Elissa Slotkin on Democratic Strategy, AI, and the Future of America

Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan was featured in a live recording of an "America, Actually" episode at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics. The discussion took place just weeks before the midterm elections, aiming to explore key political themes. Slotkin was presented as a former CIA officer and a potential presidential candidate for 2028, embodying a new generation of moderate Democratic leadership.

The conversation with Slotkin covered a range of pressing topics. These included how Congress should approach AI regulation, the feasibility of holding former President Trump accountable, and whether the Democratic Party needs to move beyond familiar figures like Kamala Harris for the next presidential election.

Senator Elissa Slotkin reflected on the 2024 election, stating that in hindsight, the Democratic Party should have pursued a "healthy primary." She suggested that President Biden should have declared himself a one-term president entering the election year. Slotkin recalled receiving significant criticism for previously asserting that a Biden-led ticket would face difficulties in winning.

Slotkin now believes the party ought to have thoroughly contested the primary, allowing a candidate with a clearer message and more time to develop their campaign to emerge. This approach, she indicated, would have better positioned the Democrats, similar to how she anticipates the 2028 primary will unfold.

quote:{"text":"In retrospect, I think most people feel like we should have had a healthy primary. He should have been a one-term president and acknowledged that going into the election year.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin asserted that the primary existential threat to the United States is internal: the difficulty for people to achieve and maintain middle-class status, rather than external threats from abroad. Despite her background in national security, Slotkin views the erosion of the American dream as the most critical challenge. She noted that when individuals struggle to advance despite hard work, they often seek to blame those who appear or worship differently.

Slotkin explained that former President Trump has capitalized on this frustration, attributing struggles to immigrants or initiatives like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She believes he has successfully exploited these sentiments because, in a diverse nation, an inability to progress creates significant internal strife.

In response to this, Slotkin argued that the Democratic Party should become the primary advocate for the middle class. She highlighted that other special interests typically have lobbyists in Washington, but the middle class lacks such representation.

quote:{"text":"The middle class has no lobbyist in Washington. Every other interest has a lobbyist.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin identified three primary areas for significant Democratic policy initiatives: housing, healthcare, and the cleanup of politics. She proposed declaring a housing emergency to address the current deficit of four million housing units, suggesting that such a declaration would enable measures to suspend regulations and boost housing development.

For healthcare, Slotkin advocated for a public insurance option available to individuals of all ages, regardless of whether it's termed "Medicare for All" or a "public option." Her rationale is to provide an alternative to expensive, employer-provided insurance, which many graduating students currently rely on.

Senator Elissa Slotkin emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive AI regulation, advocating for a radical concept: holding creators liable for the actions of their AI creations. She believes this is a desperate necessity for the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

Slotkin also stated that future presidential candidates must present "big and bold ideas," particularly concerning AI and governmental ethics. This includes a robust ethics reform package aimed at restoring public trust in elected officials and judges.

She highlighted several specific reforms, such as removing money from politics, banning corporate Political Action Committees (PACs), and implementing term and age limits for Supreme Court justices. Slotkin suggested that these measures would prevent the politicization of court appointments and ensure regular transitions, moving away from a "race to stack the courts."

quote:{"text":"I personally believe um if you create something you can be held liable for the things that that creation does.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin suggested that presidential decisions on war, particularly in the Middle East, can result from leaders becoming isolated in "echo chambers" where only supporters provide input. She believes this dynamic led the current administration to mistakenly conclude that a war could be conducted "on the cheap," despite a long-standing adversarial relationship with Iran since 1979.

Slotkin contended that there is no viable military solution to end the current war without resorting to the extreme measure of deploying ground troops. She anticipates that any resolution will involve a deal, which she urged listeners to evaluate by comparing the pre-war and post-war conditions, cautioning against being misled into believing the country is better off.

quote:{"text":"I think this is what happens when someone gets into an echo chamber um with only supporters whispering sweet nothings in their ears.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin stated that the fundamental nature of warfare is undergoing a significant transformation. She highlighted that some traditional American military strengths, such as large bases, extensive equipment, and advanced missile defense systems, have now become vulnerabilities.

Slotkin explained that adversaries have spent two decades developing strategies to counteract these advantages. She cited the use of "kamikaze drones," which can be improvised from readily available technology like Amazon drones, as an example of how evolving technology is now being used to harm Americans in the Middle East.

She emphasized that this shift necessitates a complete rethinking of national security strategies for future generations, taking into account advancements in technology like AI.

quote:{"text":"I think the nature of warfare is totally changing... this same war is exposing how some of the things that used to be our strengths... are now vulnerabilities.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin described the current political climate as a manifestation of an "authoritarian playbook" that she has observed in various countries worldwide. She asserted that this situation is not unique but rather a well-worn pattern of authoritarian behavior.

Despite the challenges, Slotkin maintained that there is also a "counter-playbook" for resistance and pushing back against such authoritarian tactics. She stated that her experiences have provided profound clarity regarding America's historical position and the imperative to confront these threats.

quote:{"text":"it also clarifies um that what this man is doing is right out of an authoritarian playbook, a well-worn authoritarian playbook that I've seen play out in countries across the world.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin detailed a three-pronged legislative strategy for Democrats if they gain control of both the House and the Senate. The first priority is to focus on two or three significant pieces of legislation that directly address people's financial well-being, specifically mentioning housing and healthcare.

