While [Kamala Harris](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/kamala-harris) cleared her campaign diary this weekend to finalize her choice of running mate ahead of a swing-state presidential campaign blitz next week, political spouses were hard at work. The vice-president’s husband, Doug Emhoff, and Chasten Buttigieg, husband of the US transportation secretary, [Pete Buttigieg](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/pete-buttigieg) – a potential running mate for Harris at the top of November’s Democratic ticket whose candidacy has been strengthening in recent days – were on New York’s Fire Island on Friday for a sold-out event that raised $321,000. [According to reports](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/doug-emhoff-buttigieg-fire-island), the total was a record for the Pines, part of the narrow barrier island that runs south of Long Island, famous as an LGBTQ+ summering spot second only to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Former treasurer of the Democratic National Committee Andrew Tobias told Vanity Fair that the double-teaming husbands had beat the $200,000 haul for a 2016 political event hosted by the singer Cher. The outlet reported that US Secret Service agents “appeared to waylay hunks in bikini cut swimsuits to smuggle Emhoff on and off the island”. The fundraiser had initially been organized for Harris and Joe Biden before the president quit his re-election campaign – and it had sold out before the vice-president had become the candidate. “The right to love who you want to love, the right to marry who you want to marry, to do what you want in your home, with who you love, without the government over your shoulder … this affects all of you,” [Emhoff told the crowd](https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/doug-emhoff-fundraiser-dr3hf6e2), echoing fears that a US supreme court with three Trump appointees could eliminate same-sex couples’ right to marriage. “We need to have an army for freedom, an army for justice, led by my wife, Kamala Harris.” The Emhoff-Buttigieg husband double act raised speculation that it could be a test run for the transportation secretary to be Harris’s vice-presidential pick. Harris has until Tuesday to decide whom to pick as her running mate. Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, whom many consider as the leading candidate to be Harris’s running mate, may help with his crucial swing state. But he could also bleed votes away from Harris elsewhere over his strong support of Israel’s war on Gaza, which became a constant source of criticism for the Biden White House. “Of course I want it to be Pete,” fundraiser Jack Kabin said. But Kabin said he was worried “America isn’t ready for a gay vice-president”. Rumors of Buttigieg’s strengthening contention in the veepstakes come amid a media blitz. He is estimated to have made at least 30 media appearances, trips to two swing states and held a Washington news conference in the past two weeks. In recent days, he acknowledged that he is “probably” being vetted. In Buttigieg’s favor is his ability as a calm, skilled communicator. He is a Rhodes scholar and a veteran, previously served as a mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and he has emerged as formidable critic of Trump and the Republican vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance. Buttigieg frequently appears on Fox News. Recently, he went on the Republican-friendly network and criticized Trump supporters for fostering a “warped reality” in which the former president is “perfectly fine … even though he’s rambling about electrocuting sharks”. Asked why he was so frequently on the outlet, Buttigieg told Bill Maher in July that it was not his job to speak only to people that agreed with him. [skip past newsletter promotion](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/03/pete-buttigieg-doug-emhoff-record-donations-fire-island#EmailSignup-skip-link-14) Sign up to The Stakes — US Election Edition The Guardian guides you through the chaos of a hugely consequential presidential election **Privacy Notice:** Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy). We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. after newsletter promotion Asked why wealthy men, including gay tech investor Peter Thiel, supported Trump, he said the issues had been made “way too complicated”. “It’s super simple,” he said. “These are very rich men who have decided to back the Republican party that tends to do good things for very rich men.” On CNN, he called [Vance](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-07-15/jd-vance-hillbilly-elegy-book-trump-vice-president) “a regrettable choice” because he is “somebody who was at his most convincing and effective when he talked about how unfit for office Donald Trump is, and he has not explained any reason, other than of course his obvious interest in power, why he would have changed his mind on that”. [In Esquire magazine](https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a61764596/harris-pete-buttigieg-vice-president/), columnist, actor and former White House engagement adviser Kal Penn wrote that Buttigieg is the Democratic party’s “best chance for expanding the electorate and evolving the platform”. “He’s multilingual,” Penn wrote. “He’s comfortable on the world stage. He is deeply connected to blue-collar voters. He polls exceptionally well. “Most important, as a young husband and father of two with a modest home in northern Michigan, he speaks openly about his own family’s struggles and triumphs, which mirror what many Americans deal with day to day.”

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Democrat Pete Buttigieg about President Biden's legacy, and the goals and strategies of the Democratic National Convention.

