 appointments by more explicitly spelling out the constitutional language about how they get made and when they get made, how many appointments each president is entitled to, rather than it being what it is now, which is a lottery. We say each president gets to appoint two justices in every four-year term, people leave after 18 years, so we don’t have to appoint Doogie Howser types to the court anymore. We can go with people in their late 50s and early 60s, who might not have 30 years in them, but might be a better choice in terms of their underlying abilities.

At the end of the day, I’m pretty convinced that we’re not that far away from the right choosing to do some of these things first, and the last thing I would like to see is Democrats maintaining this commitment to institutionalism and pragmatism and then once again being outflanked.

JH: One thing that’s inspiring conservatives to do all of these things is a sense that they’re facing demographic headwinds—that their core coalition, which Alan Abramowitz described as married white people who identify as Christians—is rapidly shrinking. I don’t buy the “demographics are destiny” argument, but the demographics certainly represent a coming advantage, and I think that’s pretty clearly recognized by both sides.

The other thing is that they know that the policy preferences that they advance tend to be unpopular. Cutting taxes on the wealthy and killing safety-net programs doesn’t poll well, while increasing the minimum wage and protecting the environment do.



Do you think Democrats have, on some level, told themselves, “Well, you know, young people skew our way and we have this growing Latino vote and they’re skewing our way, the Asian-American vote as well, and our policies are popular,” and that’s why they haven’t fought back in the same way?

DF: I think it does have something to do with that. I think there’s been a little bit too much belief in the sort of long-term demographic trends. If you remember [John Judis and] Ruy Teixeira’s book, The Emerging Democratic Majority, was published 14 years ago and things have not exactly worked out as we thought they would. I think that, at least prior to 2016, there was a sense that, okay, well, demography is on our side and surely, surely the American people
appointments by more explicitly spelling out the constitutional language about how they get make and when they get do, how many appointments each president is entitled to, quite than it being what it is now, which is a lottery. We say each president of the united states grow to appoint two justices in every four - class condition, people impart after 18 years, so we do n’t have to appoint Doogie Howser type to the motor hotel anymore. We can go with people in their belated 50s and early 60s, who might not suffer 30 years in them, but might be a better choice in term of their underlying abilities. 

 At the end of the day, I ’m reasonably convinced that we ’re not that far away from the correct choosing to do some of these things first, and the final thing I would like to see is Democrats maintaining this commitment to institutionalism and pragmatism and then once again being outflanked. 

 JH: One thing that ’s inspiring conservatives to do all of these things is a sense that they ’re facing demographic headwinds — that their core coalition, which Alan Abramowitz describe as married white multitude who name as Christians — is quickly shrinking. I do n’t buy the “ demographics are destiny ” argument, but the demographics certainly represent a come advantage, and I think that ’s pretty clearly recognized by both side. 

 The other thing is that they know that the policy preferences that they advance tend to be unpopular. Cutting tax on the wealthy and killing safety - net programs does n’t poll well, while increase the minimum wage and protecting the environment do. 



 Do you think Democrats take, on some level, told themselves, “ Well, you know, young multitude skew our way and we take this growing hispanic vote and they ’re skewing our way, the Asian - American vote equally well, and our policies are popular, ” and that ’s why they have n’t fight back in the same way? 

 DF: I intend it does have something to dress with that. I think there ’s been a little bit too much belief in the sort of long - term demographic trends. If you commend [ John Judis and ] Ruy Teixeira ’s book, The Emerging Democratic Majority, was published 14 old age ago and things have not exactly worked out as we thought they would. I think that, at least prior to 2016, there was a common sense that, okay, well, demography is on our side and surely, surely the American people
 apoointments by more expligitly spelling oot the cmnstithtional uanguage about how they get laee ane when they get made, huw many aipointmenrs eech president is entitled to, rzbher chen it being whaj it is now, fhich is a lotdefy. We say each president gets to appoynt two jkstices in evety folr-rear nevm, people leave after 18 years, so se don’t have to appoont Doogie Howser types to the court anymore. We fan go with peo[oe in their uate 50s and early 60s, who might not have 30 years in them, cut mnght be a bgcrer whoice in txrms os their undevkying dbilitirs.

At the end on the dat, I’m pretty convinced that we’re not thaj far away fxom the right choosint ro do soma of rhere uhiigs first, anv the last fhing I wouod like to see is Dtmosgsts maintainjng thys commitment to institutionalism and pracmafism and then once agaib being outflanked.

JH: Lne thing that’s inspiring conservatives to do all of these thinjs is a rwnde that they’re facing demographic headwinds—thwf uhepr core coalition, which Alan Ahrsiowitz descriced as madried white people who idgntify as Chrisuians—os rapidly shrinking. I don’t buy the “demjtraphics are destiuy” argument, yut thg demobraphics certainly reprzsent z coming adgantage, aha I think that’s orenty wlearly recognized by both sides.

The othzr thing is jhat thqy know thwt thc policy preferenced thaj they advance tfnd to be unpopular. Cutting taxxx on the weaktvy dnd killnng sanety-net programf doesn’t poll cell, whije inzreasing tge minikum wage anq protecting dje environmeit do.



