The Democrats Surrendered
A commentary on the current state of the Democratic Party from a midwestern democrat.
The Democrats Surrendered
The Democrats Surrendered America's Trust
Trust is the foundation of democracy—but what happens when a political party chooses image over honesty? This unflinching examination of the Democratic Party's handling of President Biden's cognitive decline during the 2024 campaign reveals a troubling pattern of gaslighting, suppression, and institutional manipulation that ultimately helped Donald Trump reclaim the White House.
When Americans raised concerns about Biden's visible signs of aging and mental acuity, they weren't met with transparency—they were told not to believe their own eyes. Special Counsel Robert Hur's assessment was dismissed. Journalist Ezra Klein was mocked for suggesting Biden step aside. Congressman Dean Phillips was vilified for daring to run a primary challenge. Meanwhile, state primaries were canceled, ballot access was restricted, and debates were eliminated—all to shield Biden from scrutiny and prevent voters from expressing their concerns.
This wasn't just a political miscalculation—it was a betrayal of democratic principles that has left lasting damage to the party's credibility. With only 37% of Americans now viewing the Democratic Party favorably, the consequences are clear. The path forward isn't through deflection or demands to "move on," but through honest accountability. Because as much as Democrats might want to focus solely on Trump's dangers, they can't rebuild trust without acknowledging their own moral failings. You cannot build unity on a foundation of deception. The American people deserve better—and they're still waiting for the truth.
Listen now to understand why this crisis of credibility matters beyond partisan politics, and what it will take for Democrats to earn back the trust they've surrendered.
Welcome to the Democrat Surrendered, a podcast series that examines the missteps of the Democratic Party through the lens of an everyday Midwestern Democrat. I'm your host, edward Williams. This series isn't about partisan rage. It's about accountability, introspection and the pursuit of truth. Today we are tackling a hard truth how the Democratic Party surrendered America's trust. We teach our children that it's okay to be wrong. Mistakes are a part of life. What matters is that we own up to them, take responsibility and grow from the experience. Humility builds character. Mistakes make us stronger if we are honest about them. It's July 2025, and yet another book about President Joe Biden has hit the shelves. But what it reveals isn't just about Biden. It's about the Democratic Party's failure to be accountable. Specifically, they avoided taking responsibility for how Joe Biden's health was handled during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Speaker 1:Leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer appear to want Americans to simply move on, but for many, moving on isn't that simple. Consider this Some Americans still carry anger over the Iraq War and the infamous claim of weapons of mass destruction. Infamous claim of weapon to mass destruction. The consequences of misleading the public linger for years, sometimes decades, and the fallout from misleading Americans about President Biden's cognitive fitness. It's no different, especially when that deception played a role in Donald Trump's re-election. They say people don't always remember what you said, but they remember how you made them feel. And the American people felt deceived. As Biden exhibited signs of aging and cognitive decline, concerned citizens raised their voices, but instead of being heard, they were told not to trust their own eyes. When Special Counsel Robert Herr publicly addressed Biden's mental acuity, his concerns were dismissed. Biden's mental acuity his concerns were dismissed. When journalist Ezra Klein courageously called for Biden to step aside in early 2024, he was mocked. And when Congressman Dean Phillips dared to run against Biden, he was vilified, not debated. Instead of listening, the Democratic leadership silenced dissent. Dissenters weren't treated as voices of concern. They were treated as threats. But Americans weren't looking to attack the party, they were looking for answers. Attack the party, they were looking for answers. Instead, they were told to sit down, to be quiet and to stop asking questions.
Speaker 1:This loyalty to Biden didn't just silence critics. It actively suppressed democracy. In 2024, the Democratic primary process was manipulated to protect a single candidate. Florida and Delaware canceled their primaries outright. That denied voters the chance to support alternatives like Marianne Williamson or Dean Phillips or to register their discontent by voting uncommitted. In Wisconsin, dean Phillips had to sue just to get on the ballot. North Carolina offered voters only one name Biden. And, perhaps most troubling, the Democratic National Committee canceled all primary debates. This wasn't democracy. It was choreography. A coronation, not a contest, a stage-managed illusion that kept everyday Democrats from speaking their truth. And as questions about Biden's capacity deepened, party leaders chose insulation over introspection, and in doing so they alienated the very voters they claimed to represent.
Speaker 1:Trust once broken is hard to rebuild. By refusing to acknowledge their mistakes, democratic leaders have driven the party into a crisis of credibility. Whether they knew Biden's true condition or not, that's almost secondary, because with leadership comes responsibility, and they were in charge. This isn't about pointing fingers. It's about creating a space for healing, and healing begins with honesty. Without accountability, there can be no trust, ability there can be no trust, and if the Democratic Party cannot hold itself accountable, how can it be trusted to hold Donald Trump accountable? Instead of reflection, we've seen deflection Instead of humility. We've seen hubris Instead of rebuilding trust. Instead of rebuilding trust, we've heard demands to move on. But trust doesn't come from commands. It comes from truth.
Speaker 1:Today, more Americans than ever are identifying as independent. They are walking away not just from policies, but from a party that they feel prioritizes image over integrity. And now, every new memoir, every leaked email, every behind-the-scenes revelation, it all leads to the same haunting questions what was hidden? Who knew? Who stayed silent? The longer Democrats avoid these questions, the deeper the wound becomes. And let's be clear it's no longer enough to point at Donald Trump and say he's worse. That argument has lost its power Because, no matter how dangerous Donald Trump may be, it does not absolve the Democratic Party of its own moral failings. Both can be wrong. Both must be held accountable.
Speaker 1:The Democratic Party gaslit the American public about President Biden's health for nearly a year, and now it wonders why the trust is gone. But here's the truth you cannot build unity on a foundation of deception. In states like Florida, you strip voters of their voice, you attack those who dared speak inconvenient truths and now, with only 37% of Americans expressing a favorable view of the Democratic Party, you are reaping the consequences of Americans expressing a favorable view of the Democratic Party. You are reaping the consequences. Do you want to win in 2026? In 2028? Then start by telling the truth. Rebuild trust, not with slogans, not with spin, not with tightly managed press releases, but with raw, unfiltered honesty, because right now, the American people do not trust you and, frankly, they have every reason not to. This has been the Democrats Surrender. I'm Edward Williams. Thank you for listening. Remember, while the Democratic Party may have surrendered, the American people have not. Thank you, you.