Vice President Kamala Harris and Beyoncé at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas, October 25, 2024, Houston (Annie Mulligan/AP)

Co-written with EA’s Hasan Patel

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Anchorman Will McAvoy is caught in a university debate between a liberal and a Republican arguing the motion, “America isn’t the greatest country in the world.” He intervenes:

You know why people don’t like liberals? Cause they lose.

If liberals are so f****** smart, how come they lose so Goddamn always?

The opening scene from Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom resonates in the wake of last week’s US election, as Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans swept the Presidency, Senate, House, and even the popular vote.

As liberal and centrist circles ask why, here is a starting point: feel-good policies without substance no longer resonate with a frustrated electorate, especially as economic struggles become harder to ignore.

Liberal rhetoric calling out the opposition as racist or extremist may offer immediate satisfaction, but it has done little to address the deepening economic and social divides since the 2008 global financial crisis. Continuing down this path risks tearing American society further apart.

Failing to Connect on the Economy

In the past two decades, economic inequality has reached unsustainable levels. While the wealthiest grow richer, most people face stagnant wages and rising inflation. The promise of upward mobility is increasingly out of reach for many.

The struggle to keep up with basic costs has hollowed out once-stable communities. In both the US and the UK, the rise of food banks and housing crises are glaring indicators of a society on the brink.

The Democrats’ challenges go beyond the lack of a cohesive message. Since the Obama Administration, the party has struggled to speak authentically to working-class voters, a problem that has festered since the Clinton-Blair era of centrist politics. Attempts to court both billionaires and blue-collar workers have left many in the middle sceptical.

Meanwhile, Republicans have honed a coalition built on conservative and even hard-right social and religious values, with economic messaging that resonates across demographic lines. Despite its flashes of racism, Trump’s campaign appealed to many Black, Latino, and even Muslim voters — groups that once would have been considered Democratic blocs. Trump spoke to those hit hardest by economic shifts, while the Democrats increasingly seemed out of touch, embracing celebrity endorsements that alienated many.

As Kamala Harris appeared on stage with celebrities like Beyoncé, Julia Roberts, and Oprah, Trump’s photo-op in a McDonald’s resonated more with average Americans. In the US, the typical McDonald’s customer is a 58-year-old woman making $80,000 per year. Connecting with this demographic, Trump appeared to understand the rising cost of living concerns in a way that celebrity endorsements could not. After all, most Americans cannot afford a ticket to a Taylor Swift concert.

Failing on Foreign Policy

This detachment is not just domestic; it extends to foreign policy. Just as many feel unheard on issues of health care, education, and wages, voters — particularly from Muslim, Palestinian, and progressive communities — sense a lack of compassion in US foreign policy, particularly toward the ongoing mass killing in Gaza. The blanket support for Israel, despite well-documented war crimes, alienated key voting blocs that felt their concerns were ignored. Had Harris taken a stance supporting a ceasefire, she might have garnered more support from these communities.

This disconnect pushed some traditionally Democratic voters into Trump’s camp, where they felt their grievances were at least acknowledged. Instead of engaging with these concerns, the Democratic strategy often involved avoiding certain voters all altogether. Hope that independent, right-leaning women would rally against Trump solely out of disdain was misguided.

The problem was illustrated by Harris and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appearing together in Pennsylvania. AOC’s brand of progressive politics did not resonate with the voters Harris needed to reach, underscoring the party’s misalignment with “reality”. Joe Biden’s depiction of Trump supporters as “garbage”, whether genuine sentiment or a slip, reinforced an elitist narrative and shut down dialogue.

The Democratic Party also failed to capitalize on media representation. While Trump and his Vice Presidential pick J.D. Vance faced rigorous criticism, Harris and Tim Walz received largely favorable coverage. The one-sided media landscape backfired, with Trump and his allies as authentic if polarising figures and the Democrats scripted.

Since the Tea Party’s rise after 2008, Republicans have methodically seized control over state and federal institutions, including a court-packing strategy culminating in the reversal of Roe v. Wade and women’s rights. In contrast, Democrats have been reactive rather than proactive, focusing on immediate election cycles instead of long-term strategy.

Is There A Way Back?

The US has chosen the path of nativist, isolationist “America First” politics. This could yet be a turning point if Democrats reflect deeply and adapt.

Rebuilding the middle class should be their first priority, ensuring that wages rise with inflation, investing in vocational training, and creating jobs that offer security and living wages. Social security also needs a significant overhaul, adapting to the changing nature of work and economic realities.

Economic policy alone will not bridge the divides. Trust needs to be rebuilt between communities. This means engaging honestly with those who feel abandoned, addressing concerns beyond empty campaign slogans. This election was dubbed a choice between “fear and hope,” but fear won — largely because people have lost faith in a system they see as rigged against them. Trump may have sold them a dream, but it was a dream that spoke to their anxieties and not one driven by celebrities.

Centrist liberals must reach across the divides and start listening. Rather than speak at Trump voters, they should speak to them. The political establishment is entrenched in partisan bickering, disconnected from the lives of those it’s supposed to serve. Real change requires crossing these gaps, not widening them.

In a system where the daughter of immigrants is seen as the establishment and a billionaire reality TV star as the voice of the people, it’s time for a reassessment. For if centrist and liberal narratives continue to fail, voters will keep turning to those who acknowledge their struggles — even if they offer only hollow solutions.