This is an adapted excerpt from the April 14 episode of “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.”
Across the country, Americans are turning up at town halls to voice their opposition to Donald Trump’s second administration. Voters are angry over Trump’s and Elon Musk’s drastic federal cuts and the complicity of Republican representatives in those efforts. As someone who has helped run several of these town halls across Florida, I’ve noticed some similar themes.
Certainly, there is palpable anxiety and unrest present. People are concerned about their individual financial security. They’re worried about Trump’s tariffs and their effect on the market and people’s retirement savings. Americans who receive Social Security, veterans benefits or other government services are scared they could lose everything. The DOGE cuts are real for many Americans, and they are concerned about how much worse things could get.
Voters want to know that their representative is fighting for them.
But fear and anxiety aside, the level of energy I’ve seen at these town halls is just remarkable. At the beginning of each event, I ask the crowd two questions. First: “Are you excited today to be a Democrat?” People roar in response. They’re excited about being a Democrat in this moment. They’re not lying down. They’re not concerned about the overall brand of the Democratic Party; they just believe in its values. They believe Democrats will provide the vessel to not just beat back Trumpism, but also offer a positive alternative.
If you look at the 2024 election results, Democrats lost for several reasons, but one of those reasons was that too many Democratic voters stayed home. That’s not the case now. They are motivated, and they are showing up.
The second question I ask is “Are there any first-time attendees? Is this your first time at a town hall or a Democratic event?” I’m astounded at the number of people who say yes. On Monday, we had a crowd of about 350 people at one of these events; around 75 raised their hands and said this was their first time. Those kinds of numbers are important. Another reason Democrats lost in November is that Trump turned out a lot of first-time voters. But now we’re seeing first-time participants in politics say they want to be a part of the Democratic coalition. That’s huge. Right now, voters want to know that their representative is fighting for them. Republicans in Washington have collapsed; they’ve given in to Trumpism. It’s time for Democrats to show the American people whom they’re fighting for. These town halls have shown me that there is a political movement going on right now, and it’s a powerful thing to watch.
David Jolly
David Jolly, an MSNBC political contributor, represented Florida's 13th Congressional District as a Republican in the House from 2014 to 2017. He is the chairman of the Serve America Movement. Jolly left the Republican Party in 2018.
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW.
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