>> COULD BE SAID THAT THE DNGS LOST THAT VOTE, YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE PEOPLE?

>> OUR ECONOMY HAS NOT WORKED REALLY WELL FOR THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE BIGGER IDEAS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

[♪♪] HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE.

HOST OF PBS'S TO THE CONTRARY WHICH IS NORMALLY A PANEL DISCUSSION AMONG WOMEN OF ALL DIFFERENT ETHNIC AND POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS.

BUT TODAY, WE ARE STARTING OUT WITH A NEW FEATURE OCCASIONALLY WE WILL BE DOING HALF HOUR INTERVIEWS WITH FEMALE THOUGHT LEADERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND OUR FIRST INTERVIEW IS WITH NEERA TANDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU GOT TO A POSITION THAT MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

BUT TO CLUE THEM IN, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL DEMOCRATS IN TOWN?

>> THANK YOU.

I MEAN, I ACTUALLY FEEL REALLY HONORED TO WORK AT THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS BECAUSE THE CENTER IS REALLY A PLACE THAT WORKS ON PUBLIC POLICY.

AND WE HAVE AN ADVOCACY ARM CAP ACTION AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE REALLY BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS ARE ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

THE POLICIES WE WORK ON AND THE ADVOCACY WE DO IT SOUNDS HOCKEYY BUT IT'S ABOUT EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION OR TAX POLICY OR HEALTHCARE.

OUR FOCUS IS INSURING THAT EVERYBODY HAS A SHOT AT SUCCESS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING A LOT TO DEFEND BUT YOU KNOW WE ALSO DEVELOP IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE.

AND I CAME TO THIS WORK AT CAP HAVING WORKED IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR A TIME BUT ALSO BEFORE THAT, MY FIRST JOBS IN WASHINGTON WERE IN THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE WHERE I WORKED ON THE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL.

I STARTED OFF WORKING ON CHILDREN AND FAMILY ISSUES BACK THEN FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON.

AND HAD A FANTASTIC VANTAGE POINT HOW YOU WORK ON POLICIES THAT CAN IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

FAMILIES, PEOPLE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND FAMILIES MANY OF WHOM ARE WORKING TWO JOBS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE GOOD WORKERS AND BE GOOD PARENTS THAT WAS THE THING THAT I WAS REALLY LUCKY TO WORK ON.

>> IS THAT WHAT DROVE YOU?

AN INTEREST IN FAMILY ISSUES?

ANY OTHER PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT?

>> FOR ME, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I STARTED OUT I GREW UP AS A IN BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS AND I AM THE CHILDREN OF INDIAN IMMIGRANTS BUT I HAD A DIFFERENT PATH THAN A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS IN THAT MY PARENTS MY FATHER CAME OVER FIRST AND MY PARENTS HAD AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE AND MY MOTHER CAME OVER AND SHE NEVER WORKED.

BUT THEN MY FATHER PARENTS GOT DIVORCED AND MY FATHER LEFT.

WHEN I WAS 5.

>> ARRANGED MARRIAGE?

BOY, WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP WITH PARENTS YOU KNOW WHO WERE -- DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER AND WERE PARKED TOGETHER?

>> WELL, MY EARLIEST MEMORIES WERE NOT OF THEM GETTING ALONG TOO WELL.

IN FACT, THEY GOT DIVORCED.

IT WAS NOT A GOOD UNION IN THE SENSE THAT MY FATHER -- THEY GOT DIVORCED AND MY FATHER LEFT.

AND WE LIVED IN A NICE HOUSE IN BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS AND THEN HE HAD -- HE LEFT FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND WE DIDN'T FOR WHERE HE WAS.

AND MY MOTHER FACED A STARK CHOICE WHICH IS TO EITHER STAY IN THE UNITED STATES WITH TWO CHILDREN TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND GO ON WELFARE AND STRUGGLE OR GO BACK TO INDIA.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S STIGMA TODAY WITH ABOUT DIVORCE IN INDIA AND THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE STIGMA IN 1975.

SO SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD GONE BACK TO INDIA SHE WAS RELEGATING HER CHILDREN AND HER TO PRESCRIBED CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO SHE STAYED HERE AND WENT ON WELFARE.

AND JUST INCREDIBLY FORTUITOUSLY WE WERE ABLE TO STAY IN BEDFORD BECAUSE MASSACHUSETTS GREAT PROGRESSIVE STATE PASSED A LAW SAYING IF DEVELOPERS DEVELOPED HOUSING IN SUBURBS AND ALLOCATED SOME FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THEY WOULD SPEED UP THEIR PROGRAM.

