Teen Vogue: Chuck Schumer Is Pushing Young People Away From the Democratic Party With His Toothless Leadership

[demmiblue]

I walked away from my job as a writer for Senator Chuck Schumer after realizing the cost wasn’t just political fatigue — it was my values and mental health. I spent a year on Capitol Hill in 2019 crafting messages for Senate Democrats. Every day, I wrote essays that trapped me between the progressive principles I held and centrist compromises that felt like betrayals. Eventually, the disconnect between my ideals and the institution I served became impossible to ignore. Leaving my job in the Democratic Party wasn’t just a career move; it was survival.

In many ways, I’m not alone. Since 2019, I’ve watched young people across the country make a similar choice — turning away from a Democratic Party that once promised a “hopey, changey” vision but now feels distant, performative, and unwilling to fight for a future we deserve. Just like I reached my breaking point, many other young voters are reaching theirs, disillusioned by a party that claims to represent us, but increasingly fails to reflect our values or earn our trust on key issues.

While they’ll tell you that they have the support of young people, Democratic leaders like my former boss are increasingly alienating young voters and progressives alike due to ideological rigidity, inadequate policy responses, and a failure to address the evolving socio-political landscape.

Growing up queer and nonbinary in a small, conservative Connecticut town, I only saw one side of politics — American flags on pickup trucks, Republican campaign signs on every lawn, and a deep sense that I didn’t belong. For most of my childhood, Democrats were more of an idea than a presence, but that changed during my senior year of high school when marriage equality was legalized. For the first time, I saw a political party advocating for people like me, and I felt a glimmer of trust — that maybe, Democrats were on our side. And who was marching at the helm of the Pride Parade that year? Senator Chuck Schumer. To be clear, I believe that Schumer has supported the LGBTQ+ community meaningfully, advocating for marriage equality and supporting landmark Supreme Court cases. But over the years, that support has grown increasingly performative — rainbow in appearance but hollow in substance — fading into silence when real action is needed most.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/chuck-schumer-young-people-democratic-party

[Lovie777]

1. Yeah and they running towards a dictatorship....................

NOT.

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. Like the late 60s/early 70s

this generation will be more liberal/radical than their parents, I suspect. Certainly if my grandkids are any indication they will!

[yardwork]

4. Unfortunately, they're not.

Especially many of the young men.

[Jilly_in_VA]

17. Not yet they aren't

They will be. A lot of the young men weren't earlier in the 60s either (some of you aren't old enough to remember that far back, but those of you who are will remember YAF and "Barry's Boys&quot . Wait until these guys find out there aren't any jobs for them. Think they'll like it? And the young women most certainly are, especially young women of color. They can see which way the pendulum is swinging.

[EdmondDantes_]

30. That would be nice

But the manosphere is much more present in the lives of young men than anything in the past due to the internet. I'm into fitness and I had to work really hard to train the social media algorithm to not show me Andrew Tate garbage. And that was without following any of them and following lots of inclusive fitness people. These guys aren't taking the lack of jobs or women willing to date them as a sign they need to change. So far they seem to be reinforcing that it's the fault of immigrants and women.

[Tree Lady]

71. True of 3 of my grandsons

They are liberal socially, conservative economically, whatever that means.

Two were voting age, one is in 11th grade. The 18yr old voted for Harris in Texas and the 27 yr old didn't vote but at least he was in CA so not a big deal.

My granddaughter is the only liberal but she is close to her union dad, voted Harris in CA, she is 25.

[pstokely]

72. would you consider them to be highly engaged?

or lower engaged?

[Tree Lady]

75. The grand daughter probably goes

by what her dad says, no news. Grandsons the younger one in high school just listens to parents, older one who voted pays attention online, where I don't know.

[JI7]

9. No they aren't more liberal.

[Lovie777]

14. Well the rate shithole musk republicans are going...............

bullying most of the countries, the draft may be put in place to cover all the hot spots re battles.

[Celerity]

3. Not just young people. Also appeasers and normalisers like Maher, Fetterman, the MSN, etc are the bane of resistance.

[bluestarone]

5. And, their anwser is?

They better wake up and smell the coffee. Get us the House and Senate, THEN we can stop these TRAITORS!!

[KPN]

33. Or the Democratic Party should?

This didn’t just start with Schumer or the 2024 election loss.

Started long ago. Meanwhile, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. And here we are today.

I get your point and have adhered — albeit sometimes reluctantly — to that voting principle myself over the years. But I really do have to ask myself today — and others — who is it that needs to wake up?

