Wednesday, April 23,2025. Annette’s Roundup for Democracy.
Congressman Jerry Nadler met with his constituents.
Jerry Nadler, longtime liberal congressman of the 12th Congressional District, which includes a broad swath of Manhattan, held a Town Hall meeting on Monday night in the auditorium of the Ethical Culture School. The Town Hall was called Fighting the White House Agenda and Forging A Path Forward. The lines to enter stretched three city blocks. The New York Times reported that 1600 had registered for an event facility that holds 1200.
Eve and I were there and managed, by the skin of our teeth, to snag two second row seats in the balcony on the far right side of the stage, with a clear birds-eye view of the speakers. We were two of the last 30 people given entry.
Brad Hoylman Sigal.
New York State Senator Brad Hoylman Sigal was the moderator, introducing the longtime congressman.
Nadler, now the dean of New York’s House delegation, was first elected to Congress in 1992. He is known as a progressive champion, advocating for civil rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, women’s rights, and reproductive freedom.
Nadler played a key role in both impeachments of Trump during Trump’s first term, but he was especially central during the first impeachment in 2019-2020 when, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Nadler introduced the two articles of impeachment—abuse of power and obstruction of Congress—related to Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.
Congressman Jerrold (“Jerry”) Nadler.
Nadler spoke for maybe 10 minutes. He passionately denounced Trump as an autocrat and traitor, trying to dismantle Democracy, explaining he speaks against Trump and supports and co-sponsors bills with his colleagues against Trump’s illegal activities such as:
- issuing executive orders stopping federal funding for programs authorized by Congress
- destroying government departments
- deporting and taking actions against people without due process
- firing tens of thousands of civil servants
- imposing tariffs
He reminded us again and again. The Democrats in the House are in the minority, so they have limited power.
He also indicated that, since he is a lawyer, he writes amicus briefs as possible to support the more than 120 lawsuits that have been filed against Trump.
Later in the meeting, he indicated that he himself had joined protests against Trump. He also said there were 2 kinds of Republicans in the House - those who are scared of Trump and of being primaryed, and those who agree with Trump.
Neera Tanden.
Neera Tanden, who was one of Trump’s most vocal antagonists during his first term, is the chief executive of the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank. In 2020, she was nominated by Joe Biden to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget but was forced to withdraw because of Republican opposition to her confirmation. Biden later appointed her Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council where she served from 2023 to 2025.
During this Town Hall, Tanden was both the appeal for unity from the Democratic Party and the champion of outrage and activism by ordinary citizens.
She often spoke with the energy of an activist herself, occasionally using a curse or two and often delivering lines which called for response from the audience in attendance.
A sample of her calls to action from citizens were:
- Make Republicans feel the heat…for example, join protests against Republican Congressman Mike Lawler (who represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which covers all of Rockland and Putnam counties, most of northern Westchester County, and parts of southern Dutchess County).
- Use your networks, on social media and by making calls to people you know, against Trump and members of Congress like Lawler.
- Build courage in others. Show photos of protests. Share your energy and passion to weaken Trump’s support in the country.
- Again, use your networks and opportunities. Talk to people as you stand in line. Write to the college you attended.
Tanden was fierce in calling for unity.
- Don’t be angry at Democrats. (This, in response to audience members screaming out against Nadler and then Schumer who wasn’t present).
- Avoid creating a divided opposition.
She also called for unity by nonprofit organizations (like CAP which she heads) and educational institutions and law firms.
She reminded the full auditorium - the House majority is in the state of New York.
We can interrupt and disrupt this administration.
But this was a very frustrated and angry audience. Some randomly shouted, denouncing Schumer (again, who wasn’t present) and even Nadler himself.
There were understandably angry calls for out-of-the-box answers as well as applause for out-of-the-box actors like Senator Cory Booker, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Senator Bernie Sanders, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Eve and I left the Town Hall, feeling frustrated too, by our sense that we can’t count on imaginative and out-of-the-box plans or actions by Nadler or (judging by current behaviors) most of our Democratic officials.
Nadler’s toolbox, which is probably similar to the toolboxes of most of his Democratic colleagues in the House, is very limited. He knows only 3 actions: traditional elections, amicus briefs, street actions.
While Nadler did call on the Senate to use the filibuster to stop Trump nominees and bills, he mostly turned to the possibility of a shift of power in the House in 2026 as a solution to Trump (though, as a true progressive with roots in the 60’s, he almost nostalgically wondered if there could be a massive March on Washington as there had been in 1963.)
There is clearly no strategy being developed by House Democrats to break the Republican House Wall. They are not thinking of how to make those Republicans who are afraid of Trump more fearful of their constituents opposing Trump than of Trump himself.
Don’t expect to hear from Democratic leadership soon that they are developing a plan whereby, say, 10 Democrats will hold Town Halls in the districts held by scared Republicans now.
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One more thing.
Yes, call your colleges now, but also once again, call your House Representative and ask them what they are doing to break the House Republican wall. Tell them - this is not a time for politics as usual. We want plans and actions, now!
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See you tomorrow!