This is a transcript of an interview with Saikat Chakrabarti, a Democratic politician and candidate for the US House of Representatives in California's 11th Congressional District. The conversation was conducted by Akela Lacy from The Intercept Briefing podcast.
The discussion covers various topics, including:
1. Chakrabarti's background and experience: He shares his personal story, including his upbringing in Queens, New York, and how he became involved in politics.
2. His 2020 campaign for the US House of Representatives: Chakrabarti talks about his decision to run against incumbent Representative Katie Hill (now Tom McClintock), her handling of a scandal involving her ex-husband, and the lessons he learned from the experience.
3. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his campaign: Chakrabarti discusses how the pandemic affected his fundraising, polling, and overall strategy.
4. His policy priorities: Chakrabarti shares his views on issues like climate change, healthcare, immigration reform, economic inequality, and social justice.
5. Criticism from the left: Chakrabarti addresses criticism from some progressive groups that he is too centrist or has been too accommodating to Republicans during his time in Congress.
6. His relationship with Nancy Pelosi: Chakrabarti talks about his decision to primary Pelosi in 2022, citing concerns over her leadership style and policy priorities.
7. His views on the Trump administration's handling of democracy: Chakrabarti expresses his concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions, rule of law, and press freedom under President Donald Trump.
8. The importance of grassroots organizing: Chakrabarti emphasizes the need for community-led organizing and mobilization in politics to create lasting change.
The conversation also touches on some personal anecdotes, such as his experiences working with Senator Bernie Sanders and his views on social media's impact on democracy.
Overall, the interview provides insight into Chakrabarti's background, policy priorities, and perspectives on current events.
The discussion covers various topics, including:
1. Chakrabarti's background and experience: He shares his personal story, including his upbringing in Queens, New York, and how he became involved in politics.
2. His 2020 campaign for the US House of Representatives: Chakrabarti talks about his decision to run against incumbent Representative Katie Hill (now Tom McClintock), her handling of a scandal involving her ex-husband, and the lessons he learned from the experience.
3. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his campaign: Chakrabarti discusses how the pandemic affected his fundraising, polling, and overall strategy.
4. His policy priorities: Chakrabarti shares his views on issues like climate change, healthcare, immigration reform, economic inequality, and social justice.
5. Criticism from the left: Chakrabarti addresses criticism from some progressive groups that he is too centrist or has been too accommodating to Republicans during his time in Congress.
6. His relationship with Nancy Pelosi: Chakrabarti talks about his decision to primary Pelosi in 2022, citing concerns over her leadership style and policy priorities.
7. His views on the Trump administration's handling of democracy: Chakrabarti expresses his concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions, rule of law, and press freedom under President Donald Trump.
8. The importance of grassroots organizing: Chakrabarti emphasizes the need for community-led organizing and mobilization in politics to create lasting change.
The conversation also touches on some personal anecdotes, such as his experiences working with Senator Bernie Sanders and his views on social media's impact on democracy.
Overall, the interview provides insight into Chakrabarti's background, policy priorities, and perspectives on current events.
, Saikat Chakrabarti seems like a pretty interesting guy... so he's from Queens, New York and got involved in politics after his personal story, huh? 
it's cool that he's still speaking out about the things he cares about even if some ppl on the left don't think he's centrist enough 
. And I love how he emphasizes grassroots organizing, that's so true 
... we need more community-led movements in politics! 
, you know? Saikat Chakrabarti's message about grassroots mobilization really resonates with me. We need more folks like him who are willing to put in the work to create real change from the ground up. It's not just about getting elected or having a fancy title – it's about building a movement that actually makes a difference. And, let's be real, social media can be a double-edged sword 
. On one hand, it's an amazing tool for spreading information and organizing people; on the other hand, it can also create echo chambers and distractions from what really matters. I think Chakrabarti hits the nail on the head when he talks about striking a balance between using technology to amplify marginalized voices and staying focused on the real issues at hand 
.
just read about Saikat Chakrabarti's new interview and I'm really disappointed 
he's running for Congress again... not that it matters, but did you know his campaign manager was involved in some shady fundraising scandals back in 2020? 
and now he's trying to downplay them like they didn't happen 
meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging and people are struggling to make ends meet... what's the priority again? 
his policy priorities sound pretty generic too, just more of the same old stuff we've heard from other politicians 
social justice, climate change, healthcare... yeah, yeah, yeah 
and don't even get me started on his relationship with Nancy Pelosi 
he's trying to primary her? that's rich 
! Saikat Chakrabarti is so honest about his experiences in politics and sharing his personal story is really inspiring 
. It's clear that he's been through some tough times but still believes in the power of grassroots organizing to create change 
.
. It's clear that he values representation and wants to see more progressive policies come out of Congress 
. And can we talk about how passionate he is about climate change, healthcare, and immigration reform? 
Saikat Chakrabarti is definitely someone I'm keeping an eye on in the political scene 
. Now, I'm not gonna lie, some folks might say he's a bit too centrist for my taste 
what really stands out is how he prioritizes grassroots organizing 
. But for me, I'd still need to see more substance before jumping on board with him 
.
. As someone who's always been passionate about social justice, I can attest that community-led efforts are what make real change happen. And his experience working with Bernie Sanders is like, totally iconic 
– it's amazing to see how those connections can shape your perspective on politics.
. It's about people power, community, and making real changes in your life – which I think is something we can all get behind 
. What specific steps would he take to address the issue of misinformation and disinformation in politics? I want to hear more about his plan for this.
. Like, his decision to primary Pelosi was super bold, and I think it's cool that he's willing to challenge the status quo even if it means going up against some powerful folks 
. Plus, his emphasis on grassroots organizing is music to my ears 
- we need more people like him who are willing to listen to the people and fight for real change 
Anyway, what struck me is how down-to-earth he seems, you know? Like, he's not afraid to share his personal story and the lessons he learned from running for office. And I'm curious, does anyone still listen to podcasts like The Intercept Briefing? 
I mean, I used to love listening to them when I was on my daily commute, but have they become a thing of the past now? 
and gotta say, saikat chakrabarti seems like a really down-to-earth dude 
. i love how he's all about community-led organizing 
. his views on climate change are on point 
and i agree that we need to prioritize healthcare 
over profits. gotta give props for speaking truth to power 
, even if it means ruffling some Republican feathers 
. keep it up! 
I mean, that's some serious drama right there! And what's with his views on climate change? A bit too centrist for my taste, if you ask me 
.
and can we talk about how refreshing it is that he's not afraid to criticize Pelosi? 
he just talked about how COVID-19 messed up his campaign fundraising 
interesting 
And I love how he's not afraid to speak truth to power, even when it means going against some of his own party members 
It's so important for us as a society to have leaders like Saikat who prioritize the needs of the many over special interests 
. I mean, come on, primarying Pelosi? That takes courage! 
. Let's support him and give him a chance! 