Democrats have to bring more to the table in 2028 than a robust hatred for Donald Trump and animosity for Republicans in general if they want to regain substantial power in DC.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has a new-ish plan for that, which she outlined Monday in a speech at the National Press Club.

Think “big tent.”

“There are two visions for what a big tent means. One vision says that we should shape our agenda and temper our rhetoric to flatter any fabulously rich person looking for a political party that will entrench their own economic interests,” Warren said. “The other vision says we must acknowledge the economic failures of the current rigged system, aggressively challenge the status quo, and chart a clear path for big, structural change.”

Rigged systems. Big change. Challenge the status quo. These are the MadLib go-tos for Dems going back years.

“If we are going to pick up the broken pieces from the 2024 election and build a durable big tent, we must acknowledge a hard truth: The Democratic Party cannot pursue both visions at the same time. Either we politely nibble around the edges of change, or we throw ourselves into the fight,” she added.

Warren is particularly peeved with all that polite nibbling.

“…In a democracy, when the choice is between ‘make the rich richer’ and ‘help everybody else,’ winning elections is about choosing ‘everybody else.’ ”

It’s not a new lesson; Trump gave a master class in 2024. An AP VoteCast survey taken after the election found that worries about everyday expenses helped Trump take a White House victory lap. In key states, Trump’s voters saw illegal immigration as imposing new costs on their communities. Many believed that their own financial well-being was at risk after the burst of post-pandemic inflation. More voters said they were falling behind in 2024 than they did in 2020.

As NBC News reported, Warren sidestepped a question in a Q&A session afterward about whether Democrats should be willing to compromise on social issues like guns, abortion and immigration to broaden their coalition. She said Americans are struggling economically to make ends meet and “I want to be where the American people are right now.”

Well, that’s where the votes are, but “it’s the economy, stupid,” is hardly a new strategy. “It is our economic message that has to be the tip of the spear for Democrats,” she said. “It is the thing that the American people are telling us.”

The American people have been saying that for years, but bread-and-butter issues have taken a back seat to progressive posturing and an affinity for “bold” action.

Warren used the “b”-word in an X post touting NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani this summer: “Zohran’s inspiring campaign showed what grassroots movements can achieve when we fight for bold policies. His focus on government serving the people — not billionaires — will make life more affordable for NYC. I strongly support @ZohranKMamdani. He’ll be a fantastic mayor!”

Note that billionaires are the new Big Bad, as the millionaire class now includes many in Congress, including Warren.

Mamdani noted in his first inaugural speech: “I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.”

Read the room, Democrats: Radical may work with New York City voters, but don’t try that in a swing state.

Editorial cartoon by Steve Kelley (Creators Syndicate)