Adam Jentleson is an American writer, political commentator, and former chief of staff to United States Senator John Fetterman. Some will undoubtedly find his past connection to Senator Fetterman a bit problematic. Fetterman does not always get rave reviews, as those who specialize in political analysis evaluate how Fetterman conducts himself in office. Of course, the fact that Jentleson is now a "former" staff member may indicate that he has intentionally disassociated himself from the Senator.
I am commenting on a New York Times column by Jentleson, which appeared online on August 19, 2026. Clicking that link should let you read Jentleson's column in its entirety.
I read The Times in its hardcopy version (as deposited, daily, right on my front lawn), and the headline in the hardcopy version reads this way: "How Democrats Can Achieve Enduring Power." When you click the link I have provided, you will get Jentleson's suggestions on that topic, but they will come under a different headline. You will also find that the online version of what Jentleson has to say does not mention Jentleson's former association with Fetterman. The hardcopy version makes this association clear, right upfront.
Jentleson is not writing to American citizens. He is writing to provide political advice to "Democrats," and his claim is that Democrats need to "expand into red territory... [and to] build a supermajority."
Anyone who reads these blog postings of mine with any regularity will know that I do not think we should think about our politics as "Red" versus "Blue," and "Republican" versus "Democrat." I also don't think that it's a good idea to define political success by way of putting one party into "enduring power." I stress "self-government," not partisan control, as the key to the kind of politics that we should all be shooting for. It's just not true that "Democrats" are always better than "Republicans," and that our politics will get better if we can just find a way to give "Democrats" the "enduring power" that Jentleson is calling for.
It's true, of course, that our current president has mobilized partisan control by the Republican Party into support for an autocratic government that disregards the idea that it is our elected representatives in Congress who should be deciding what the law is, as opposed to letting our elected president effectually rule autocratically, under the banner that "I, alone, can fix it."
It is also absolutely true, in my opinion, that our upcoming elections provide an opportunity to reverse the incipient autocracy that will otherwise continue, and continue to grow, absent changes in the composition of the United States Congress. "Vote Democratic" is definitely a good idea, right now; that's my personal belief.
However, let's not say, "hip, hip, hooray" for "enduring power" for the political party that offers us a potential change from the current situation.
Enduring power? That belongs to "the people," not to "the party," whichever color that party comes cloaked in.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/opinion/democrats-midterms-supermajority.html
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