The Biden administration is looking into airline frequent-flyer programs and whether they devalue points that consumers have earned The Biden administration is examining the four largest U.S. airline [frequent-flyer programs](https://apnews.com/article/airline-loyalty-program-deceitful-investigation-137a190dcaf7737d0a14bbbcf921f4d8) and how they devalue points that consumers have earned and frequently change the number of points or miles needed to book flights. Transportation Secretary [Pete Buttigieg](https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg) wrote to the CEOs of American, [Delta](https://apnews.com/article/delta-skymiles-change-frequent-flyers-a263bf237cb2c20b01fb88c8f7ee9f14), Southwest and United on Thursday, asking each for a report on policies, fees and other features of their loyalty program. Consumers often complain that airlines raise the [number of points](https://apnews.com/article/united-airlines-frequent-flyers-sharing-729b0d6e385a758be39b400cb0566d8c) needed to earn a free flight and limit the number of seats that can be purchased with points. Buttigieg said loyalty programs bring value to consumers, and people count on them to pay for vacations and trips to visit family. “But unlike a traditional savings account, these rewards are controlled by a company that can unilaterally change their value,” he said in a statement issued by the Transportation Department. "Our goal is to ensure consumers are getting the value that was promised to them, which means validating that these programs are transparent and fair.” Delta said loyalty of members in its frequent-flyer program “means everything to us, and providing a meaningful rewards experience is the top priority within Delta’s SkyMiles Program.” [Southwest](https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-frequent-flyer-program-9d692acf4e8846a15fd94ea5a19b7e5d) highlighted that its points never expire, and said it books more seats with points than other airlines. Airlines for America, a trade group that represents all four carriers targeted by Buttigieg, said millions of people enjoy participating in the loyalty programs. “U.S. carriers are transparent about these programs, and policymakers should ensure that consumers can continue to be offered these important benefits,” a spokesperson for the group said. Frequent-flyer programs were once based on the number of flights taken or miles flown. In recent years, however, they have been fueled by spending that consumers conduct using [airline-branded credit cards](https://apnews.com/article/american-express-amex-delta-credit-card-skymiles-1fe9e3a78b7cb52b09cfa234db2c77f9). Income from the credit-card issuers has become an important source of airline revenue. The Transportation Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau held a hearing in May on the airline programs, at which they raised many of the issued covered in Buttigieg’s letter to airline CEOs. Witnesses included consumer advocates and officials from three smaller airlines, but no representatives of the big four airlines that are covered by the new inquiry. One of the advocates who testified, Erin Witte of the Consumer Federation of America, said frequent-flyer programs started as a reward for consumers who were loyal to one airline. “It’s ironic that many of them have morphed into programs that are anything but loyal to their customers and instead make people feel like they need an insurance policy to keep the points they have earned,” Witte said Thursday. She said she was glad the Transportation Department is examining the programs. The consumer-protection board [said in a report](https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_credit-card-rewards_issue-spotlight_2024-05.pdf) for the hearing that it received more than 1,200 complaints about credit card rewards last year, an increase of more than 70% from pre-pandemic levels. Many hotels, retailers and other businesses also offer loyalty programs with credit cards. Buttigieg ordered the airlines to report within 90 days on matters including how point values are determined, any [fees that consumers](https://apnews.com/article/airlines-consumer-rights-buttigieg-states-df06d116c275e7c2a08f3af246d55a6d) must pay, and details of deals with banks that buy miles from airlines and use them to encourage people to shop with their credit cards. The order asks airlines to list any changes in their programs since July 31, 2018, including how each change affected the dollar value of reward points.

Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, shot down criticism by Elon Musk on the government’s handling of [Hurricane Helene](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/hurricane-helene) relief efforts, accusing the SpaceX CEO of spreading misinformation. Musk accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) of blocking his satellite internet company, Starlink, from delivering to parts of North Carolina decimated by the hurricane, a claim both Fema and Buttigieg said was false. “No one is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn’t block legitimate rescue and recovery flights. If you’re encountering a problem give me a call,” Buttigieg wrote. Musk replied that he had seen hundreds of such reports and would phone. > SpaceX engineers are trying to deliver Starlink terminals & supplies to devastated areas in North Carolina right now and [@FEMA](https://twitter.com/fema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is both failing to help AND won’t let others help. This is unconscionable!! > > They just took this video a few hours ago, where you can see the level of… [pic.twitter.com/abpOsfNenF](https://t.co/abpOsfNenF) > > — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) [October 4, 2024](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1842284913279586447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Musk had spent several hours on Friday raging on X against Fema over what he called “belligerent government incompetence”. Posting texts allegedly received from “a [SpaceX](https://www.theguardian.com/science/spacex) engineer on the ground”, he accused the federal agency of blockading the disaster area and preventing private helicopters from delivering Starlink terminals, which connect to satellite internet service, and other supplies. Musk wrote, “SpaceX engineers are trying to deliver Starlink terminals & supplies to devastated areas in North Carolina right now and @FEMA is both failing to help AND won’t let others help. This is unconscionable!!” When reached for comment on Musk’s allegations, Fema issued a statement similar to Buttigieg’s: “The claims about FEMA confiscating or taking commodities, supplies or resources in North Carolina, Tennessee, or any state impacted by Helene are false. “FEMA has helped provide Starlink terminals to the state of North Carolina, including to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation and critical lifeline locations as determined by the state. These units are supporting state and local municipalities, Urban Search and Rescue and disaster coordination. Starlink units have been sent to multiple states in support of Hurricane Helene response efforts,” said Jaclyn Rothenberg, Fema director of public affairs. Still, Donald Trump amplified Musk’s claims on his app Truth Social. Musk said he would join the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. [skip past newsletter promotion](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/04/pete-buttigieg-fema-starlink-musk-hurricane-helene#EmailSignup-skip-link-9) Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives **Privacy Notice:** Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy). We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. after newsletter promotion False information has swirled in the communications blackout that has followed Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Phone and power lines were down across the south. Trump falsely accused Joe Biden of failing to call Georgia’s governor after the storm, when Biden had phoned Brian Kemp. Musk has a history of inserting himself into rescue operations. In 2018, he offered to deliver a small submersible to Thailand to assist with the rescue of a boys’ soccer team, which divers on the scene called a “PR stunt”. In response, Musk called the head rescuer a “pedo guy”, eliciting a defamation suit that Musk later won.