SO IT WAS A WAY OF GETTING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AND AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES INTO SUBURBS.

I MOVED INTO BEDFORD VILLAGE WITH MY MOM.

AND YOU KNOW, I WAS -- >> DID THIS EXPERIENCE REALLY FORM -- >> YEAH.

>> IS THAT HOW YOU BECAME A DEMOCRAT BECAUSE YOU LIVED THROUGH THE BEING ON WELFARE AND PULLING YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BOOTSTRAPS?

>> FOR ME, I MEAN I OBVIOUSLY HAD AN INCREDIBLY STRONG MOTHER TO MAKE THAT CHOICE AND MY VIVID MEMORIES OF BEING IN THE SCHOOL LUNCH LINE AND I WAS THE ONLY PERSON USING THE BACK THEN THEY HAD COUPONS FOR FREE 10 CENT LUNCH INSTEAD OF $1.50 AND WE WERE THE ONLY FAMILY USING FOOD STAMPS AT THE TIME I DID NOT THINK ABOUT BUT I REALIZED THAT I -- THERE ARE A BUTCH OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MADE A SERIES OF DECISIONS ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY THAT ALLOWED ME TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY.

I MEAN I WENT TO GOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MY MOM GOT A JOB AT A TRAVEL AGENT AND WITHIN FIVE YEARS SHE WAS AT RAYTHEON AND BY THE TIME I WAS 11 SHE BOUGHT HER OWN HOUSE IN BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

AND GOT INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

AND YOU KNOW I WENT TO UCLA AND MADE IT TO YAL LAW SCHOOL YALE LAW SCHOOL AND MY MOTHER KEPT REMINDING US IT WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE DID DECIDE TO INVEST IN ME.

PUBLIC POLICY REALLY IS PEOPLE CHOOSING TO HELP OR HURT PEOPLE THEY WILL NEVER KNOW MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER OR MAKE THEIR LIVES WORSE.

WHICH IS TRULY RELEVANT AS WE DISCUSS HEALTHCARE TODAY.

>> YES.

NOW TO A BIG ISSUE IN WASHINGTON AND ALSO HUGE ISSUE FOR THE CENTER HEALTHCARE.

DOES IT PAIN YOU TO SEE THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SCRAP THE ISSUE THAT YOU WORKED ON AND HELPED PULL TOGETHER?

>> YEAH, SO I -- THE CENTER OF AMERICAN PROGRESS HAS BEEN WORKING ON HEALTHCARE AND ACTUALLY IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELPED DEVELOP THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

WE CAME OUT WITH AN IDEA 12, 13 YEARS AGO.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, SO I FEEL A SPECIAL KINSHIP BECAUSE I WORKED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA ON HEALTHCARE AND HAD A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS INTO THIS STILL WHICH YOU KNOW THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE ASSAULT ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE DISCUSSION THAT THE COUNTRY'S BEEN HAVING ABOUT IT HAS BROUGHT FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED BY IT.

THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERMINE IT AND 24 MILLION PEOPLE LOSE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE REMINDED PEOPLE THAT THE BILL HAS DONE GREAT WORK.

AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS MORE POPULAR TODAY THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

>> HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THE FACT THAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN A LARGE CHUNK OF THE CAMPAIGN WAS DONALD TRUMP SAYING WE NEED TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S HORRIBLE.

IT'S -- AND BILL CLINTON SAID IT'S CRAZY.

AND NOW THAT THEY ARE IN THERE AND NOW THAT HE GOT ELECTED AND HE HAS A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THAT, PEOPLE DON'T WANT HIM TO DO IT.

>> MY THEORY IS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WHAT WE'VE HAD IS WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO COMPARE IT TO ANYTHING WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO SHOW WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE AND REPLACEMENT WOULD BE, REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN THROWING ONE RHETORICAL BOMB AFTER ANOTHER.

YET PEOPLE WHO BENEFITED FROM THE ACA DID NOT THINK IT WAS REAL.

SO I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN THE DEBATE AND LIKE THE DEBATE BREAKS MY HEART IN ANY CASE, BUT THE VOICES OF REAL PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING COVERAGE.

CANCER PATIENTS, CHILDREN WHO HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS WHO ARE ABLE TO SEE DOCTORS BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BENEFITED AND THEIR VOICES HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT.

ONE OF THE SIMPLE THINGS WE DID AT CAP IS DEVELOP A STORY BANK AND WE'VE DEVELOPED 3,000 STORIES OF PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COMING TO US TO SHARE THEIR STORY OF HOW THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS HELPED THEM.

AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A REAL THREAT TO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT THEY COULD LOSE.

>> CLEARLY THERE WAS A FACTION IN THE COUNTRY THAT DID NOT WANT IT OR FELT LIKE PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT IT.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT IT SHOULD BE LEFT OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT TO FUNCTION WITHOUT ANY CHANGES?

>> ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS AND FACTS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MONTHS HAS BEEN THAT EXPERTS AT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN PARTICULAR MARKETS BUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS STABLE AND WOULD STAY IN PLACE IF IT WAS BASICALLY SUPPORTED.

IF WE DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO UNDERMINE IT.

DOES THAT MEAN THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH IT?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE NEED TO WORK TO FIX IT LIKE MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY IN THE YEARS AFTERWARDS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE FIXES OF THOSE BILLS.

WE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR THE ACA.

AND THAT IS WHAT I HOPE WILL HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILL COME TOGETHER TO MAKE FIXES OF THE BILL INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SLAUGHTER IT.

IT IS NOT THE GENERAL APPROACH OF A LOT OF THE CONSERVATIVES SO FAR BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT OVER YEARS AND BECAUSE OF THE VOICES.

>> BUT PEOPLE HAVE LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS.

THEY SAW THEIR PREMIUMS GO WAY UP BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE TO COVER MORE PEOPLE.

ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE TIME HE WAS PUSHING SAID IT WOULDN'T COST MORE.

THAT THERE WERE MECHANISMS IN THE BILL THAT WOULD KEEP THE PREMIUMS DOWN AND ADD 30 MILLION PEOPLE.

SO AND DEDUCTIBLES WENT WAY UP FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> WE HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE PEOPLE IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND PREMIUMS AT LARGE FOR PEOPLE AND EMPLOYER SPONSORED COVERAGE.

WHICH WERE AFFECTED BY THE ACA BUT THE ACA DID NOT SETUP THE SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE THAT YOU GET FROM YOUR PRIVATE EMPLOYER OR A COMPANY.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE OF RISING PREMIUMS.

THE ACA SLOWED THAT DOWN.

BUT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACA DID OR DIDN'T.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE MY PREMIUMS ARE RISING AND IT'S THE ACA'S FAULT.

>> THE ISSUE THAT GOT PRESIDENT TRUMP GOING WAS IMMIGRATION AND CLEARLY WE ARE SEEING WHITE FEAR, WHITE BACKLASH AGAINST THE BROWNING OF AMERICA.

DO YOU SEE AS A RESULT OF THE 2016 ELECTIONS?

>> YEAH, I HOPE NOT.

I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IF IN RESPONSE TO THE 2016 ELECTION THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TURNS ITS BACK ON COMMITMENTS TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND THE BASIC PREMISE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I FIND FASCINATING IS THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORT FOR THE WALL IS NOT THAT STRONG.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS JUST PASSED A BUDGET WHERE THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR THE WALL AND NO FUNDING FOR TRUMP'S EXTREME IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

AND MOSTLY, I DO THINK IMMIGRATION IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE IRONICALLY ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR DREAMERS IS GOING UP AND SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM IS ALMOST CRAZY GIVEN WE HAD THE ELECTION AND SUPPORT FOR A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP IS MOVING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IT MIGHT BE JUST THAT THERE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ANTI-IMMIGRANT BUT I HOPE IN THE FACE OF TRAGIC STORIES OF DEPORTATIONS WHO COMMITTED NO CRIMES AND HAVE CHILDREN PERHAPS THAT IS HELPING RESET THE CONVERSATION.

>> ABORTION RIGHTS.

ONE OF YOUR -- ONE OF YOUR SEMINAL ISSUES THAT GOT YOU INTO PROGRESSIVE POLITICS.

BUT BERNIE SANDERS IF HE IS A CANDIDATE IN 2020 IS NOT SEEN AS STRONG ON ABORTION RIGHTS.

SOMETIMES HE SAYS HE IS AND SOMETIMES HE IS PLAYING TO A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE AND HE DOESN'T STAND FIRM.

BUT WILL THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STAND FIRM ON HE OWE AS THE PARTY OF CHOICE FOR WOMEN?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK THAT THE REALITY IS THAT THE TRUE ACTIVISM OUT THERE IS BEING MARSHALLED BY WOMEN MANY OF WHOM ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ASSAULT ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND OTHER ISSUES.

