We begin with Jason Dick offering a tribute to former Vice President Walter Mondale — who he was and how he helped build the Democratic Party of today. Then we thought it would be a good idea to give Political Theater listeners a chance to hear our sister podcast, CQ Future, on what’s next for the Democratic Party.

It’s no secret that in the corridors of power there is a struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party. While Joe Biden won the presidency, there certainly wasn’t a blue wave. Moreover, House Democrats lost seats, and while they hold a slim majority in the Senate, infighting within the party has presented challenges to Biden’s agenda. 

CQ Roll Call’s Shawn Zeller speaks to former Democratic Reps. Donna E. Shalala and Ben McAdams, who lost their seats last fall, to talk about why and what’s next for the party.

Show Notes:

• Political Theater: The future of the GOP
• CQ Future: Money in politics
• CQ Future: The Latino vote
• Joe Biden’s bold moves on race relations
• Governing in a hurry: The fleeting nature of unified control