 WASHINGTON — Three years after President Biden signed the [bipartisan infrastructure law](https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/1055841358/biden-signs-1t-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-into-law), his administration has a new name for it: the "[Big Deal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQKscybGVjc)." It is, indisputably, a lot of money: more than a trillion dollars in spending on roads, bridges, airports, railroads, ports and more. But for [all that investment](https://www.npr.org/2021/06/24/1009923468/heres-whats-included-in-the-infrastructure-deal-that-biden-struck-with-senators), the White House has seen surprisingly little political benefit. "You know, I don't think it did," said Ray LaHood, a Republican who served as Transportation Secretary during the Obama administration. "I was shocked." During the first Trump administration, [infrastructure week](https://www.npr.org/2018/05/15/611389675/why-its-infrastructure-week-again) became a [running joke](https://www.npr.org/2018/05/15/611389675/why-its-infrastructure-week-again) in Washington. President Biden took it seriously, betting that voters would reward his administration for delivering where others had not. But this month, that bet fell flat with voters, who didn't seem to give his Democratic party much credit. "The most important thing is that the projects actually get done," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in an interview at the Department of Transportation this week. "From the point of view of the country, it is more important that they get done than it is who gets the credit." For the past three years, Buttigieg has spent much of his time on the road, attending ribbon cuttings and ground-breakings for projects all over the country. The DOT has announced $570 billion in funding from the infrastructure law for over 66,000 projects in all 50 states — from $400 million to shore up the Golden Gate Bridge, to $1 million for a new terminal at a tiny airport in Chamberlain, South Dakota. "It's everything from these backyard projects to the cathedrals of American infrastructure," Buttigieg said. In noting the anniversary on Friday, President Biden called the law, "the largest investment in our nation's infrastructure in a generation," he said in [a post on X](https://x.com/POTUS/status/1857472631768780984). "On that day, we showed we can get big things done when we work together." So why haven't these investments resonated more with voters? Part of the issue, Buttigieg argues, is timing. "Some of these projects can be done quickly, but many of them, by their very nature, are projects that take the better part of a decade," he said. "So it will be a long time before ribbons are cut." There are some other theories about why the message didn't cut through. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Analytics, calls the infrastructure law a "slam dunk success," but says voters were more concerned about inflation. "People are paying a lot more for groceries and rent and gasoline than they were a few years ago. So no matter what you did that was good," Zandi said, "it just gets drowned out by the reality of higher inflation." There's also a theory that the infrastructure law wasn't ambitious enough. "These investments are not producing the sorts of results that would get people excited," said Beth Osborne, the director of the non-profit Transportation For America, which recently released a [report on the climate effects](https://t4america.org/fueling-the-crisis/) of the infrastructure law. "We are told that it's going to bring down emissions, but we just released a report that showed it did not do that," Osborne said. There's yet another theory that the Biden and Kamala Harris campaigns just didn't talk enough about the infrastructure law and the jobs it's already created. "I think there should've been a lot more focus on the infrastructure bill, on the jobs. I think it would have resonated with voters," said LaHood, the former transportation secretary who also served as a Congressman from Illinois. "There's a lot of people working, there's a lot of orange cones on the highway." > In the three years since I signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, my Administration has launched over 66,000 projects across the country. > > And today, we're investing an additional $1.5 billion in the Northeast Corridor, the most heavily trafficked rail corridor in our nation. > > — President Biden (@POTUS) [November 15, 2024](https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1857506357420679290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Back in 2021, 19 Republicans in the Senate and 13 in the House supported the infrastructure law. But many more voted against it, arguing it was overstuffed with too many pet projects. "This bill, this $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, isn't true infrastructure," said Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in an interview on FOX. Two years later, Mace was happy to celebrate funding for a new public transit hub in her district. "What do you want me to do? Turn my back on the Low Country, when we can get funding for public transit? Absolutely not," she said [at a press conference](https://www.live5news.com/2023/06/28/watch-live-rep-mace-discusses-26m-carta-funding/) for the project. Mace wasn't the only Republican who voted against the infrastructure law only to cheer its accomplishments later. That was sometimes frustrating to watch, said Transportation Secretary Buttigieg. And he expects it to keep happening. "I think we're about to have an entire administration doing that because of course, the President-elect also opposed this infrastructure package. But will, I'm sure, not hesitate to celebrate things that are done because of it," Buttigieg said. The DOT is doing everything it can to speed up the grantmaking process to make sure money continues to flow to these projects, Buttigieg said. He worries that the Trump administration could try to claw back some of the money in future years, but hopes it won't come to that. "I still believe the jobs that are being created and the infrastructure being improved is so beneficial to so many people that it is going to be hard for ideologues to do away with these good efforts," Buttigieg said. "That's why it was bipartisan in the first place." Buttigieg argues that the legacy of this infrastructure law will be felt for decades to come. But others worry that the political lessons may linger as well. "It's going to be hard to do anything big," said LaHood. "We need better infrastructure. We should continue to invest," said economist Mark Zandi. "But that's going to be hard to do politically because lawmakers are seeing what's happening here and they're not getting credit for it."

