nichols Kamala Harris Legislation Rising Up with Sonali Sonali Kolhatkar The Nation U.S. Senate United States