In this episode Croaky Caiman breaks down a decisive night for Democrats and the spectacular failure of the “we don’t need you to win” crowd, arguing that anger and online bravado can’t replace real coalition-building.

Highlights include blowout victories in Virginia and New Jersey — Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill’s wins — the surprise progressive mayoral outcome in New York City, and California’s Proposition 50 allowing mid-decade redistricting.

Croaky offers a blunt autopsy of the strategy that backfired, explaining why competence and outreach beat performative populism this cycle.