Al Jazeera's Head to Head debates Democrats' midterm chances and party future
Mehdi Hasan questions former Biden official Neera Tanden on the Democrats' November prospects, the lessons of 2016 and 2024, and Israel as a test for candidates.
At a glance
- Al Jazeera's Head to Head hosted a debate on the future of the Democratic Party ahead of November's US midterms.
- Guest Neera Tanden served in the Clinton, Obama and Biden administrations and heads the Center for American Progress.
- Polls suggest Democrats are ahead, which the programme asks may reflect Trump's historically low approval ratings.
Al Jazeera's Head to Head programme has hosted a debate on the future direction of the Democratic Party, with host Mehdi Hasan questioning Neera Tanden, who held senior roles in the Clinton, Obama and Biden administrations.
The episode, published ahead of November's US midterm elections, looks at whether Democrats can regain control of the House and the Senate. It notes that polls suggest the party is currently ahead, and asks whether that advantage comes from Donald Trump's historically low approval ratings rather than from the popularity of the Democratic Party itself.
The programme also examines what Democrats have learned from losing to Trump in both 2016 and 2024, and how much of a litmus test the topic of Israel will be for future candidates. The episode is framed around progressives, AIPAC and the future of the Democratic Party.
Who took part
Tanden, the guest in the Head to Head interview, is chief executive and president of the Center for American Progress think tank. She worked on Hillary Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns as well as serving in three administrations.
A panel joined the discussion:
- **Danielle Moodie** – co-host of the Democracy-Ish Podcast and editor of the DAM Digest on Substack
- **Yemisi Egbewole** – former chief-of-staff in the Biden White House Press Office
- **Reed Galen** – co-founder of The Lincoln Project and founder of CivicForum.org
What the debate covers
The discussion addresses the Democrats' chances in the midterms, the internal argument over the party's direction after two presidential defeats, and the role the Israel issue plays in selecting and supporting candidates.
The source material sets out the programme's framing and its participants. It does not detail the positions each guest took during the discussion.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November, when control of both chambers of Congress will be decided.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- Who is Neera Tanden?
- Tanden held senior roles in the Clinton, Obama and Biden administrations and worked on Hillary Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns. She is chief executive and president of the Center for American Progress think tank.
- What topics does the Head to Head episode cover?
- It examines the Democrats' chances in November's midterms, the lessons of the party's 2016 and 2024 defeats, and whether the topic of Israel is a litmus test for future candidates.
- Who joined the Head to Head panel?
- The panel comprised Danielle Moodie of the Democracy-Ish Podcast, Yemisi Egbewole, a former chief-of-staff in the Biden White House Press Office, and Reed Galen of The Lincoln Project and CivicForum.org.