I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAD ABOUT WHAT BERNIE SANDERS SAID IS NOT A CONCERN ABOUT HAVING A BIG TENT BUT A SELECTIVE BIG TENT.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO HAVE A BIG TENT ON ABORTION, YOU SHOULD SAY A BIG TENT ON OTHER ISSUES LIKE CAMPAIGN REFORM AND WALL STREET.

>> GUN CONTROL?

>> ANY OF THE ISSUES.

TO ME WHAT HURTS SOME WOMEN THAT I KNOW WAS THAT SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO ADVOCATE THAT BEEF A SMALL TENT -- WE HAVE A SMALL TENT MEANING ONLY SOME ISSUES ARE LEGITIMATE AROUND WALL STREET AND I AGREE 90% WITH BERNIE SANDERS ON EVERY ECONOMIC ISSUE BUT IT'S TROUBLING TO SAY THAT YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A BIG TENT ON ISSUES THAT HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT I THINK SO PEOPLE -- I'VE SEEN OTHER LEADERS LIKE PELOSI SAY CHOICE IS A CORNERSTONE ISSUE AND THE PARTY ITSELF AND THE LEADERS OF THE PARTY ARE GOING TO DEFEND PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND INSURE THAT WE HAVE A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE THAT RESPECTS THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY.

BUT YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS MAY HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEWS IN THEIR PERSONAL VIEWS.

THAT IS A REASONABLE POSITION TO TAKE.

BUT THEN YOU SHOULD SAY THAT FOR ALL ISSUES.

IT SHOULDN'T NOT JUST BE ON ECONOMIC ISSUES EVERYONE HAS TO AGREE BUT ON CHOICE THEN WE THAT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT.

SO I THINK I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE THAT THE -- I HOPE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL ALWAYS BE THE PARTY THAT REPRESENTS THE IDEA THAT WOMEN'S FUNDAMENTAL DIGNITY IS AT STAKE WHEN THEY CAN OR CANNOT CONTROL THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE ABOUT THEIR BODY.

THAT IS HOW I SEE THE ISSUE.

AND THAT IS HOW I CAME TO IT AS A COLLEGE STUDENT.

WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE AND MAKE THIS DECISION?

THE GOVERNMENT?

THE STATE?

WHICH IS STILL 80% MALE SOMETIMES 90% MALE OR WOMEN THEM SHEFS SELVES?

AND THAT IS A CORNERSTONE ISSUE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> LET'S SWITCH NOW TO 2018 AND 2020.

AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAVE -- ARE DEFENDING 25 SEATS AGAINST NINE REPUBLICAN SEATS.

AND OF THOSE 25, NINE EIGHT OR NINE ARE WOMEN AND MANY ARE IN STATES THAT TRUMP WON LIKE DEBBIE STAB NOW OF STAB STAB AND I DEBBIE STABENOW AND I SPOKE WITH DEMOCRATS WHO SAID THE MAP IS LOOKING, THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN HOLD ON TO THE MINORITY, THE NUMBERS BEING IN THE MINORITY THAT THEY HAVE NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS A TOUGH MAP.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT I THINK A LOT OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE IN STATES WHERE THEY ARE SEEING A LOT OF ACTIVISM AND EVEN IF THE STATES LIKE MISSOURI, MICHIGAN, OHIO, WISCONSIN, IN THOSE FOUR STATES THREE OF THEM HAVE WOMEN SENATORS WHO ARE COMPETING, WISCONSIN, BALDWIN, MICHIGAN, DEBBIE STABENOW, AND MISSOURI, CLAIRE McCASKILL AND I THINK WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IS IN EVERY OFF YEAR CYCLE WE SEE A DROP OFF OF DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION WHICH REALLY HURTS.

AND EVEN IN SOME OF THE HOUSE RACES WE HAVE SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION.

DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING AT LEVELS THAT THEY VOTE IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR AND YOU ARE SEEING SOME TURN OFF OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

SO IT'S VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

BUT I DO THINK WHAT YOU ARE SEEING THIS IS ON THE ACA AND THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AND TAX PLANS IS REALLY MOTIVATING DEMOCRATS TO PARTICIPATE.

AND THAT IS WHY MILLIONS OF FOUR MILLION PEOPLE MARCHED AND MANY WOMEN DURING THE WOMEN'S MARCH.

>> WOMEN ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE RESISTANCE.

>> THEY ARE.

AND THEY ARE DOING MORE CALL.

THEY ARE THE PEOPLE FUELING THE RESISTANCE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AND THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR THE LONG-TERM, WE'RE SEEING WOMEN REALLY STEP UP TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> 11,000?

>> YES.

USUALLY 600 BY NOW AND EMILY'S LIST ANNOUNCED THAT 11,000 WOMEN ARE STEPPING FORWARD TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AT EVERY LEVEL.

