Inside US Democrats' Gaza fight - and what it means for 2028 elections

This episode of The Take dives into the deepening crisis within the Democratic Party over its stance on Israel and Gaza, particularly in the context of the 2028 presidential election. Host Malika Bilal and U.S. Middle East policy analyst Omar Badar examine how Kamala Harris’s alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s pro-Israel policies—especially its refusal to hold Israel accountable during the Gaza genocide—may have cost her the 2024 election, particularly among young and progressive voters. The discussion centers on the Democratic National Committee’s refusal to release its internal autopsy report on the election loss, which leaks suggest directly link the party’s Gaza stance to voter alienation. Despite growing public opposition to Israel’s actions and shifting polling, the party establishment remains reluctant to break from pro-Israel lobbies like AIPAC. However, signs of change are emerging: bipartisan support for legislation like the Block the Bombs Act and the Ceasefire Compliance Act, and a historic 40-senator vote to block arms sales to Israel—highlighting a generational and ideological shift within the party. The episode also explores the rise of alternative political voices like Twitch streamer Hassan Piker, whose raw authenticity resonates with disillusioned voters, and the broader threat to American democracy posed by gerrymandering and partisan map-drawing. While Democrats may win the 2026 midterms by default if Trump implodes, the hosts warn that without genuine policy change and moral courage, the party will fail to rebuild trust with its base.