As Democrats in Washington and beyond absorb the [chaotic](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11/21/us/trump-gaetz-news) dawn of a new Trump administration, one of the party’s ambitious, young leaders is cautioning them to remain calm. Speaking on Thursday to a group of young, Democratic elected officials, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a case for reorienting how the party communicates with voters, even as he warned that expressing outrage at President-elect Donald J. Trump would not be enough to lead Democrats to victory. Mr. Buttigieg’s speech — part of a conference about how to “advance center-left policies despite the challenging national political landscape” — was the latest in a set of public remarks from prominent Democrats jockeying to try to lead the party back to power. But unlike Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and JB Pritzker of Illinois, Mr. Buttigieg will soon be unemployed and without the bully pulpit of a state to vocally fight back against Mr. Trump’s policies. Instead, he suggested, he would spend time defending President Biden’s legacy by reminding the public of the administration’s accomplishments, which he said he expected Mr. Trump to try to claim credit for. Mr. Buttigieg’s most direct admonition to the gathered Democrats, at a Washington hotel, was for them to not allow themselves to be so outraged by the Trump administration that they would neglect working for their constituents. “We cannot be mesmerized by the worst things that we see happening,” Mr. Buttigieg said. “We will be inclined to react with shock by some things that are done precisely with the intent of shocking us, we need to move very quickly through the shock.” Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F11%2F21%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fpete-buttigieg-trump-democrats.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F11%2F21%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fpete-buttigieg-trump-democrats.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F11%2F21%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fpete-buttigieg-trump-democrats.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F11%2F21%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fpete-buttigieg-trump-democrats.html).

The Biden administration is on its way out of power, but that's not ending the arguments between the administration and airlines that think they are being over-regulated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg snapped back Thursday at [criticism from airline executives](https://apnews.com/article/delta-airlines-trump-biden-regulation-c4393d5f763d95c8286d4069563032dc) who say the Biden administration over-regulated them, pointing out that some of those airlines are making large profits despite new [passenger-protection rules](https://apnews.com/article/airline-refunds-congress-faa-cb8ccaa66e25e5af30d852f3411bcc10). Buttigieg said the rules his department has imposed, including [automatic cash refunds](https://apnews.com/article/airlines-junk-fees-baggage-delays-c4a93f9ee9a2bf7d9ee07394183a0374) after flights are canceled, enjoy broad public support and “will stand the test of time.” The comments came after the CEOs of Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines said they hoped the government will be more pro-business when President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the Trump administration will be “a breath of fresh air” for his industry. “I know that some airline CEOs have expressed hopes that the next administration will be less passenger-friendly and more corporate-friendly than this administration,” Buttigieg responded during a news conference to discuss Thanksgiving travel. “The passenger protections that we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public, bipartisan support. I just don't run into a lot of people who are against the idea that you ought to get an automatic refund without any hassle, for example.” Buttigieg argued that strong passenger protections are good for the airline business. “Some of these companies have been showing very healthy profits even at this new and higher level of consumer protection, demonstrating to me that these things can travel together,” he said. It appeared to be a reference to Delta, the most profitable U.S. airline in recent years. Delta earned [$2.6 billion](https://apnews.com/article/delta-airlines-third-quarter-profit-travel-43c61fed91ed55f73c5851ec61eff6e4) in the first nine months of this year and [$4.6 billion](https://ir.delta.com/news/news-details/2024/Delta-Air-Lines-Announces-December-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2023-Financial-Results/default.aspx) last year. The airline industry has opposed many [consumer-protections](https://apnews.com/article/airlines-consumer-rights-buttigieg-states-df06d116c275e7c2a08f3af246d55a6d) written by the Biden administration, even [suing the Transportation Department](https://apnews.com/article/airlines-sue-biden-administration-junk-fees-346ad8ad06335587ba8a67240c5cda32) to kill a rule requiring greater [transparency over fees](https://apnews.com/article/airline-fees-disclosure-judges-block-rule-c273957f46401eba023592a40aec79e9) that airlines charge their passengers. Airlines also oppose a current department inquiry into their [frequent-flyer programs](https://apnews.com/article/airlines-frequent-flyer-programs-transportation-department-95f5ae64634a78aa4b874df8cab5cc9a). Bastian, the Delta CEO, said he expected the Transportation Department under Trump to “take a fresh look at the regulatory environment, the bureaucracy that exists in government, the level of overreach that we have seen over the last four years within our industry.” [Southwest Airlines](https://apnews.com/hub/southwest-airlines-co) CEO Robert Jordan said last week, “We are hopeful for a DOT (Department of Transportation) that is maybe a little less aggressive in terms of regulating or rule-making.” Buttigieg noted that his department extracted a [$140 million settlement](https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-settlement-canceled-flights-4c2a6bc25b52019a5966f6d5ef702fc6) from Southwest over widespread flight cancellations in December 2022 and is conducting a similar investigation into Delta, which canceled about 7,000 flights after [a technology outage](https://apnews.com/article/crowdstrike-technology-outage-delta-airlines-90358ce65529048c8d7e8b3aa3c615aa) in July. He suggested airline CEOs should spend more time thinking [about passengers](https://apnews.com/article/airlines-complaints-transportation-department-7c6ddcec4ebadd4d7222350f6513e6be) and less about their regulator.