It's hard to know which is worse: silence or cacophony. Anger is rising within the Democratic base at the party's inability to stand up audibly and decisively to the Trump administration. Two months after the billionaire's return to the White House, the certainty of witnessing a dramatic moment in American history, and not a classic alternation, is leading to existential questioning. The temptation of a more scathing left-wing populism, less inclined to compromise than Joe Biden, is clearly emerging as an inverted mirror of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

According to an NBC News poll released on Sunday, March 16, only 27% of Americans have a positive opinion of the Democratic Party, the lowest level in 35 years. Another survey for CNN showed that only 63% of left-wing sympathizers approve of its direction, a nine-point drop since January that clearly reflects the general frustration. No one believes in reaching out to the other side anymore. For the time being, 74-year-old Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, is the focus of criticism. On Friday, along with nine other Democrats, he decided to approve a Republican bill to avoid a shutdown – a halt to non-essential federal activities – ensuring government funding until September. In the old world, his pragmatism would have been hailed.

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