Nancy Pelosi is feeling “terrible.” Yes, that’s the actual word she chose in response to questions from CNN’s Manu Raju about the state of the Democratic Party after Trump’s return to the White House. One might expect a word like “resilient” or “hopeful” from Pelosi, but not this time. Her response is an apt reflection of the growing cracks in a party that tried to play its power games to the bitter end—and lost.

Asked Pelosi how she’s doing.

“Terrible,” she said

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 13, 2024

Let’s not forget that it was Pelosi herself, not a random figure on the sidelines, who led the charge to remove Joe Biden as the party’s nominee. For months, whispers grew louder about Biden’s age and faltering public support, so Pelosi and Barack Obama stepped up with an agenda that left nothing to chance. With carefully executed pressure, Biden was nudged out, despite the fact that voters had already made their choice during the primaries. As a result, this whole move appeared more as a blatant power play than a “democratic process.”

And yet, this grand plan unraveled spectacularly. Kamala Harris, whom neither Pelosi nor Obama wanted in the top role, saw her chance and took it. By then, the party had boxed itself in, with no primary to fall back on, leading to a coronation rather than a campaign. Pelosi’s power grab failed before it even started, and the American public took note. The “election shock” Democrats claim to feel now isn’t just about Trump’s win; it’s a reckoning with their own poorly disguised tactics and disregard for their own voters’ will.

Now, at 84, Pelosi’s reactionary politics are starting to look like a relentless pursuit of relevance. Is it time for her to step aside? The choice should be clear. After decades in office, Pelosi has the privilege of retiring comfortably, probably with a designer ice cream in hand. She’s a fixture in Washington, yet this latest episode has shown that the longer she clings to power, the more disturbing her attachment seems. At some point, it’s not just about politics; it’s about letting go.

https://t.co/jiUAyCKKRC pic.twitter.com/McNdvmgVpM

— Ben Williamson (@_WilliamsonBen) November 13, 2024

And speaking of letting go, CBS’s Gayle King wasn’t having any of the “this election was close” narrative. When House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tried to paint the 2024 outcome as a tight race, King quickly pushed back. This exchange exposed what Democrats have refused to acknowledge publicly: their message is simply not resonating with working-class Americans. Jeffries tried to highlight the party’s focus on infrastructure and union jobs, but the reality is clear—they’ve lost touch with the blue-collar voters they once claimed to champion.

Even co-host Tony Dokoupil jumped in, pointing out that Democrats have a “respect issue” with the working class. This “respect issue” didn’t develop overnight; it’s the product of years spent ignoring the real concerns of ordinary Americans while fixating on elite, often divisive issues that alienate their core base. Now, as King reminded Jeffries, the Democratic Party is left “processing” an outcome they didn’t expect—an outcome that didn’t feel close at all.