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has been at the helm of the nation’s transportation infrastructure — including its aviation system — during a tumultuous four years. In 2021, his first year as secretary, the pandemic still had the travel industry in free fall, nearly shutting down airlines in the United States. Then, as air travel dramatically rebounded, airline policies, including [cancellations](https://www.travelandleisure.com/frontier-spirit-airlines-eliminate-change-fees-8651154) and the perks included in a ticket, changed. [Checked-bag fees rose](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/airline-checked-baggage-fees-2024). The golden age of ultra-low-cost carriers like [Spirit Airlines waned](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/business/spirit-airlines-bankruptcy.html), with these airlines beginning to increasingly resemble legacy carriers in offering [more expensive fares](https://www.travelandleisure.com/spirit-airlines-is-changing-its-fare-classes-what-travelers-should-know-8685959). Then operational meltdowns of popular carriers like [Southwest Airlines](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/business/southwest-airlines-fine.html) and [Delta Air Lines](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/13/travel/crowdstrike-outage-delta-airlines.html) disrupted travel for millions of passengers for days, underscoring the fragility of the systems underpinning air travel. And this year saw [the busiest days of air travel ever](https://x.com/TSA_Pekoske/status/1863606614546059347), according to the Transportation Security Administration. Yet passengers got new rights, with Mr. Buttigieg carving out a stance of aggressively holding the airlines accountable. At times he faced [criticism from both political parties](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3883037-transportation-post-has-become-political-nightmare-for-buttigieg/) as well the carriers, but under his leadership, the D.O.T. proposed regulations targeting [junk fees, ticket refunds](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/travel/airline-refunds-fees.html), [costs for families](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/travel/transportation-department-family-seating-rule.html) to sit together and the [mishandling](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/us/politics/air-travel-wheelchairs.html) [of wheelchairs](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/us/politics/air-travel-wheelchairs.html). From 2021 to 2024, the federal agency also issued record penalties of more than $200 million against airlines for consumer violations, about triple the amount levied in the previous 24 years combined. As Mr. Buttigieg leaves office, there are rules that haven’t gone into effect. And the next transportation secretary may decline to pursue ongoing investigations into [frequent flier programs](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/05/business/economy/airlines-frequent-flier-programs-rewards.html) and [Delta’s handling of the CrowdStrike outage](https://abcnews.go.com/Business/department-transportation-opens-investigation-delta-flight-disruptions/story?id=112191447). In a recent conversation, Mr. Buttigieg discussed what he believes he has accomplished for airline passengers during his tenure, his experiences flying with his husband and their children, and what might be next. _This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity._ I’ll leave it to others to grade my performance, but we’ve been able to deliver the most transformative set of infrastructure investments in my lifetime. One way of thinking about it is, if I were to visit one project that we funded every day for the rest of my life, I would not live long enough to see even half of them. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F04%2Ftravel%2Fpete-buttigieg-transportation-airlines.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F04%2Ftravel%2Fpete-buttigieg-transportation-airlines.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F04%2Ftravel%2Fpete-buttigieg-transportation-airlines.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F04%2Ftravel%2Fpete-buttigieg-transportation-airlines.html).

 Outgoing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says that the Biden administration’s new refund rules will likely remain in place under Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency. In [an interview with Travel + Leisure](https://www.travelandleisure.com/transportation-secretary-pete-buttigieg-airlines-trains-8758781), Buttigieg said that the new rules are “the law of the land.” “The automatic refunds principle, for example, began as a rule making, but it wound up in the FAA legislation, which means it’s not something that any administration can unilaterally change,” he told the magazine. He was responding to a question about potential consumer protections that will remain in place after Biden leaves office. His answer referenced a new regulation announced in April that would require airlines to [issue refunds](https://qz.com/airlines-will-now-be-required-to-give-automatic-cash-re-1851431171) to passengers whose flights were canceled. “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” said Buttigieg [at the time of the announcement](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline). “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.” After a recent Supreme Court decision [overturned the “Chevron” doctrine](https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-chevron-regulations-environment-5173bc83d3961a7aaabe415ceaf8d665) that gives government agencies leeway to implement federal policy through rules implementation, there has been some concern that government regulations will become more difficult to enforce. Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

As the Democratic Party wanders in the post-election wilderness after the bruising defeats of 2024, some of its newer leaders are tapping into an ancient form of connection: religion. In Texas, a young lawmaker who could run statewide is urging his fellow white progressives to embrace discussions of faith in politics. In Georgia, a Black [pastor and U.S. senator](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/us/politics/raphael-warnock-georgia-senator-pastor.html) is reclaiming religious language from those on the right who, [he suggests](https://www.rev.com/transcripts/raphael-warnock-speaks-at-democratic-national-convention), have twisted it to their own ends. And in Pennsylvania, the Jewish governor’s faith is a [central part of his public identity](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/10/us/politics/mastriano-shapiro-antisemitism.html), evident in his [campaign advertising](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2gHTeULnzU) and his [major speeches](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/us/politics/josh-shapiro-harris-walz-rally.html) — and even at a recent Christmas tree lighting. “If y’all have not seen ‘National Lampoon Christmas Vacation,’ take it from this Jewish guy,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said as he addressed a holiday celebration in Harrisburg, Pa., this month. “You better go and rent that movie.” While [President Biden is a practicing Catholic](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/25/us/politics/catholic-voters-trump-biden.html) who has often carried a rosary and playfully [crossed himself](https://www.politico.com/video/2011/05/vice-president-biden-crosses-himself-after-netanyahu-joke-015983), he long stood out in an increasingly secular Democratic Party. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F22%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-religion-shapiro-warnock-buttigieg.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F22%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-religion-shapiro-warnock-buttigieg.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F22%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-religion-shapiro-warnock-buttigieg.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F12%2F22%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-religion-shapiro-warnock-buttigieg.html).

