The Morning Cup: Democrats Have Momentum. So Why Are We Meeting With Jared Kushner?

Good morning folks, and welcome to the Morning Cup.

Today i'm a bit angry, and we will get into that...

We are officially in the final stretch before the midterms, and the political environment is getting increasingly uncomfortable for Republicans.

Progressives are winning primaries. Republicans are trying desperately to turn those victories into a scare campaign. Trump is escalating a trade fight with one of our closest allies. ICE continues producing stories that should horrify anyone paying attention.

And House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries apparently found time to privately meet with Jared Kushner.

Yeah. We need to talk about that because THAT is what is pissing me off today.

Jeffries Met Privately With Jared Kushner

This is probably the story I'm watching closest this morning.

Multiple outlets have now confirmed that Hakeem Jeffries recently met privately in New York with Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and longtime adviser. The two reportedly discussed potential areas of cooperation, including housing, immigration and the cost of living. Kushner doesn't currently hold an official White House position, but he remains an outside adviser to Trump.

And the timing matters.

The midterms are less than three months away. Democrats have a legitimate shot at taking the House, which could make Jeffries the next Speaker. Republicans are facing political headwinds, and a Democratic House would finally have the ability to conduct meaningful oversight of this administration.

This is exactly when Democrats should be drawing the clearest possible contrast with Trumpism.

Instead, the person potentially positioned to become Speaker is privately discussing "common ground" with Trump's son-in-law. Legit a meeting to see how they can work together.

There is nothing inherently wrong with members of opposing political parties talking to one another. Governing eventually requires negotiation. But Jared Kushner isn't simply some random Republican policy wonk. He's a member of Trump's family, a longtime Trump adviser and someone who remains connected to the president's political operation.

Democratic voters deserve to know exactly what was discussed and what, if anything, Jeffries is willing to negotiate.

Republicans Have Discovered They're Terrified of Progressives Winning

There is another fascinating political story developing.

Reuters reports that Republicans are increasingly attempting to turn progressive primary victories into a national midterm attack line, pointing specifically to the victories of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and democratic socialist Angie Nixon in Florida. Republicans including Tim Scott and Anna Paulina Luna are already portraying the Democratic left as dangerous and extreme.

You know what that tells me?

They noticed.

For years, progressives were told that our policies couldn't win. That candidates running on economic populism, universal programs and challenging corporate power were politically toxic.

Then progressives started winning.

Now the argument has suddenly changed from they can't win to everyone should be terrified that they're winning.

That's progress.

And there are Democrats who appear to understand what is happening. Sen. Chris Van Hollen has argued that Democrats should engage voters on the left who are dissatisfied with the status quo rather than dismiss them.

That debate about the future of the Democratic Party isn't going away.

Good.

We should keep having that damn conversation.

Trump's Trade War With Canada Is Escalating

Meanwhile, Trump's economic agenda has opened another front.

After negotiations between the United States and Canada collapsed, the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised retaliatory tariffs, describing Canada's response as essentially dollar-for-dollar.

And Trump is now threatening to go significantly further.

Reuters reports that Trump announced plans for 50% tariffs on cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel beginning January 1, 2027, as the confrontation with Canada escalates.

This is no longer just another Trump tariff threat floating around social media.

The trade relationship between the United States and one of its largest trading partners is deteriorating, and American consumers and businesses don't exist in some magical economic bubble where tariffs never reach them.

When importing goods becomes more expensive, somebody eventually pays.

Spoiler: corporations aren't famous for volunteering to eat those costs.

A Sailor Is Deployed Overseas. ICE Detained His Father.

This one is particularly brutal.

Reuters reports that the father of a U.S. Navy sailor currently deployed to the Middle East aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has been detained by ICE.

Joshua Aviles says he learned while deployed that his father had been arrested while waiting for approval of his green card application.

Think about the contradiction here.

The United States asks a service member to spend nine months deployed overseas while the federal government detains his father back home.

This is what gets lost when immigration enforcement becomes nothing more than statistics, quotas and political slogans.

There are actual families underneath those numbers.

There are children.

There are spouses.

There are parents.

And apparently, there are active-duty American service members finding out from thousands of miles away that ICE detained their family.

The Midterms Are Getting Very Real

Finally, zoom out.

Republicans are preparing for a major September convention in Dallas intended to energize voters and reinforce Trump's agenda ahead of November. Reuters reports that the gathering has taken on new importance as Republicans confront dissatisfaction over the economy and the Iran war.

Meanwhile, some House races that looked very different months ago are becoming genuinely competitive.

In Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Democrat Christina Bohannan is mounting her third challenge against Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks after losing the 2024 race by just 799 votes. AP reports that Democrats are seeing encouraging movement in voter registration and are investing heavily in the race.

That number should be burned into everyone's brain.

799 votes.

Politics can feel enormous and abstract. Presidential speeches. Billion-dollar campaigns. Cable-news panels screaming at each other.

Then an election comes down to fewer people than you might see at a moderately busy concert.

Voting matters.

Organizing matters.

Knocking doors matters.

Talking to your neighbors matters.

Sean's Take

There are two competing political stories happening simultaneously.

One is incredibly encouraging.

Progressive candidates are winning. Republicans are nervous enough about those victories that they're trying to build a national campaign around them. Democrats have opportunities in races that could determine control of Congress.

The other story is Democratic leadership seemingly struggling to understand the moment.

This is not the time to blur the distinction between Democrats and the Trump administration.

People are asking for an alternative.

Give them one.

If Democrats want people to show up in November, they need to offer something stronger than "we can manage Trumpism more responsibly."

Fight for working people.

Fight for immigrants.

Fight corporate power.

Fight for healthcare, housing and wages.

And when voters start choosing candidates who actually want to do those things, maybe Washington should spend a little less time panicking about the left and a little more time listening to it.

Because the movement isn't waiting for permission anymore.

- Sean