[yardwork]

6. Meh. I don't agree with most of this writer's concerns.

I'm frustrated by Schumer and Jeffries, but not for the reasons in the column at the link.

The purity tests (you must cal it genocide or you're a murderer!!!) don't do us any good at all.

[GoreWon2000]

18. Dem party poll numbers

being lower than tRump and Musk's poll numbers numbers show that this "Teen Vogue" article is spot on. . People don't favor cowards. The grassroots better understands what's at stake here.

[yardwork]

19. Oh I agree that Schumer et al are mealy mouthed and too weak.

But when I read the column itself it turns out it was all about not speaking out enough against Israel and not doing enough for trans rights.

There's a LOT more than that to be done. We must speak out in support of everybody's rights. We can't stay in a tiny pure bubble. It's got to be much, much more bold than that.

[JI7]

26. Ok , that explains a lot. But the reality is the person dies not speak for many young people

especially the men who are opposed to transgender rights. And the anti Israel crowd is also very much opposed to transgender rights unlike a Chuck Schumer who does support it.

[yardwork]

60. I think this kid is probably part of the problem.

They were one of Schumer's speechwriters, and literally all they seem to care about is Palestine and trans rights. Where's the rest of our priorities?

We've got older folks who are out of touch, and when they hire younger folks they get the narrow- minded purity police. No wonder we lost!

[W_HAMILTON]

27. "Dem poll numbers" are low because of people like this.

Spoiler alert: they are the types where nothing is good enough for them.

They admire """fighting""" and constantly losing over achievable gains -- one might call it, I don't know, progress...?

Not as many likes and subscribes from accomplishing what you can, but there are lots waiting for those that demand all or nothing and then blame others -- frequently Democrats -- when they get nothing.

[DinahMoeHum]

47. They have a severe case of what I call. . .

. . .the Nothing But The Best For The Oppressed syndrome.

[GoreWon2000]

78. No comparison

between how McConnell was able to successfully block President Obama's agenda with the same power deficit that Schumer is now dealing with compared to Schumer caving to tRump/Musk radical attack on our government and constitution.

[pinkstarburst]

32. Unfortunately, many people gravitate towards strength

Trump and his evil minions are horrible. They are leading us in a terrible, evil direction, but they are doing it from a strong man position.

Schumer and Jeffries are projecting weakness. Cowardice. Inability and unwillingness to lead. It's not a purity test so much as the country is sick with worry and desperation and is looking for hope and leadership and strength and these two come up with what? Let's vote with Trump's guys, wear pink, and hold up some paddles.

We need to get rid of them as soon as possible and put some fighters in charge of the House and the Senate. We are going to start hemorrhaging voters from the left off to independent parties, to Bernie type figures who WILL stand up and fight and get loud. The true democratic voices who want to resist are not going to stand behind a Gavin Newsom type and if he is the nominee, they are not going to vote for him. We need to get Schumer and Jeffries out of there before they do further damage. I would love to see Elizabeth Warren in charge of the senate. We've got lots of good choices for the House.

[LearnedHand]

49. So much this

Thank you for articulating that so well.

[JI7]

55. Amy Klobuchar did better than Warren in the Primary

so maybe it should be her.

Bernie has been in office for decades. What changes has he made ? His own state has a Republican governor.

Maybe Pete Buttigieg who is young and actually did better than expected.

[pinkstarburst]

74. Elizabeth Warren far outperformed Klobuchar in the 2020 primary

Warren had 75 pledged delegates.
Klobuchar had 7.

Warren got 2,832,060 votes.
Klobuchar got 540,064.

[JI7]

7. Are they also upset with their local officials and state senator and Governor ?

How do they feel about people running for city council ?

[LearnedHand]

8. This is a very important statement from the essay

And something the party could learn from:

To be clear, we’re not asking for perfection — we’re demanding urgency, empathy, and courage. Instead, we’re met with compromises on core values, as if basic rights are up for negotiation. For a generation facing existential crises, that’s not leadership — it’s alienation.

[JI7]

13. Joe Biden gave all of that but it didn't matter

[yardwork]

21. Exactly. And that paragraph is not representative of the whole column.

That paragraph got tossed in at the last minute, I suspect.

[KPN]

34. Not true. The Gaza stuff hurt him badly. He absolutely

did not do enough on that.