 Boeing ([BA+0.82%](https://qz.com/quote/BA)) is coming in for a bit more last-minute criticism from outgoing members of the Biden administration. Soon-to-be-former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg [told Bloomberg in an interview](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-06/boeing-culture-turnaround-a-work-in-progress-buttigieg-says?sref=P6Q0mxvj) Monday that the planemaker still has a lot of work to do on itself. “What we really need to see is a pretty profound culture change that will be ultimately proven out by the results, and that’s results over the long term,” Buttigieg told the outlet. “That is a work in progress for them.” The words [echo those of Mike Whitaker](https://qz.com/boeing-737-max-faa-criticism-blog-post-1851731884?_gl=1*7nmvlb*_ga*MTkxMTE3Njc0Ni4xNzAxNzE4MTkz*_ga_V4QNJTT5L0*MTczNjE5NjUwMi41NzAuMC4xNzM2MTk2NTA0LjU4LjAuMA..), soon-to-be-former administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, who recently said that there needs to be a “fundamental cultural shift at Boeing that’s oriented around safety and quality above profits.” Commentary from both men comes about a year after a door panel fell off a Boeing 737 Max 9 mid-flight. The incident prompted the resignation of [former CEO Dave Calhoun](https://qz.com/boeing-ceo-dave-calhoun-resigns-737-max-1851362493) and [an FAA-imposed limit](https://qz.com/boeing-737-max-faa-plan-1851510029) on how many of the cash-cow planes it can produce each month. Buttigieg and Whitaker will both be stepping down when Donald Trump is inaugurated as president, and it is not clear what kind of relationship [Trump’s choice to run the FAA](https://qz.com/trump-faa-nominee-possibility-alex-wilcox-jsx-1851730049) will have with the manufacturer. Some observers are expecting smoother sailing ahead for Boeing. Barclays ([BCS+2.37%](https://qz.com/quote/BCS)) upgraded its rating on the company’s stock Monday to “overweight,” its first positive outlook since 2019. The bank’s analysts are putting a lot of faith in [new CEO Kelly Ortberg](https://qz.com/boeing-ceo-robert-kelly-ortberg-rockwell-collins-1851609662) to get things going in the right direction on fiscal and production matters. “New CEO Ortberg importantly brings an outsider’s perspective that we believe is critical to affect meaningful cultural change and to rebuild credibility with internal and external stakeholders,” they wrote in a research note. Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks to questions during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport November 21, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia. Alex Wong/Getty Images From handling crises in the rail and airline industries to overseeing the distribution of billions of dollars in infrastructure funding, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has taken on a lot over the last four years. Now, his tenure is coming to an end. Host [Scott Detrow](https://www.npr.org/people/444796749/scott-detrow) speaks with Buttigieg about what the Biden administration accomplished, what it didn't get done, and what he's taking away from an election where voters resoundingly called for something different. For sponsor-free episodes of _Consider This,_ sign up for C_onsider This+_ via Apple Podcasts or at [plus.npr.org](http://plus.npr.org/) Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) _This episode was produced by Brianna Scott, Avery Keatley and Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun._

 U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Shuran Huang/NPR With barely a week until President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is packing up his office and preparing for his return to civilian life. It will be quite a shift after managing the dispersal of billions of dollars in funds as part of President Biden's infrastructure legislation, and managing crises in the airline and railroad sectors. As he prepares to step down, Buttigieg spoke with _All Things Considered_ host Scott Detrow about some of his accomplishments and the challenges he faced on the job. _This interview has been edited for length and clarity._ ### **Interview highlights** **Scott Detrow:** I want to start by talking about the thing that probably got the most attention throughout the course of the administration – all the infrastructure spending. I think that's a good example of something that seems to do all of the things that a lot of people think that the voters want from government: investing in communities, fixing problems, coming together to fix those problems, spending at historic levels. You and others in the administration spent years getting the message out there, \[and\] putting this project into place. I know how many airports you visited to tout these accomplishments, and yet a lot of different metrics, including the election results, suggest that maybe voters didn't quite appreciate, that it didn't seem to land, it didn't seem to be a reaching a consensus of, 'Wow, the Biden administration did this for me.' I'm wondering how you make sense of all of that. **Pete Buttigieg**: Well, a lot of the things that we work on are worth doing, whether they're getting a lot of political credit or not. We do safety work to save people from losing their lives on our roadways or in the aviation system. We don't expect people to cheer for us. We just do it because it's the right thing to do, and our infrastructure is something that should just work. That said, I do think that as more and more of these projects go to completion, we're going to see more and more of an appreciation for what this infrastructure era has done to make people better off. We're already seeing levels of employment in construction, building, trades, and manufacturing that we haven't seen in my lifetime. Think about the Affordable Care Act. Took years before people fully appreciated them, and the very nature of infrastructure work is, it takes some time. That said, I'm going to keep telling the story and waving the flag, because it is extraordinary what we did and what will continue to happen in this country. It didn't happen on its own. It was a bipartisan achievement at a time when anything bipartisan is pretty rare in this town. And I think we're going to be benefiting from it for the rest of our lives. **Detrow:** That being said, this idea that Americans wanted to see their government working for them more was such a concrete thesis of the Biden administration. It's something that you campaigned and wrote about before you joined this administration. Given where we are at this point in time, the transition of power that's happening, has that made you rethink anything, whether it was the way that this was approached, or the way that it was communicated? **Buttigieg:** We always knew that part of what we were doing is turning a very big ship in terms of the condition of American infrastructure and the condition of a lot of things that Americans count on government to do. But that's going to take a lot of time. And the best thing that could come of that, is a higher baseline level of public trust in what government can do for them.  **Detrow:** Do you think you achieved that? **Buttigieg:** Well, I think we set things on a different trajectory, but we're also operating in a different information environment. We're now living in a time where some dude on the internet has as much authority as somebody holding themselves to the highest journalistic standards of fact-checking and research. And that is something that I think can swamp a lot of our more traditional calculations about what makes for good policy and good politics. **Detrow:** This very week, there's a concrete moment of stepping away from fact-checking, stepping away from regulations on Facebook in particular. Do you think that's the answer, or do you think it makes us all worse? **Buttigieg:** Well, what we've seen so far is that places that have abandoned fact-checking or editorial responsibility have not become a paradise of free speech. Things have taken a pretty dark turn. And so I think we need to continue to find ways to help people sort through and make sense of all of this information that's coming at us. Because right now, we've never had more information in my lifetime, and we've never been less informed. **Detrow:** You, up until this point, are the most high-profile millennial to hold national office. I guess Vice President-elect \[J.D.\] Vance will join that club in a matter of weeks. But as we talk about this, I'm wondering, you came of age with the internet — do you think it's done more harm or good for government, for public policy, at this point in time? **Buttigieg:** I think at best it has cut both ways. One thing that I think it has made possible is it's empowered everybody to be a reporter. And there are things that we find out about, including things that have happened in our communities or on our streets that no one would have known about if it weren't possible to record and publicize them through the internet. On the other hand, what we've found is that everybody is a reporter, but nobody's an editor. And the idea that you do in fact have a responsibility to separate fact from fiction, to make judgments about what deserves real scrutiny or real attention, that's something that has really weakened in our society as a result of some of these technologies. Also, for my entire lifetime, you could use a photograph usually to settle a question about whether something was true or false. That's less and less true. And adapting to things like that is really going to test our capacity as a society, as a species. **Detrow:** I want to talk about social justice and transportation. You at times talked about Robert Moses — and got the attention of nerds who love "The Power Broker**_"_** — but to get to these broader examples of the way that infrastructure and transportation projects were often built in a way that furthered injustice instead of helping to fix it. You talked early on about wanting to take that head-on. Are there areas where you feel like you accomplished that goal? **Buttigieg:** We were able, through so many of our projects, to empower the very kinds of people and homes and families and neighborhoods that used to get rolled over by transportation projects in the past. And that's really twofold — both making neighborhoods better off with transit access to places that didn't have it in the past or roads that are built with their neighborhood in mind. But also the jobs we created, I mean, the number of people getting good-paying jobs in the building trades, who are actually literally making these things happen and happened in the neighborhoods where they grew up, is extraordinary. And I believe it's unprecedented. So we've really been able to make a big difference there. Still, a long way to go. It took decades to get the way we are, everything good and everything that needs to change. And it's going to take a while to get to a new reality. But we're well underway in what I like to call this infrastructure decade.  **Detrow:** When you made those comments, there was this parallel reaction of excitement from people who love thousand-page books and criticism and some of the right-wing press that this was yet another example of identity politics, social justice-type governing. And I'm asking that because in the months since the election, there has been all of this back-and-forth about 'Did Democrats kind of veer too far in that lane? Did that hurt them politically?' I'm wondering what you make about that general conversation, if you have any big takeaways on the policies of the last five or six years, and how people are interpreting them. **Buttigieg:** I think it was a reminder of how some voices in the media can get people whipped up over anything, when we're talking about measures that don't make anyone worse off and make a lot of people better off. I will never be able to relate to the idea that it's wrong to confront segregation that neighborhoods still have to live with because of some physical design decision that was made in the '50s or '60s. When we see that, we should put it right, and that's what we set out to do. **Detrow:** Do you think there's something to the idea that your party needs to talk about these things in a different way to bring more people along? **Buttigieg:** I think any way you come at it, the most important thing is the actions, not the words. I think that there has been a lot of hyperventilating about vocabulary. I think that this is something that you see in different flavors from all sides of the aisle. My side of the aisle gets lost in jargon sometimes, and there's some really troubling things that you see in terms of vocabulary of what comes from the other side of the aisle, too. The bottom line is, we need to do the thing and then figure out how to talk about what we're doing. And the thing that we're doing is fixing roads and bridges across the country. **Detrow:** You're