Sam Stein and Brian Tyler Cohen

Cohen's book, 'The Day After,' outlines three core elements: Democrats' past failure to wield power, Republicans' abuse of power, and a strategic blueprint for Democrats to effectively use lessons from Republicans to exercise power in a post-Trump world. He argues that Democrats have a unique, but narrow, opportunity to win back disaffected voters, particularly Gen Z, by demonstrating government effectiveness.

Brian Tyler Cohen states, 'Democrats have failed to wield power in the past. Republicans have abused their power in the past and in the current and really offer up a blueprint on on how Democrats can use the lessons that that the Republicans are putting forward to exercise power in a post-Trump world.'

For a future Democratic administration to achieve meaningful change, Cohen argues that the first-day priorities must be advocating for the elimination of the filibuster and court reform. These are identified as the primary barriers to enacting any significant legislative agenda, as a conservative court could strike down progressive laws.

Cohen states, 'First day priority is advocating for the elimination of the filibuster and looking toward court reform. Those are the two things... because everything else is held. Correct. Those those are the two those are the two things that would that would serve as barriers for everything.'

Cohen suggests that Democrats should learn from Trump's willingness to disregard established norms and processes. While Trump used these tactics for 'bad,' Democrats can use a similar 'will to get things done' for virtuous outcomes, such as healthcare, climate change, and voting rights, recognizing that many institutional barriers are not sacrosanct.

Cohen argues, 'Trump has Trump has shown that a lot of the things that stop Democrats from delivering decent outcomes for people are a lot of like these these barriers that are not so sacrianked because if you want to do something again do something virtuous... a lot of these barriers that seem so sacrosan are not in fact as sacrosan if you have a great enough will to get them done.'

Cohen criticizes the left's tendency to impose 'purity tests,' which he believes creates an exclusive party and shrinks the necessary coalitions for political success. He contrasts this with the right's effectiveness at finding areas of agreement to embrace broader support.

Cohen states, 'I think the left does does have a tendency to do that. Um, we're not in a position where we have that luxury. Like Democrats don't have the House, the Senate, the White House, and have lost the popular vote.'