It’s always a spectacle when reality checks make their way into the mainstream, and this time, it came courtesy of Gayle King, who had to remind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) that the recent election didn’t just tip slightly to the right; it was a rout. With Republicans racking up nearly four million more votes in the popular tally, the math wasn’t exactly close. But somehow, Jeffries seemed to be doing mental gymnastics, trying to frame this loss as a narrow squeak-by.
In a classic TV moment on “CBS Mornings,” King wasn’t buying it. As Jeffries continued to paint the race as something of a nail-biter, King had to step in, pointing out that, no, it really wasn’t close. The awkwardness on set was almost palpable, but Jeffries, undeterred, kept pivoting back to Democratic talking points, grasping at any evidence that might cast this loss in a different light. To his credit, he gave it a shot. But when you lose by three million votes, you don’t get to call that “close” with a straight face.
“It sounds like you’re still processing, but were you stunned last Tuesday night? I’m just curious. I know lessons learned and all of that, but were you stunned by what happened?” King asked Jeffries.
“Well, we knew going into the election, as Vice President Harris repeatedly stated, including at the convention, this is close, and it’s going to be close —” Jeffries stated.
“But it wasn’t close,” King interrupted.
Then came co-host Tony Doukopil’s attempt at a save, suggesting that while Democrats have “good policies,” they failed to communicate them effectively. Doukopil’s sentiment echoed the Democratic refrain that the policies themselves are fine, it’s just the messaging that needs tweaking. But here’s the thing: after decades of promises, voters are exhausted by the messaging game. Working-class Americans especially feel the weight of that disconnect, and it’s clear the Democrats’ repeated attempts to repackage their policies just aren’t resonating.
Jeffries took that and ran, rehashing Democratic hits like infrastructure projects, “good-paying union jobs,” and “putting people first.” But somehow, this narrative keeps falling flat with the very people it’s supposed to serve. Why? Because these big, broad claims about “creating jobs” and “fixing infrastructure” haven’t translated into tangible improvements in everyday lives. Talking about fixing bridges sounds great on a campaign stage, but when gas, groceries, and rent are all climbing, people aren’t comforted by long-term projects and vague promises.
“Well, we clearly care about making life better for everyday Americans, and it drives everything that we do from a policy perspective,” Jeffries said. “But of course, we’ve got to figure out how we can better connect the policies that we’ve worked hard to implement under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris. You know, infrastructure, fixing our crumbling bridges, roads, and tunnels, creating millions of good-paying union jobs. That’s putting people first. That was a policy that actually happened. But we have to better connect why we are doing these things and how it will lead to improving the quality of life of every American.”
After another attempt to frame the election loss as a surprise outcome in the Electoral College, Jeffries finally circled back to the idea that, somehow, the popular vote was closer than expected. But the numbers don’t lie. Trump’s victory by over three million votes is significant, even more so because it highlights a deeper shift in the voting patterns of ordinary Americans. It’s a reality check that the Democratic Party seems unwilling to face.
Gayle King’s willingness to cut through the spin was refreshing, but the bigger question remains: When will the Democratic leadership get the message that Americans want more than just glossy promises and policy bullet points? They’re looking for leadership that understands the everyday struggles they face. As it stands, Democrats are still preaching from the same playbook while voters are looking elsewhere. And if that reality doesn’t start to sink in soon, this so-called “close” loss could be just the beginning of a very long drought for the left.