HOUSE SEATS, COUNTY LEGISLATORS ALL THOSE THINGS.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT IN THE DISCUSSION.

NOW IS IT GOING TO BE AN EASY MAP?

NO, TRUMP WON A LOT OF STATES.

BUT WHAT IS INTERESTING HIS APPROVAL RATINGS NOW AND HAVE BEEN LOWER THAN HIS VOTE TOTAL.

SO YOU ARE SEEING SOME SOFT TRUMP VOTERS PEOPLE WHO DID NOT LIKE EITHER CANDIDATE STILL NOT BOUGHT INTO TRUMP.

HE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT ABILITY.

WE HAVE SEEN POLLING IN THE TOUGH STATES WHERE THEY WANT A DEMOCRATIC CHECK ON TRUMP.

IT IS NOT AN EASY MAP BUT I THINK THERE'S DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WILL DO BETTER UNDER TRUMP THAN THEY WOULD HAVE DONE UNDER HILLARY.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE NATIONAL VOTE DOES NOT APPLY THE STATE-WIDE OR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACES.

BUT IN THE LAST -- PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2016, DEMOCRATS LOST WHITE WOMEN.

NOW REPUBLICANS HAVE WON WHITE MARRIED WOMEN EVERY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION JUST ABOUT BACK TO RONALD REAGAN.

BUT THIS TIME, YOU GUYS LOST ALL WHITE WOMEN.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU?

WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE?

BY 53%.

>> THERE WAS A BIG BIFURCATION OF THE VOTE BETWEEN WHITE COLLEGE WOMEN AND WHITE WOMEN WHO DON'T GO TO COLLEGE.

TRUMP DID WORSE THAN MITT ROMNEY OR MOST RECENT REPUBLICANS AMONGST WHITE WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE BUT HE DID MUCH BETTER AMONGST WHITE WOMEN WHO DID NOT GO TO COLLEGE.

>> IT COULD BE SPUN, IF YOU WILL, THAT DEMOCRATS FORGOT ALL WHITE, POOR WHITE PEOPLE, POOR UNEDUCATED.

I REMEMBER TRUMP DURING THE CAMPAIGN SAYING I LOVE THE UNEDUCATED.

ANYWAY, BUT IT COULD BE SAID THAT THE DEMOCRATS LOST THAT VOTE.

YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE PEOPLE?

WHY DID YOU LOSE WORKING CLASS WOMEN?

>> I THINK THAT FOR A LOT OF THOSE VOTERS, THAT THERE WERE UNIQUE ISSUES AROUND HILLARY HERSELF AND ATTRIBUTES THEY GAVE TO HILLARY THAT HURT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT LARGE AND I THINK FOR US FROM A PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE IS WE HAVE TO HAVE BETTER ANSWERS FOR PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE TO COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 8%.

IF YOU'VE GONE TO COLLEGE IT'S 2%.

WAGES HAVE BEEN STAGNANT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GONE TO COLLEGE.

WAGES HAVE GROWN WELL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE.

>> IS THE PLAN THEN TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY TO GO TO COLLEGE?

>> BASICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET EVERYONE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND EVEN IF WE DO THERE WILL BE A SLACK OFF WITH HOW MUCH WE CAN -- THEY WILL GET PAID.

THE REAL ISSUE FOR US IS TO WHAT ARE WE DOING AS -- WHAT ARE PROGRESSIVES WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO OFFER PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE FOR THEIR KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT PROBABLY AT AN AGE THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CHILDCARE, AND MINIMUM WAGE.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU ARE A WORKING CLASS PERSON WHO HAS FACED STAGNANT WAGES FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THE LAST 40 YEARS, I DO THINK WE NEED BOLDER ANSWERS WHETHER IT IS A PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND OR SOMETHING.

WE I SAY INFRASTRUCTURE NOT JUST ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT CHILDCARE CENTERS AND I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH BIGGER IDEAS.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE ANSWERS AT THE CENTER BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT -- >> THAT YOU NEED MORE THAN REBRANDING.

YOU NEED POLICIES.

>> THE TRUTH IS THAT OUR ECONOMY HAS NOT WORKED REALLY WELL FOR THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

AND WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

AND EVEN WITH DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS.

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS WANTED TO DO MORE.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTED TO PASS A JOBS BILL.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE BIGGER IDEAS TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> WONDERFUL.

NEERA TANDEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER OF AMERICAN PROGRESS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING ALL THESE THINGS TO US.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION OF TO THE CONTRARY.

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