going to be a private citizen. You, along with many other Democrats, really raised deep, deep concerns about what a second Trump administration would mean on the rule of law, and democracy, \[and\] on many other fronts. How are you going to be approaching that? Whatever you do next, how are you going to be responding? Do you have any thoughts about what you will charge yourself with doing when you're out of office? **Buttigieg:** What I know is that most Americans believe in some basic values and some very important norms that hold our country together. Frankly, no matter how you voted, a strong majority of Americans believe in making sure that our country is a freedom loving place, that people have rights, and that we solve big problems together. And that's something that I'm going to continue to care about and work on. I'll be doing it as a citizen rather than as a policymaker … I'm going to do everything I can to work on the things that I care about and the things that are going to matter to our family, and \[to\] Michigan, and to so many people who I've gotten to know along the way in this work.

Senator Gary Peters’s [decision to retire](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/politics/gary-peters-michigan-senate-2026.html) has opened up a marquee Senate race in Michigan, a pre-eminent battleground state that President Trump [flipped in November](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/us/politics/michigan-race-call.html). The announcement this week from Mr. Peters, a Democrat, set off a flurry of political activity in Michigan — especially among his party’s deep bench of ambitious politicians, some of whom are also considering a [run for governor](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/us/politics/jocelyn-benson-michigan-governor.html). Here’s a snapshot of some of the people who might jump into the Senate contest: Mr. Buttigieg, the former presidential candidate and transportation secretary, is a relatively recent Michigan transplant, growing up in Indiana and [becoming a Michigan resident](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/07/07/sec-pete-goes-pure-michigan-00044487) in 2022, moving to Traverse City. “I have a lot of humility about having only moved to Michigan a few years ago,” he said in an [interview last month](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/22/us/politics/democrats-religion-shapiro-warnock-buttigieg.html), asked at the time about a run for governor. “Although, of course, I did grow up in the neighborhood.” Mr. Buttigieg is taking a “serious look” at a Senate bid, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking who insisted on Tuesday on anonymity to discuss the private deliberations, adding that he was “exploring all of his options.” Mr. Buttigieg is also seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who is term-limited in 2026, quickly and colorfully took herself out of contention for Mr. Peters’s seat on Tuesday. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F29%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fmichigan-senate-gretchen-whitmer.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F29%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fmichigan-senate-gretchen-whitmer.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F29%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fmichigan-senate-gretchen-whitmer.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F29%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fmichigan-senate-gretchen-whitmer.html).

Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary, [ruled out a run for statewide office](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/us/politics/buttigieg-michigan-senate-2028-president.html) in Michigan in 2026 and made it clear that he was keeping his 2028 options open. Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is headed to New Hampshire next month, visiting a traditional battleground in the presidential primary campaign years before any campaign is underway. And even if Iowa [isn’t still](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/democrats-vote-primary-calendar.html) [_Iowa_](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/democrats-vote-primary-calendar.html), Gov_._ Tim Walz of Minnesota [found himself on Friday](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/tim-walz-politics.html) in the state that once kicked off the presidential nominating contest, addressing a group of frustrated and furious Democrats. As the Trump administration marches ahead with an aggressive agenda and Democrats [grow angry with their leaders](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/government-shutdown-spending-bill-schumer-democrats.html) in Congress, some of the party’s most ambitious politicians are quietly, and perhaps almost wistfully, looking ahead. One thousand, three hundred and thirty-four days ahead, to be exact. Quiet conversations about the next race for the White House are already underway among Democratic strategists, activists and, yes, a stable of would-be, could-be candidates. None would dare announce any such aspiration aloud. Many have yet to decide, even privately, whether they will take steps toward a bid. But why let reality get in the way of a good shadow primary? Across the country, political operatives, donors and journalists are scrutinizing and overanalyzing these Democrats’ words, policy positions and travel schedules for any sign of presidential plotting. And these Democrats are sometimes — if not often — leaving breadcrumbs to lure such attention. “Everything that Trump is doing is just so traumatic and so jarring to your soul,” said Raymond Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “It’s a good reminder that there’s a day after tomorrow. Thinking about ’28, it allows some people to survive the trauma better.” Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F03%2F15%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-president-2028-buttigieg-newsom-walz.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F03%2F15%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-president-2028-buttigieg-newsom-walz.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F03%2F15%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-president-2028-buttigieg-newsom-walz.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F03%2F15%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fdemocrats-president-2028-buttigieg-newsom-walz.html).