Nancy Pelosi on Joe Biden, Tim Walz and Donald Trump
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Published 2024-08-09
But parties are made of people. And in the weeks leading up to President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race, it felt like the Democratic Party was made of one particular person: Nancy Pelosi. Two days after Biden released a forceful letter to congressional Democrats insisting he was staying in the race, the former speaker went on “Morning Joe” and cracked that door back open. And Pelosi has pulled maneuvers like this over and over again in her political career. When an opportunity seems almost lost, she simply asserts that it isn’t and then somehow makes that true. Sometimes it seems like Pelosi is one of the last people left in American politics who knows how to wield power.
Pelosi has a new book, “The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House,” and I wanted to talk to her about her role in Biden’s decision to drop out and what she’s learned about power in her decades in Congress.
Book Recommendations:
The Island of the Day Before by Umberto Eco
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected].
You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.
This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Elias Isquith. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota. Our senior editor is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin, Michelle Harris, Rollin Hu and Kristin Lin. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Jonah Kessel, Emily Holzknecht, Kristen Cruzata and Sonia Herrero.
All Comments (21)
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Whoever decided to add a visual component to these high profile interviews, I see and appreciate you and feel strongly that you deserve a significant raise. This was truly exciting and engaging. Thank you.
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As a lifelong progressive, I've hod TONS of issues with Nancy Pelosi. However, I must admit the past year or so, she's been crushing it. Stepping down as speaker of the house, got Biden to withdraw from the race & backed Walz as the VP pick. Thank u Nancy!
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It's amazing how sharp Nancy is at her advanced age. She set an excellent example for Joe by passing the torch to Jefferies.
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She is sharper now than most politicians are in their prime. Wow.
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She got us through the Trump years and the insurrection. She is truly a patriotic political genius.
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Nancy Pelosi is an absolute force of nature. I've gained so much respect for her as I've learned more.
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What a remarkable woman! She is more consequential than most presidents—and so down to earth. I love the way she goes into ‘street grammar’ saying ain’t, etc. without getting vulgar. She exudes an amazing motherly wisdom that is fascinating. 👍🥰🙏
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One of the most powerful women alive today. To underestimate her is folly.
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One of the greatest Legislative Leaders of the 20th Century. And the first great woman of power in Washington that was not beholding to a man for her legitimacy.
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She is the most cunning tactician, by a mile, that the modern Democratic Party has ever seen. Not since LBJ have we seen someone this talented at wielding power going to bat for the good guys, and even he had an easier job than Nancy. Thank God for her.
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Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave us a huge shot at redemption. I still don’t understand the mechanics behind how she does it even with her explaining it. There’s something about her ability to talk to people, one on one, that is beyond normal. A real treat to experience in real time. She may have single handedly save the republic… we shall see in November.
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This was more engrossing, enthralling than the entire MCU. It felt like she was holding my hand, whispering the nuclear codes, and instructing me how NOT to detonate. We salute you, Master Strategist Pelosi 🫡🕊️
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I’m gonna admit that I used to not like Nancy Pelosi, I thought she was too comfortable in her position and not willing to fight for real changes. I also thought some of the insider trading critics were a problem. But this year Nancy Pelosi completely changed my mind and I actually have so much respect for her (not that she needs my respect I’m nobody). Pelosi saw the polling and saw a huge loss coming for the Dems, the people spoke and said they weren’t excited about Joe. Whether she acted to back up our voices or acted for personal reasons at the end of the day she took action and pressured him to drop out and we got what we wanted. She also told Kamala to pick Walz instead of Shapiro, which was shocking because Shapiro is very corporate and center dem and Walz is more progressive. This year will go down in the history books as the year Nancy Pelosi saved America 🇺🇸
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GREAT interview. Kudos, Ezra. Speaker Pelosi will go down in history as one of the most effective — if not the MOST effective Speakers. Just wow, getting her book!
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A lot of historical praise for her will include the word female or woman and it will miss the mark on the scope of her achievements.
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Thank you for being there to constantly right the ship and clean up Republicans’ messes for the past few decades, Madame Speaker. 💙🇺🇸
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The most revealing interview with Pelos I have seeni! She came to life with her love of politics which allowed me to see her in a new light. Thank you for bringing out the best in her. Masterful.
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Speaker Pelosi is a national treasure. I'm buying that book today.
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Excellent interview. I have grown to appreciate and value this woman. A great stateswoman.
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God damn she is a total political wizard. Even in retirement she still single handedly brought us back into the conversation
