Sen. Bernie Sanders warned Sunday that Democrats risk undermining their affordability agenda if investigations of President Donald Trump and his allies dominate their next two years in Congress. With the party set to take control of the House and Senate in January, the Vermont senator urged Democrats to focus on improving conditions for working-class families while investigating alleged wrongdoing.
Speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Sanders supported scrutiny of administration officials over alleged corruption and illegal actions. But when host Kristen Welker asked whether spending two years investigating Trump and his officials could jeopardize the party’s mandate to lower prices, he answered, “Yes, I do.” Accountability remained necessary, Sanders said, but Democrats “cannot spend all of our time investigating Trump.”
Sanders pointed to childhood poverty, financial hardship among older Americans and fears about artificial intelligence as issues requiring attention. He said 20% of seniors were trying to live on $15,000 annually and described concerns about the effects of AI promoted by Elon Musk and other billionaires on employment, privacy and health. He argued that the election reflected demands for substantial economic change as families struggled with healthcare and housing costs while wealthy Americans prospered.
Affordability was central to Democratic campaigns before last week’s midterm elections. Candidates blamed the Trump administration for rising gasoline, grocery, housing and healthcare costs, linking those increases partly to the U.S. military’s war on Iran and Trump’s tariffs. The war drove fuel prices higher, with AAA reporting a national gasoline average of $4.02 per gallon Sunday, nearly $1 above the level a year earlier. Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other allies cited the conflict as one reason for Republican losses.
After winning majorities in both chambers, several Democrats pledged to use congressional subpoena powers to investigate current and former administration officials. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the incoming leader of the House Oversight Committee, said Sunday that potential inquiries could cover Trump’s pardons and presidential allies, including Musk and newly appointed White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Garcia had also signaled an aggressive approach last week, telling potential targets to “Lawyer up.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is expected to become speaker, likewise promised accountability last week. He argued that officials focused on enriching themselves, relatives, friends or donors were neglecting the public’s needs, and said House Democrats would prioritize Americans.
Sanders said voters had delivered a message broader than opposition to Trump’s policies. In his view, the results showed frustration among people working long hours, worrying about their children and struggling to afford basic needs. He urged Democrats to challenge the influence of wealthy interests and pursue an economy and government that serve everyone.
Despite describing Trump as mentally unbalanced and erratic, Sanders said cooperation on economic and healthcare policy might be possible. He called the president a capable politician and suggested Trump could be receptive to raising the minimum wage to a living wage or guaranteeing healthcare for everyone. Sanders stressed that cooperation was uncertain, but said attempting it would be worthwhile.
