Dan Pfeiffer

United States

Founder and Writer at The Message Box

Co-host Pod Save America, Author of Message Box, a newsletter about political strategy, Former Obama Senior Advisor, books, and other stuff.

Articles

Why Dems Shouldn't Be Afraid to Fight for Kilmar Abrego Garcia

1 week ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

Over the weekend, I made the case that Democrats needed to speak up against Trump’s assault on the Constitution. Too many are leaning exclusively into economic arguments, letting Trump’s offenses against our democracy go unchallenged in the public square. Speaking out against Trump was never more necessary, as evidenced by the absolute shitshow of an Oval Office meeting between Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
This Is How Democracy Collapses: Trump Wants to Send Americans to Foreign Gulags

1 week ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

For many valid reasons, everyone is focused on Trump’s disastrous tariff policy. How could you not be? The stock market has been crashing, the bond market is freaking out, and worries about inflation and recession are mounting. When watching your retirement account drop like a rock, it’s hard to focus on anything else. But we are also amid an emerging constitutional crisis that could fundamentally reshape democracy.
This Is How Democracy Collapses: Trump Wants to Send Americans to Foreign Gulags

1 week ago | open.substack.com | Dan Pfeiffer

For many valid reasons, everyone is focused on Trump’s disastrous tariff policy. How could you not be? The stock market has been crashing, the bond market is freaking out, and worries about inflation and recession are mounting. When watching your retirement account drop like a rock, it’s hard to focus on anything else. But we are also amid an emerging constitutional crisis that could fundamentally reshape democracy.
Why Dems Must Call Out Trump's Authoritarianism

1 week ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

Last week in the Oval Office, surrounded by his cabinet and the media, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders that instructed his Department of Justice to investigate two individuals for the crime of criticizing the regime. Miles Taylor is a former Trump staffer who anonymously wrote an op-ed criticizing Trump before going public and becoming a vocal critic of Trump.
Why Trump Surrendered So Quickly on His Tariff Plan

2 weeks ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

After destroying trillions of dollars in wealth, forcing layoffs, and obliterating the economy for nonsensical reasons, Donald Trump paused most of the reciprocal tariffs that went into effect at midnight on Wednesday. The “Golden Age" of America” lasted about 12 hours. Trump and his craven lackeys are desperately trying to claim victory by citing all of the countries that have reached out to start negotiations. But make no mistake, this is complete and total surrender.
Don't Believe Trump's Spin, the Polling on Tariffs is Terrible

2 weeks ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

It’s been a tough week for the Trump White House. The so-called “Liberation Day” event led to immense mockery and the worst stock market sell-off in a very long time. Independent analysts are now predicting a recession later this year. Elon Musk is in a Twitter spat with Trump’s Trade advisor, and Republican members of Congress are starting to (quietly) freak out. However, Politico sayseverything is super chill in the White House.
Trump is Crashing the Economy ... And his Presidency

2 weeks ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

I was out of the country last week on vacation with my family. I was mostly removed from the news, but it was hard to miss the epic shit show that was “Liberation Day.” Presidents hold lots of events. They make multiple announcements per week — many unrelated to the economy. So, a President standing in the Rose Garden, as Trump did last week, was not unusual. What was unusual was the President standing in the Rose Garden trying to destroy his own presidency — and the U.S. economy at the same time.
Wisconsin Democrats Send a Message to Elon Musk - and the World

3 weeks ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

Man, winning feels good. Last night, Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel in the crucial Wisconsin Supreme Court race. This is a huge — and needed — win. All credit goes to Crawford, Ben Wikler, and engaged Wisconsinites. It’s remarkable that they got up off the ground, dusted themselves off, and went back to work only a few months after the devastating election loss in November. They are true warriors for democracy.
Make No Mistake: Trump and Musk are Going After Social Security

3 weeks ago | open.substack.com | Dan Pfeiffer

In all three of his presidential campaigns, Donald Trump ran putatively to the Left of his party on Social Security. Where previous Republicans talked about privatization and raising the retirement age, Trump pledged to protect Social Security at all costs. In the 2024 primary, he destroyed the once-promising (but perhaps always doomed) candidacy of Ron DeSantis by attacking him for wanting to cut Social Security. It was all bullshit.
Trump’s Most Outrageous Scandal Yet Is Actually Going Viral

4 weeks ago | messageboxnews.com | Dan Pfeiffer

We have turned down this road countless times before. Trump does something outrageous, illegal, or stunningly incompetent. Washington works itself into a lather, the cable news networks air wall-to-wall coverage, the usual suspects tweet up a storm (often with siren emojis), and the political newsletters and podcasts go crazy while the rest of America yawns. It’s not that people don’t care; it’s that they seldom hear about it.