[JI7]

39. Supporting Transgender rights also hurt him

[LymphocyteLover]

25. Sure, but this is written for people who live and breathe politics.

most people are hardly aware of Schumer. Most people just aren't paying attention to politics, especially average young people.

[Bettie]

44. THIS!

This paragraph states it all so clearly.

If our party has no core values (or won't defend or even acknowledge those values) then what's the point?

Republicans have core values. They are twisted and mostly come down to hate for people who aren't white, male, and Christian, but boy howdy they never deviate from their complete devotion to those values. They never compromise on any of it.

Our party's values are not ugly, not hateful, but it seems a whole lot of our elected officials really don't like talking about or defending them. Instead, they shift away from them, tacitly suggesting that, for example, women's rights aren't all THAT important.

They are agreeing with the bully who pulls down their pants, steals their lunch money, and then beats them up after school, because they think, somehow, he will eventually befriend them.

[Prairie_Seagull]

10. My early 30s kids believe SS will not be there for them.

The point needs to be made that in fact SS will be there for them and that the democrats are going to ensure that it is. Then take the bow. Show youth which party has their best interests at heart.

How many other young people are thinking exactly the same thing.

An understandably monumental but simple thing.

IMO

[JI7]

11. Most young people aren't thinking about social security. And many young men are anti feminist

[Prairie_Seagull]

15. No doubt, my example is a small sample size but

It does include their friends. Both are teachers so not an insignificant group.

[JI7]

16. Democrats have always supported social security. It's Republicans that arr a threat to it

All the evidence is there going back decades to show this.

[KPN]

35. My 3 thirty-somethings are ... and they mention

it to me frequently. They clearly are are aware and think about SS and the likelihood it eont exist for them.

[SharonClark]

76. Then maybe they should vote for people who support Social Security

[yardwork]

22. We need bold leaders and a sweeping vision.

[Bettie]

45. I'm 58 and I doubt that it will be there

for my DH (4 years older than me) and me.

My kids are planning for us to have to live with them in our later years, since they have zero belief that there will be a social safety net at all after Musk is done with the country.

[lees1975]

12. They are out of touch.

I finally got a long response from Senator Durbin, to my letter requesting that he not vote for cloture, and force the Republicans to either do something about the possibility of government shutting down, or let it shut down. It was the same self-justification response we got from Schumer, don't rock the boat, this bad thing is better than that bad thing, and so on.

The Democrats do not have the majority in either house, so the government shutting down, based on a bill not one single Democrat had helped to write, would have all been Congress and Trump's fault. Bold action, Mr. Durbin. You were also opposed to those who wanted to break the filibuster to pack the court when we had the majority and could have done it. We would not be in this mess now if that had been done.

[Oopsie Daisy]

20. Teen Vogue ... that's all I needed to read.

[UTUSN]

50. This

[Ping Tung]

23. The Blame Game after any lost elevation is an American ritual.

"Getting into politics is like stepping into dog shit." Che Guevara

[LymphocyteLover]

24. I doubt young people are paying that much attnetion to Schumer, if they even know who he is. The problem isn't Schumer

as a massive rightwing social media presence and constant rightwing BS propaganda.

On the bright side people like AOC are drawing in younger people.

[True Blue American]

28. Schumer just came out with his book on AntiSemitism

While Palestenians are dying by the thousands, their lands being taken away.

Before you get angry at me my late Husband was one of the GI’s that helped liberate the Concentration Camps and he would agree with me. Under Netanyahu the victims have become the killers.

[OldBaldy1701E]

29. This sentence describes the past 43-odd years of my life.

Every day, I wrote essays that trapped me between the progressive principles I held and centrist compromises that felt like betrayals.

If you remove the part that says 'I wrote essays', you get where I have been my entire life. I am one of those people who are always 'too progressive, too liberal, too socialist-minded, too this and too that...

But, we have tried everything else and look where we are. Maybe start listening to the more... progressive... voices for a change? And, stop worrying about how much it will cost? (Which, unfortunately, will never happen.)

[KPN]

36. THIS. Ditto here frankly.

[LearnedHand]

54. Ditto x 2

Me too, and the neoliberal policies the Dems have espoused since Clinton (and maybe earlier) have made it very hard to believe the party actually supports FDR-like big changes that lift up everyone.

[Orrex]

31. I'm shocked that "peering wearily over one's glasses" doesn't connect with today's youth

[dchill]

37. Hell - they're HALF-GLASSES...

Peering over them is the only option.

