Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein
@ezrakleinshow·473K subscribers·363 videos

What Democrats Can Learn From Gretchen Whitmer

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July 30, 2024

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Gretchen Whitmer is one of the names you often see on lists of Democratic V.P. contenders. She’s swatted that speculation down repeatedly, but the interest in her makes a lot of sense. Michigan is a must-win state for Democrats, and she has won the governorship of that state twice, by significant margins each time. She’s also long been one of the Democratic Party’s most talented and forthright messengers on abortion.

So I think Whitmer has a lot to teach Democrats right now, whether she’s Kamala Harris’s running mate or not. In this conversation we discuss how her 2018 campaign slogan to “fix the damn roads” has translated into a governing philosophy, how she talks about reproductive rights in a swing state, what Democrats can learn from the success of female politicians in Michigan, how she sees the gender politics of the presidential election this year and more.

Mentioned:

True Gretch () by Gretchen Whitmer

“The SpartanWhy Gretchen Whitmer Has What It Takes for a White House Run () ” by Jennifer Palmieri

“America’s New Political War Pits Young Men Against Young Women () ” by Aaron Zitner and Andrew Restuccia

Book Recommendations:

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow () by Gabrielle Zevin

Burn Book () by Kara Swisher

To Kill a Mockingbird () by Harper Lee

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This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by our senior editor, Claire Gordon. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith, Kristin Lin and Aman Sahota. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Isaac Jones.

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Guests & Subjects Covered

Gretchen WhitmerDemocratic VPDemocratic PartysSo IKamala HarrissMentioned True GretchWhite House RunAaron Zitner

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