Broadband on the Brain

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), one of several Democratic lawmakers mulling a 2020 presidential bid, thinks Democrats could “run on” and even “win on” wonky-but-important talk about issues like rural broadband. Sen Klobuchar told The New Yorker that while the issue might not be on the radar for “most people in urban areas … a lot of parts of our rural countryside can’t even access cell-phone service, much less broadband.” But would that matter as a campaign issue in the age of Trump, who has not commented extensively on issues like broadband? Yes, says Sen Klobuchar, who adds that challengers “just have to meet him with facts” rather than going “down every rabbit hole with him.”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who represents parts of Silicon Valley (and is not considering running in 2020), is taking a similar approach to tech jobs in rural America. Rep Khanna, who has taken his message on tech to rural communities in recent months, said that defining “American patriotism as future-oriented” is how Democrats can best counter President Trump. “We have to have an answer for folks about how their communities are going to have economic mobility and jobs in the future,” he said.