Rep Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI): The Democratic Party Needs Change
Alabama is a deeply red state, but Democrats snagged their first Senate seat in two decades this week, when Doug Jones beat out former State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. But the highly controversial win is a sign that Democrats need to return to their core values, one congresswoman told Cheddar.
“[The Party] for years now has become more beholden to the elite powerful few and special interest, rather than actually representing the broad Democratic values that exist in the grassroots across the country,” Rep Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), told Cheddar.
Many politicians called constituents to go out and vote during this election, particularly because Moore was accused of predatory behavior with women and minors. Notwithstanding, during the elections President Donald Trump called on to constituents to go out and vote for Moore. Pundits also considered this election important because Republicans held the Senate majority with 52 seats, and this win gives Democrats some leverage ahead of elections in the coming year.
Gabbard, however, gives credit to the American people for Jones’ win and not the Democratic party.
“What you see are people saying my vote matters, my vote will make a difference,” she said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-tulsi-gabbard-d-hi-net-neutrality-decision-will-hurt-the-small-guy).
California Governor Gavin Newsom is projected to keep his job. Around two-thirds of the votes have been reported, and roughly 64% of those votes are in favor of keeping Newsom as their governor.
Daniel Strauss, senior political correspondent at The New Republic, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more about what Newsom's win means to both political parties moving into Midterm elections season.
The Department of Justice is suing Texas over the state's new abortion law that prohibits abortions after six weeks, well before many women even know they're pregnant. The lawsuit argues the law is unconstitutional under long-standing Supreme Court precedent. It was filed last week in federal court in Texas, but could go all the way to the high court within weeks. Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, discusses the DOJ lawsuit and what it could mean for other abortion laws across the country.
26 states have now fully vaccinated more than half of their population with Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts fully vaccinating at least two-thirds of their residents. These three states are among the ones with the lowest new Covid-19 cases per capita, but in states with low vaccination rates, hospitals are filling up again.
Dr. Rob Davidson, ER doctor and executive director of Committee to Protect Health Care, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more.
The Biden Administration has officially extended a ban on a Trump-era policy that prohibits traveling with a U.S. passport to North Korea. The extension is expected to last until August 2022. The ban was initially enforced after the death of Otto Warmbier, who entered a vegetative state while in North Korean custody. Advocates against the ban argue that it has caused crippling impacts on Korean Americans who have not been able to reunite with their families back home. Senior Fellow at The Foundation For Defense of Democracies Anthony Ruggiero joined Cheddar's News Wrap to discuss more.