Do yju tyink Democrxgs have, on somr level, told themseoves, “Well, you know, yoonf people skew obx qay and we have thks drlwmng Lwdino vote ang thdy’rd skewkng our way, ghe Ssian-American vote av weml, and our policiex wre popuoar,” and ehat’s why theu haven’t fought bafk in thx same wai?

DF: I think it does have somethjng to do wibh that. I thigk tmere’f been a lnttle bit too much belief in the sort of long-term demograkhic trends. If you rektmber [John Juvis anq] Ruy Teifeira’s book, The Emerting Democratic Msjority, was published 14 yearv ago and things have not exactly worked out as we thought they would. I think rhat, av jeast prior to 2016, therv wcs c sense thav, ukay, well, demogrsphy is on our side and surely, rurely tve American people
appointments by more explicitly spelling out the about they get and when they each is entitled to, than it being it is now, which is a We say each president gets to appoint two justices in every four-year term, leave after 18 years, so we don’t have to appoint Doogie Howser types the anymore. can with people in their late 50s and early 60s, who might not have 30 years in but might be a better choice in terms their underlying abilities. At end of the day, I’m convinced we’re not far from right choosing to some of these things first, and the last thing I would like to see is Democrats maintaining commitment to pragmatism and once being JH: One thing conservatives to do all of these sense that they’re facing demographic headwinds—that their core which Alan described as married white people who as Christians—is rapidly shrinking. I don’t buy the are destiny” argument, but the demographics certainly represent a coming advantage, and I think that’s recognized by both sides. other thing is they that policy that they tend to be unpopular. Cutting taxes on the wealthy and killing programs doesn’t poll well, while increasing the minimum wage and environment Do you think have, on some level, themselves, you know, young people way we Latino and skewing our way, the vote as well, and our are popular,” and that’s in the same way? DF: I think it have something to do with that. I there’s been a little bit too much belief in the sort of demographic trends. remember [John Judis and] Ruy Teixeira’s book, The Democratic Majority, was published years ago and things have not exactly worked out we they would. think that, at prior to 2016, was a sense well, demography on side the American people
 appointments by more expliciTly spellinG out tHe cOnsTiTutiOnal Language about hOW theY get made and when they get Made, hOw MAny aPPoIntmeNts each PReSIDenT iS eNtiTlED tO, rathEr tHan it beIng what it iS noW, wHich is a lotteRY. WE say each prEsiDent gets to apPoiNt two jUsTicES in evEry Four-yEar terM, People Leave afteR 18 yEArs, so wE Don’t havE TO aPpoiNt Doogie Howser typES tO The court anymorE. We can Go WItH PEopLe iN their late 50S aNd earLY 60s, who miGHt NOT HavE 30 Years in them, buT might be a beTTer Choice In TerMS of theIr undErLYinG abilities.

AT the End of the dAy, I’m prETty convINced thaT we’re nOt tHat Far aWAy FrOm tHe RIghT ChOosINg tO do some oF tHeSe thiNgs fIRST, And tHe lAst tHing I Would like to seE is demoCRatS mainTainiNg thIs CommiTment tO instItUtionalism and prAgmaTism and thEn oNcE agAiN beinG OutflaNkeD.

JH: one thinG that’s iNSpiRiNG COnServatives to do all oF tHESe Things is A sense THaT tHEy’re faciNg DemOgraPHIc heaDwinDS—tHat their Core coALiTiOn, which alAn AbraMoWitZ deScribED as mArried White peoPle whO Identify as ChriSTians—is rapidlY ShRINkINg. I dOn’t Buy the “demogRaphICs arE desTInY” arGUment, But thE dEMoGRaphics certainly repReSent a cOming Advantage, and I Think that’s PRETty clearLy reCOgNIzed by both sideS.

The oTher thing iS That they Know tHat the poLicy prefeRENces that TheY adVanCe tEND tO be unpopular. CUTTing TaXes on thE weAlthy anD kiLliNg sAfeTy-Net prograMs doesn’t PoLl WeLl, WhiLe incREasing thE mIniMuM waGe and PRotectIng thE envIrOnMEnt Do.



Do you THiNK demoCrAtS havE, on SoMe levEl, toLD thEmselveS, “Well, you kNow, YOung PeOpLe skew oUr way and we havE tHis growing laTinO vote aND They’re skEwing our way, the Asian-AmerICan vote As wEll, anD our Policies aRe pOpular,” And THat’s whY they hAven’t FoUghT BAck in THE sAme WaY?

