The Rest Is Politics: Leading 72. Nancy Pelosi: From JFK's inauguration to fighting Donald Trump
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May 5, 2024 
Nancy Pelosi, the most politically powerful woman in America, shares insights on attending JFK's inauguration, fundraising in US politics, and her reflections on the Iraq War. They also discuss the Republican party's loyalty, challenges in passing healthcare reform, and the speaker's strengths and weaknesses as a political figure.
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Populism Taps Economic Anxieties
- Pelosi links today's ethno‑nationalist populism to economic anxiety about globalization and immigration.
- She argues Trump's 2017 tax cuts mainly benefited the richest 1% and worsened inequality and the deficit.
Primary Pressure Shapes GOP Behavior
- Pelosi explains many Republicans stayed silent because they feared losing primaries to Trump loyalists.
- She frames their choices as pragmatic calculations about electability rather than simple malice.
Women Transformed Congressional Demographics
- Pelosi tracks the dramatic increase of women in Congress from 23 to 94 during her career.
- She notes the Democratic caucus is now majority women or minorities, changing party composition and priorities.