Following a resounding defeat in the 2024 presidential election, the Democratic Party is grappling with a profound leadership crisis. Columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom, writing in the New York Times, has dismissed the notion that Barack Obama will step in to rescue the party during this critical juncture. Cottom argues that the idea of relying on Obama’s return is ‘undignified’ and reflects a lack of self-reliance among Democrats. Rather than waiting for a former leader to intervene, she insists that the party must take initiative and embrace grassroots activism.
McMillan Cottom emphasizes that the party’s leadership vacuum is not an abstract issue but a tangible problem. She points to the rising tide of anti-ICE protests in cities like Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Raleigh, N.C., as evidence that change is already happening from the bottom up. These movements, she argues, represent the kind of direct, sustained protest needed to keep the Democratic Party relevant and responsive to the growing concerns of its base. Meanwhile, Cottom is skeptical of the idea that Obama can once again become the party’s savior. She calls this hope ‘Obama Derangement Syndrome’ (ODS), a term she uses to describe the unrealistic expectations and emotional dependency some Democrats place on the former president.
She further contends that the Democratic Party’s struggle to find a coherent vision is compounded by its search for a ‘charismatic preacher’ — a leader with the ability to sell the party’s message in a way that resonates with both activists and moderates. Cottom dismisses the notion of creating a ‘Rogan of the left’ — a political commentator with entertainment chops akin to comedian Joe Rogan — and instead advocates for a more technologically driven approach. She highlights the role of platforms like Spotify in shaping modern political discourse, suggesting that the left needs better tools to engage with voters in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape.
In addition to critiquing the party’s leadership vacuum, Cottom also addresses the broader challenges facing the Democratic Party in the Trump era. She notes that the current political climate is defined by a ‘dangerous territory’ where misinformation, conspiracy theories, and extreme political infotainment are rampant. These dynamics, she argues, make it increasingly difficult for any single leader, including Obama, to exert influence. At the same time, she highlights the need for the party to recognize how its own messaging and communication strategy has contributed to this crisis. ‘The most effective communicator in the Democratic Party continues to opt for minimal communication,’ she writes, citing the contrast between Obama’s ‘audacity of hope’ presidency and his current ‘fierce lethargy’ in semi-retirement.