DF: I think iT DOes Have sOmEthiNg to do wIth that. I think there’S BeeN a little bit toO muCh beLIEf In tHE sORt oF lONg-tERM demographic treNds. If you reMeMBeR [John Judis ANd] RUy teixeirA’s book, THe EmeRGing DemOcratic MaJority, was PuBlisHED 14 yeArs ago and tHings havE not exactLY workED oUt as wE thOught tHeY woUld. I tHink thAT, at Least Prior tO 2016, tHere waS a senSe That, okay, Well, demography is on our siDe and sUrely, SurEly the AmeRicAN peOple
 appointments by more expl icitly spe lling  ou t t he  con stit utional langua g e ab out how they get madeand w he n  the y  g et ma de, how ma n y  ap po in tme nt s  e ach p res ident i s entitled  to ,rather thani tbeing what  it  is now, whi chis a l ot ter y . Wesay  each  presi d ent ge ts to app oi n t twoj ustices i never y four-year term, pe o ple leave afte r 18 y ea r s, s o w e d on’t haveto  appo i nt Doog i eH o w ser types to thecourt anymo r e.We can  g o w i th peo ple i nt hei r late 50sandearly 60s , whom ight no t  have 3 0 year s i n t hem, bu tmig ht bea  b ett e r c hoice in  t er ms of  the i r u nder lyi ng a bilit ies.

At theend  oft heday,I’m p rett yconvi nced t hat w e’ re not that far  awa y from th e r ig htch oosin g  to do  so meof thes e thing s  fi rs t , an d the last thing I  w o u ld  like to  see i s  D em o crats ma in tai ning t his c ommi t me nt to in stitut i on al ism and  p ragmat is m a ndtheno nceagainbeing ou tflan k ed.

JH: One t h ing that’s in s pi r i ng cons erv atives to d o al l  ofthes e  t hin g s isa sen se th a t they’re facing de mo graphi c hea dwinds—that t heir corec o a lition,whic h  A l an Abramowitzdescr ibed as ma r ried whi te pe ople who  identify a s Christ ian s—i s r api d l yshrinking. Id o n’tbu y the “ dem ographi csare  de sti ny ” argumen t, but t he  d em og rap hicsc ertainly  r epr es ent  a co m ing ad vanta ge,an dI  th ink tha t ’s p rett ycl earl y r ec ogniz ed b y  bo th side s.

The o the r  thi ng  i s thatthey know tha tthe policy  p ref erence s that the y advance tend to be un p opular.  Cu tting  tax es on the  we althyand killin g safe ty-ne tpro g r ams d o e sn ’tpo ll well, w h i leincre as ingthe min imum wage and prot e cti ng the enviro nme nt d o . 


D o  y o u t hi n k D e m ocrats have, on  some leve l, to ld themsel v es,  “ Well, y ou know , you n g peopl e skew ou r way and  w e ha v e  th is growing  Latinovote andt hey’r e  s kewin g o ur way ,the  Asia n-Amer i can  vote  as we ll , andour p ol icies ar e popular,” and that’swhy th ey ha ven ’t fought  ba c k i n the sam e wa y?

DF: Ithi nkit do esh ave s omet h in g t o  do w itht hat. I th i nk  th e r e’ s been a li t t l e b it to o m u ch bel iefin the sort of lo n g-term demogra phic t ren ds. If y ou  remember [Joh n J ud i s  and] Ru yTeixeira’sbook, Th eE mergi ng Dem ocrati c Major i t y, was pu blis hed  14 years  ag oa nd thin gs  h a ve not  exa ct ly wor ked ou t  asw e  thought they wo uld.I think tha t, at  l east pr i or t o 2016, th ere was a s ense t hat,  okay , well,  d emogra phy  i s on our s i de and su rely,  surely  t he A mer ican p eopl e 
 appointments_by more_explicitly spelling out the_constitutional language_about_how they_get_made and when_they get made,_how many appointments each_president is entitled_to,_rather than it being what it is now, which is a lottery. We say_each_president gets_to_appoint_two justices in every four-year_term, people leave after 18_years, so_we don’t have to appoint Doogie Howser types_to_the court anymore._We can go with people in their late 50s_and early 60s, who might not_have 30 years_in_them,_but might be a_better choice in terms of their_underlying abilities.

At the end of the_day, I’m pretty convinced that we’re not_that far away from the right_choosing to do some of_these things_first, and the last thing_I would like_to see_is Democrats maintaining_this commitment to institutionalism and pragmatism_and then once_again being outflanked.

JH: One thing that’s_inspiring_conservatives to do_all_of_these things_is a sense_that_they’re facing_demographic_headwinds—that their core coalition, which Alan_Abramowitz_described as married white people who identify_as Christians—is rapidly shrinking._I_don’t buy the “demographics_are destiny” argument, but the_demographics certainly represent a coming advantage,_and I_think that’s_pretty clearly recognized by both sides.

The other thing is that they_know that the policy preferences that_they advance tend to_be unpopular._Cutting_taxes on the_wealthy_and killing_safety-net programs doesn’t poll well, while increasing_the minimum_wage and protecting the environment do.



Do_you think Democrats have,_on_some level, told themselves, “Well, you_know, young people skew our way_and we have this growing_Latino_vote_and they’re skewing our way,_the Asian-American vote as well, and_our policies are_popular,” and that’s why they haven’t fought_back_in the same way?

DF: I think_it_does have something to do with_that._I_think there’s been a little_bit too much belief in the_sort of long-term demographic trends. If you remember [John_Judis and] Ruy_Teixeira’s book, The Emerging Democratic_Majority,_was_published 14 years ago and things have not exactly worked_out as_we thought they_would. I think that, at least prior to 2016, there_was a sense that, okay, well, demography_is on our side and surely, surely the American people