[SocialDemocrat61]

38. I don't think it's just Schumer

While there are great progressive democrats in Congress like Elizabeth Warren, AOC, Jasmine Crockett, etc, they’ve been undermined by moderates like Joe Manchin, Kristen Scinema, Abigail Spanberger and others.

[Celerity]

51. a 2021 example

The Democrats who want to destroy the Biden presidency

The "Suicide Squad" is taking the party agenda hostage to get tax cuts for the rich

https://theweek.com/politics/1004024/the-democratic-suicide-squad-that-wants-to-destroy-bidens-presidency

President Biden's domestic policy legacy looks likely to be determined largely by two bills that are before Congress. The pandemic rescue package passed back in March was significant, but most of that has already expired or will do so soon. Meanwhile, a $566 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill has passed the Senate and is before the House, and more importantly, a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill is working its way through the Senate. If passed, these two bills would give Biden the most significant record of domestic accomplishment since Lyndon Johnson. Yet a small handful of conservative Democrats ( who have been dubbed the "Suicide Squad" ) appear bound and determined to blow up Biden's presidency. They threaten that if the House does not immediately pass the bipartisan bill, they will vote against the reconciliation bill — with the clear intention of radically scaling it back, if not tanking it altogether. It's a wildly irresponsible betrayal of their own party and president.

Remember, the reason Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the rest of the party leadership have settled on a "two-track" strategy of getting both the infrastructure bill and reconciliation through the Senate before passing either through the House is the party's tiny margin of control — just three seats in the House and none in the Senate — and distrust between the party's left and right wings. In particular, progressives understandably fear that if conservative Democrats get what they want in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, they will refuse to pass the best parts of the reconciliation proposal (which includes sizable health-care reforms, welfare state expansions, climate policy, and other goodies). Hence it is best to iron out all the compromises between the various factions in one big pot of legislation, and then pass it all at the same time, so as to minimize the risk of defections. Led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, the Suicide Squad presented an argument for their position in a short op-ed at The Washington Post, which bears close examination. They say the reason the infrastructure bill must pass immediately is because America simply can't wait a single moment longer to start repairs, and that it's illegitimate to hold the bill hostage:

Across this country, far too many communities are struggling with crumbling roads and structurally unsound bridges, outrageous congestion, lead-coated pipes and no broadband access. You don't hold up a major priority of the country, and millions of jobs, as some form of leverage. The infrastructure bill is not a political football. [The Washington Post]

The point about time is completely preposterous. State and local governments are already in decent shape in terms of funding for urgent infrastructure repairs and upgrades, thanks to the American Rescue Plan in March which allocated $350 billion to them in part for this purpose. Even if there was a dire need to spend, infrastructure notoriously takes forever to get going — you've got to pick projects, draw up plans, do environmental impact studies, and on and on. As Jeff Stein and Michael Laris write at the Post, just $20 billion of the $566 billion in the plan is estimated to be allocated before the end of the 2022 fiscal year, and fully three-quarters after the 2024 election. There is absolutely no reason why this can't wait a couple more months, and even making this argument is evidence of bad faith motives. The squalling about holding infrastructure "hostage," meanwhile, is truly Trumpian hypocrisy. The Suicide Squad are explicitly doing exactly that in the opposite direction. They are taking reconciliation hostage as a form of leverage. They are using Biden's most ambitious proposals — which are far more important than the bipartisan bill — as a political football.

Russell Berman at The Atlantic actually pointed this out to Gottheimer in a recent interview: "Aren't you doing the same thing? Aren't you holding a hostage yourself in return by holding up the budget resolution and saying you're not going to vote for that until the infrastructure bill passes?" Gottheimer could muster nothing but inept dissembling in response. "No, not at all, because they've announced for months that they're not going to bring infrastructure to the floor. For months, many of my colleagues have said they won't vote for the infrastructure package if they don't get what they want in the reconciliation package," Gottheimer replied. "I've literally said to my colleagues, 'Let's vote on the infrastructure bill, and then, like, 15 minutes later we can start debate on the budget resolution and vote on it the next day.'" So the progressives are despicable hostage-takers because they won't vote on infrastructure before they get what they want, but Gottheimer is not because he'll vote on reconciliation after he gets what he wants. Makes perfect sense: If they just ransom the hostage, he will no longer have a hostage.

snip

[azureblue]

40. it's old politics vs new

Reagan started the rot of the GOP. Before Bush came along, US politics was a matter of comity, and cooperation, for the sake of the America people.