The second component involves establishing accountability for what Slotkin described as "unbelievable corruption." She advocated for selecting signature cases of egregious corruption, targeting not only the former President but also individuals around him who facilitated his actions. She stressed that these enablers lack the immunity afforded to a president.

The third part of the plan is to "Trump-proof" the government. Slotkin explained that the Trump administration exposed that many perceived laws were, in fact, just norms, standards, or habits that relied on good citizenship and a sense of shame. She proposed codifying these norms into law and strengthening penalties to prevent any future president from abusing the system in similar ways.

quote:{"text":"if we manage to win the House and especially the House and the Senate, there's three things we need to do. One, we need to pick two or three big pieces of legislation that speak directly to people's pocketbooks and go hard on those.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin observed a significant "groundswell of energy" in the Midwest around issues like data centers, flock cameras, and AI, noting that this engagement is explicitly non-partisan. She characterized this energy as "organic and grassroots," distinct from traditional party lines, and highlighted that the issue of data centers, for instance, gained rapid traction.

Slotkin believes this widespread outrage, particularly regarding corruption, can be effectively channeled to push for ethics reform. She expressed confidence that this "upward pressure" from the grassroots level provides a substantial opportunity for legislative action, even if the Democrats control only the House and not the Senate.

Senator Elissa Slotkin defended her vote for the Laken Riley Act, emphasizing a clear distinction between immigrants accused of crimes and those simply living their daily lives without criminal intent. She stated that committing a crime as an immigrant is a serious issue that countries must address while criticizing former President Trump's approach to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Slotkin argued that Trump's administration, through its use of ICE, targeted "innocent immigrants" without criminal records, rather than focusing on hardened criminals as he had promised. She asserted that the Laken Riley Act is not responsible for ICE receiving more funding than the Coast Guard and Marines, as some critics claimed. She reaffirmed her stance by stating, "I didn't vote on ISIS budget and I stand by that vote."

quote:{"text":"if you are here as an immigrant and you commit a crime, that is a very different thing than someone who's just going about their business, living their life. ... I didn't vote on ISIS budget and I stand by that vote.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin highlighted a critical military race between the United States and China to integrate AI into their respective military capabilities as quickly as possible, often without established rules or limits. She emphasized the urgent need for safeguards, stating that there should always be a human involved in life-and-death decisions, particularly concerning the deployment of nuclear weapons, regardless of China's actions.

Slotkin also criticized the current President's trade policy with China, particularly regarding high-end AI chips. She argued that the President, by allowing the export of sophisticated AI-capable chips previously restricted, has effectively "handed the keys over to the Chinese." She distinguished between the military imperative to compete with China in AI and the civilian policy decisions that she believes are hindering American competitiveness.

quote:{"text":"there should always be a human being in the decision-making tree on you deploying nuclear weapons. ... this president has handed the keys over to the Chinese.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin explained her decision to remain neutral in the hotly contested Michigan Senate primary between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed by citing a long-standing tradition in Michigan. According to Slotkin, elected officials in the state typically do not get involved in primaries.

She reinforced this point by noting that no statewide official endorsed her during her own 2024 primary. Slotkin indicated that this tradition, though not universally observed this time, is based on the idea that unity is important post-primary, and elected officials must work with whoever wins.

Senator Elissa Slotkin articulated that while disagreements exist within the Democratic Party on matters of style and sometimes foreign policy, there is fundamental agreement on critical issues. She stated that Democrats are united in viewing Donald Trump as a threat to democracy and in the belief that the existential challenge of the era is whether Americans can succeed through hard work and adherence to rules, encompassing issues like housing.

Slotkin emphasized the importance of working together as a team on shared beliefs, despite originating from different "wings of the party." She dismissed the idea of a "firing squad" mentality within the Democratic Party as counterproductive, especially given what she perceives as major threats to the country.

quote:{"text":"I don't give a crap if we disagree on certain issues as long as we agree on the big ones.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin acknowledged a significant shift in the Democratic Party's stance on the U.S.-Israel relationship, with over 70% of Democrats supporting a re-evaluation, including potential decreases in funding, according to polling. She noted that this shift is not exclusive to one party.

Slotkin stated her belief that for any future relationship with Israel to improve, Benjamin Netanyahu should not remain prime minister. She highlighted an upcoming Israeli election as a potential opportunity for a change in leadership, viewing it as a critical moment for re-shaping the dynamic.

quote:{"text":"I think it's important for any future relationship with Israel that BB Netanyahu not be the prime minister.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}

Senator Elissa Slotkin strongly refuted the notion that only a "generic white guy" can win elections, often cited due to electability fears. She asserted this belief is incorrect, backed by data and her observations from traveling across the country.

Slotkin argued that in the current political climate, the public is actively seeking something different. She believes that candidates who are strong communicators, energetic, and possess bold ideas can overcome traditional biases related to gender, race, or other demographics.

She identified a significant disparity between the sentiments of average citizens regarding candidate identity and the priorities of the donor class, who she suggested are stuck in outdated thinking about who makes an electable candidate. Slotkin dismissed the donor-driven preference for a specific demographic as "BS."

quote:{"text":"I just want to call BS on that and I think the data supports that.","speaker":"Elissa Slotkin"}