Updated December 9, 2025 at 6:54 AM PST

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat representing Maryland, says his party must do more to regain public confidence and counter what he calls a "lawless president."

"We've become too much the party of the status quo when people want to see us move in a different direction," Van Hollen said in a Morning Edition interview about the future of the Democratic Party. "We need to be clear about what we're fighting for — not just what we're fighting against."

Van Hollen said Democrats need a sharper message, a clearer policy agenda and a willingness to back newer voices who are resonating with voters. He also outlined proposals he believes could help rebuild trust, including a tax cut for working- and middle-class Americans.

With no single leader guiding

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