Trump changed that into a battle of win at any cost. Chuck comes from the former, and he isn't changing his ways, so Trump and the rotten GOP just roll right over him. And the Dems look spineless, at best.

AOC and her crew are way more confrontational and willing to call out lies and BS face to face. This is what young voters want. They see they have no future, because GOP policies made it that way. They see the Dem old guard stifling AOC and the younger voices in Congress, and they do not like it at all.They are struggling to pay rent, and buying a house is little more than a dream. They know they are being underpaid. They know why health care is a mess. And all they see from Chuck's crew is stern words. Chuck needs to adapt NOW, or step out of the way.

[republianmushroom]

41. ... With His Toothless Leadership.

Nails it.

[calimary]

42. He's gotta go. Give him some title and show him to a side office.

One with a big-sounding title and little else. But something that gets him OUT OF THE WAY.

[Jilly_in_VA]

43. Hell

PRIMARY HIS ASS! BIG TIME! HE'S TOAST.

[JI7]

52. These people sound ignorant . I don't think they have interest in real progressive change

ss Biden DID actually do many things and tried to do more which REPUBLICANS blocked.

You say they have good paying jobs in the financial industry. Based in their actions they are happy with how things are and like play the angry betrayed progressive.

[Comrade Citizen]

48. The youth aren't participating at the grassroots; it's not cool or trendy

I don't see anyone under 30 volunteering at the local Community Action Agency founded by LBJ's Great Society, or participating in local mutual aid groups; and we reach out to the community with events and messaging.

The youth have to start buying from employee owned businesses and co-ops or at least unionized employers. Make the extra effort to visit a unionized Starbucks or shop Brookshire Bros grocery with 7000 employee owners. Simple concrete actions to actually make a difference locally.

[GenThePerservering]

57. I live in a funky older first ring suburb

and many youth here are very active and engaged on a local level. They feel like they'll have no influence in Washington, but they can see the effects on their work locally, and that's not only where it starts, but something they can grasp.

I think adults forget how big and somewhat overwhelming the world can be to youth - they break it down into sureities - I have not forgotten, however.

[stillcool]

53. hopey, changey??

you would think someone in that position would have a better idea of what Democrats are up against. Shame that they've come away with so little. Wonder how they feel about their state government, or if they even care

[JI7]

56. Sounds more like the type that just vies in Presidential elections

That's why I always ask people about local and state reps and elections and usually get no response.

[betsuni]

59. That really bugs me. Hopey, changey? What in the hell were people like this projecting onto Obama?

What promises did they imagine he made? Thinking... no, wait, FEELING... a president can do everything if they have just the right character, up to this one personality, nothing to do with Congress or actual politics.

People don't know what politics is.

[stillcool]

69. it is impossibly frustrating

but to read something written by someone who supposedly worked for a Senator is sad. The truth, some facts, would be so refreshing. I feel like I'm losing brain cells by reading some of this crap.

[yardwork]

61. That's the phrase Sarah Palin mocked Obama with.

She lost. Obama won a second term. Why is this kid using a derogatory term for our 2012 victory?

[stillcool]

70. ah...no wonder

It definitely rankled, but didn't know why. Thanks

[BlueTsunami2018]

58. Our entire party focus should be Transgender rights and anti-Israel.

Because surely, those are the things that’ll bring people out in droves.

[JI7]

66. And the reality is most of the anti Israel crowd opposes lgbt rights

[BlueTsunami2018]

67. Yes.

They’ve always seemed like strange bedfellows to me.

[Violet_Crumble]

68. I'm calling bullshit on these claims of yrs

Yr floating round this thread telling everyone how young people think, and what they support (always regressive things). You aren't a young person, so how about you provide some evidence to back up your claims?

Also, what is 'anti-israel'? Does it mean any criticism of Israel makes someone anti-israel? It's just that I've never seen you make any criticism of Israel, so I want to make sure what you mean by that term.

[Meowmee]

62. Away to what?

A dictator who murdered over 1 million. Here we go again, same bs that helped him get into power.

[betsuni]

64. Another episode of Everything's About ME!

Ironic that these types accuse Democrats of talking down to people when they're the ones scolding, purity testing, threatening and using that annoying Progressive vs Centrist/Establishment jargon-insult language.

[Nixie]

73. I lulz'd

[WorkingClassMan]

77. Schumer has alienated everyone.

From independents to staunch Democrats, Schumer has not won over anybody with his schmoozing to Trump.