# The great sleeping giant of America has awakened | Robert Reich

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-great-sleeping-giant-of-america-has-awakened-robert-reich/
- Published: 2026-11-04T19:03:08+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T04:56:31+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/nov/04/democrats-elected-us-awakening
- Topics: Americas, Business, Politics, World

## Key points

- The author sees Democratic gains as a sign of anti-establishment populism.
- Voters are turning against corporate influence and political corruption.
- The author asks whether Democrats will act on that shift.

## Summary

The author argues that Democratic gains in Tuesday’s US elections reflect a broader wave of anti-establishment populism, rather than simply a routine midterm swing, economic dissatisfaction or opposition to Donald Trump. He says voters are rejecting the influence of powerful corporations, wealthy political donors and technology billionaires, and that this shift could reshape what Democrats stand for.

The article says Trump’s support was built partly on anger at elites, but that tax breaks, subsidies and policies benefiting wealthy technology and oil interests have made him appear part of the establishment. It cites corruption as the top concern in a late-October CNBC poll and points to Democratic Senate victories in Texas, Ohio, Michigan and Kansas, with candidates campaigning on issues such as datacentre costs, drug prices, price-gouging and limits on corporate political money. The author’s central question is whether Democrats will use their coming control of Congress to pursue measures such as Medicare for All and stronger anti-monopoly rules.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.