Written by Ralph Nader
Excerpts Posted by Mike Sauers
November 9, 2026
As the November 3 euphoria fades, the grim reality remains: Trump and his lawless regime, along with Corporatist Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, still hold the reins of power. Granted, the Democrats now have a comfortable majority in the House and Senate and will hold many investigative hearings into the Trump rein of corruption, cruelty, violence, mass lawbreaking and Elon Musk’s DOGE crimes. However, the grim prospect is that they will mostly produce few results.
Why? First, they have to clear the corporatist Democratic Committee Chairs and then clear Speaker Hakeem Jeffries and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Jeffries and Schumer take large amounts of Wall Street campaign money. They take money from the big weapons manufacturers, and they are first in line for AIPAC-related campaign bucks.
Second, they show few signs of heeding the anger of their Democratic voters-90% of whom want Trump impeached. Voters also want Congress to give big corporations a heavy dose of “law and order,” restore taxes on them, and take these corporate giants off welfare.
In short, the New York based Democratic leadership in Congress remains very supportive of the Wall Streeters, the bloated military budget, corporate welfare, and the Netanyahu-AIPAC lobby, backing Netanyahu’s genocide in Palestine.
There are exceptions in Congress-Senator Elizabeth Warren will become chair of the Senate Banking Committee and Bernie Sanders is expected to chair the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. But then what? Their legislation is up against both the Democratic and Republican leadership. Schumer will let these two progressive Democrats provide red meat to the masses but progressives will likely be marginalized, as has happened so often under party leaders who are cowards and corporatists.
Recall the Obama-led Democratic landslide in 2008. Obama who had an even larger Democratic majority in the House and Senate, mostly punted, enacting a watered-down Obamacare, without a public option. Obama had some wins but he should have done much more. A historic loss of major opportunities for a just society.
Two years later, the Democrats had their heads handed to them by voters rejecting their do-nothing-ism. It can happen again.
In August of 2026, Jeffries placed hard-line pro-Netenyahu Democrats in critical positions on the Foreign Relations Committee. He will likely install corporatist Democrats as chairs of powerful committees or loyalists who, if not beholden to corporate lobbies, will do his bidding.
Exhibit One is the longtime, corporate cash register Congressman Richard Neal from a “safe seat” in Massachusetts. Trump must love him. He supports many Trump positions. He is a corporate toady and unpopular with the Progressive Caucus led by the refreshing young Congressman Greg Casar from Texas. Other groups like Roots-Action led by Normon Solomon and Progressive Democrats of America led by Alan Minsky, as well as major anti-poverty, tax reform and many anti-Trump organizations could combine to challenge his selection by Jeffries as the Ways and Means committee chair. There are any number of qualified and willing House candidates for his powerful position.
Earlier this year, Neal with his 38 years of absentee incumbency in the House, had a paltry 25% approval rating from his District. Loaded with corporate dollars and not being challenged he cruises to re-election year after year. He can be beaten.
Stay tuned!