“Pod Save America” host Jon Lovett, who previously served as a speechwriter for former President Barack Obama, said Monday that voters remain unclear about what the Democratic Party stands for — an issue he said prevents them from fully exploiting Donald Trump’s vulnerabilities.
Speaking with MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace on her podcast “The Best People,” Lovett said the central challenge for Democrats is defining their principles. He added that the upcoming primaries will not only shape the party’s trajectory but also help voters understand what it truly represents.
“The debates that happen in the upcoming primaries will be, not just the way we figure out where we want to go, but the debate itself will be instructive to people watching it about what the Democratic Party stands for,” Lovett said. “How do we figure out what we stand for.”
Lovett also acknowledged that former President Joe Biden’s age and declining communication skills complicate matters. “I didn’t appreciate how much we paid for having the bully pulpit basically open and unmanaged because he was a poor communicator and getting worse all the time,” he said.
“But it’s not just Joe Biden. The American people have – were saying through this election, beyond it, that, yes, Joe Biden is too old. They worry he’s not up for the job, but they have deeper questions about what the Democratic Party stands for. They just don’t know,” Lovett added.
He argued that while voters understand Democrats oppose Trump, they are unclear about what the party supports. He also noted that Trump dominates media attention, making it harder for Democrats to communicate their message effectively.
The “Pod Save America” host contrasted this with Trump’s strong connection to his base, saying Democrats lack a comparable bond. He highlighted figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who do connect authentically with their supporters. However, Lovett emphasized that the party must articulate its values more clearly to avoid losing support.
Lovett and his “Pod Save America” co-hosts recently responded to Hunter Biden, who criticized Obama-era officials and other Democratic leaders for pushing his father out of the 2024 presidential race. The former president’s son specifically called out the podcast hosts, labeling them “junior f—ing speechwriters” benefiting from their association with former President Obama.
During a July episode, the hosts dismissed Biden’s criticisms. “You know, it must be just so hard for Hunter Biden to watch all these people dining out on somebody’s name,” Lovett said sarcastically.
“Mostly it is three hours of Hunter playing the victim,” co-host Tommy Vietor added. “And he rages at us, and he rages at [David] Axelrod and [George] Clooney, but the problem was the voters, and they never addressed that. The voters thought Joe Biden was too old.”
