Thread by @ThePlumLineGS

Biden has the potential to be a transformative president. But a lot can go wrong -- especially if Biden and Dems blink on voting rights and the filibuster.

I had a great talk with @rortybomb about the promise and peril of this moment. He went really big:
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

@rortybomb "A universal program can create a coalition that will come to defend it."

Fascinating stuff from @rortybomb comparing the Biden bill's child allowance to the eight-hour-day movement and World War II daycare for women who worked in defense production:

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

@rortybomb The Great Depression was the "shattering event" that led to the New Deal, writes @rortybomb.

I asked him whether coronavirus can serve as a similar shattering event leading to genuine transformation now.

His answer was interesting:

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

@rortybomb If Biden and Dems can successfully go big on the economy, covid and infrastructure, that could clear political space for pursuing big change on issues that Dems are supposed to see as "risky," like immigration and climate.

@rortybomb on that possibility:

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

@rortybomb Biden's rescue bill is a huge achievement, but by itself it won't achieve the sort of long term transformation we need.

So what would real transformation look like, and how do we get there? I asked @rortybomb this question. His answers are interesting:

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…