With the election of Donald Trump as the new U.S. President, the progressive movement is in a process of regrouping. However, President Trump’s actions have stirred a wave of unprecedented protests across the country, indicating increased support for grassroots movements. How these protests will influence the progressive agenda and its political leaders remains to be seen. Is there any common ground on policies between progressives and the Trump administration? The fate of progressive politics is also closely linked to the Democrats in Congress and their stance against the President’s positions on issues such as health care, immigration, trade, and foreign policy. Their ability –or inability—to defend core liberal policies will determine the course of progressive politics for generations to come.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is delighted to invite you to a off-the-record discussion on progressive politics in Trump’s America with U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California’s 13th District. During the conversation Representative Lee will provide commentary and answer questions to help outline the coming challenges and goals of progressive politics in the United States.

The event is part of our Understanding America Series which will assess new directions in U.S. foreign policy, society, and politics and the implications for Europe and transatlantic relations. In the coming months, the series will include discussions and briefings around critical themes, including migration, economy, energy, and security. Join the conversation on Twitter with #UnderstandingAmerica.

Barbara Lee is the U.S. Representative for California's 13th congressional district, serving East Bay voters from 1998 to 2013 including a time when the region was designated California's 9th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Lee was the first woman to represent the 9th district and is also the first woman to represent the 13th district. Lee was a member of the California State Assembly and the California State Senate before entering the House. She was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Lee is notable as the only member of either house of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11, 2001 attacks. She has been a vocal critic of the war in Iraq and supports legislation creating a Department of Peace.

Sudha David-Wilp is a senior transatlantic fellow & deputy director of the Berlin office. She joined GMF’s Berlin office in September 2011. She oversees GMF’s Congress-Bundestag Forum, a joint program with the Robert Bosch Foundation, and engages with the media as an expert on German-U.S. relations. Before moving to Berlin, she was the director of International Programs at the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress in Washington DC for nearly eight years. At the Association, David-Wilp was responsible for Congressional Study Groups and international programs for current members of Congress and senior Congressional staff. She established a Trilateral Roundtable format for legislators and launched a speakers’ program involving current and former lawmakers.