Warren says Democrats must reject the influence of technology to win elections

The path forward for the Democratic Party after its defeat in 2024 includes less tech influence and more populist policies, according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Warren delivered that message in a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Monday, as she laid out a vision for the future of a party still in the midst of an identity crisis. She offered one competing view of how Democrats could win the 2026 midterms and beyond: by doubling down on policies that make life affordable for the working class, even if rich donors despise them.

Warren described Democratic donor and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman as an example of the kind of pole a party should ignore when its desires conflict with working-class interests. Huffman urged then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris To replace Lena Khan As Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission if Harris wins the election. Khan represented progressive and populist policies as president during the Biden administration, including making them Easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions.

“I understand the temptation — in this moment of national crisis — to take action to avoid offending anyone, especially the rich and powerful who might be funding our candidates,” Warren said in her prepared remarks. “But we can’t win unless we rebuild trust. We can’t rebuild trust by disenfranchising law enforcers in the Biden administration who, for the first time in decades, have actually fought to hold corporations accountable for raising prices. We can’t rebuild trust by calling Elon Musk when he butts heads with Trump and offering him whatever he wants if he comes back on our side and kicks a few dimes for our candidates. We can’t rebuild trust by staying silent about abuses of corporate power and tax justice simply to avoid offending the sensitive sensibilities of the rich.” And the really powerful ones.