Former Pelosi Adviser Criticizes Jeffries and Democrats
Ashley Etienne asserts that Hakeem Jeffries is not fully leveraging a significant resource in his predecessor, and the effects are evident.
TroibNews 
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries garnered significant praise from his base earlier this spring for his confrontational approach with the GOP regarding Elon Musk and the looming threat of a government shutdown.
However, according to a longtime advisor to Nancy Pelosi, Jeffries' leadership may be falling short.
In this week's Playbook Deep Dive podcast, I had a conversation with Ashley Etienne, who previously led Pelosi’s anti-Trump war room, about the Democrats’ current attempts to regain political relevance. We discussed the essential steps Democratic leaders need to take to win back voters—such as enhancing grassroots efforts and moving away from desperate attention-seeking stunts. Etienne criticized the Democratic Party for not fully analyzing the setbacks from the 2024 elections, resulting in contradictory conclusions about needed solutions.
The most compelling aspect of our discussion revolved around Jeffries. While Etienne expressed "a tremendous amount of respect" for him, she echoed concerns I've heard from several Democrats in private: that the New York Democrat lacks the necessary strength as a leader and his organizational skills are subpar at a time when strong and innovative leadership is crucial.
“Trump is just giving us all this incredible red meat. I mean, incredible. I've never seen anything like this before. It's like the biggest gift any party has been given by the opposition and we're just squandering it," Etienne stated, identifying Jeffries as a leading figure in this misstep.
Etienne argues that Jeffries is not adequately integrating an anti-Trump message into the Democratic infrastructure. She criticized him for a lack of coordination with external organizations and elected officials nationwide and suggested that moderates are not being effectively utilized to argue for a centrist approach.
“If you don't have coordination, you've just got words on a paper that you're calling talking points," she remarked. "It's meaningless. And I think that's where we are right now."
Her insights carry weight. She has witnessed Pelosi's leadership firsthand and understands the importance of coordinated messaging. In addition to her time with Pelosi, Etienne worked for Barack Obama and House Oversight Chair Elijah Cummings, and served in the Biden White House as an advisor to Kamala Harris.
One surprising revelation from our interview was that Etienne claims Jeffries’ team has rejected the idea of seeking guidance from Pelosi or her former aides. She mentioned an encounter with Jeffries’ staffers where she offered her assistance, only to be told that “the members don’t want any Pelosi.”
“I was hearing from leadership staff that the leadership on Capitol Hill right now wants to sort of move away from that Pelosi era—that they … don't want to embrace anyone or anything that's like Pelosi,” she explained. “Which I just think is the dumbest s-h-i-t ever."
Pelosi, she emphasized, is "the baddest in the business. We actually landed punches. We actually won 40 seats. I'm just surprised that they're not calling everybody that has landed some punches on Trump asking for the best advice."
A spokesperson for Jeffries, Christie Stephenson, contested the notion that Jeffries is distancing himself from Pelosi and refuted claims about the office's outreach. She stated that Jeffries often seeks input from the former speaker, a point confirmed by Pelosi’s office. Regarding coordination, Stephenson highlighted that their office conducts weekly calls with grassroots organizations, typically attracting over 100 participants, and often organizes discussions with strategists and commentators.
While Jeffries has had notable successes as a leader—one being his role in urging Joe Biden to step back from the 2024 race—Etienne is correct that Pelosi wielded a level of command within the party that Jeffries has yet to achieve. Pelosi was adept at rallying diverse groups for collective action, knowing just how to provoke Trump to maximize her political advantage.
Jeffries is still in the process of finding his footing as a transformative leader, as Etienne implied.
However, Etienne did acknowledge that "Jeffries is doing very well," and she assigned the party a "C+" grade for its opposition to Trump. She also showed appreciation for the effort to "elevate new voices" within the House, recognizing actions like sit-ins and filibusters, and particularly highlighting the strategy of "demonizing Elon Musk" as effective.
“There are some things I think that I think are happening that are right, right?” she said. “What I think needs to be improved on is the most important, non-sexy aspect of politics—and that is lifting up the hood and creating the infrastructure."
Etienne doesn't necessarily believe Jeffries needs to consult Pelosi directly, but argues that understanding how she amplified anti-Trump narratives would be beneficial. Many outside groups are looking for more direction and guidance similar to what they received during Pelosi's leadership, she noted.
“They're not hearing from Capitol Hill right now, and I think that's a huge loss,” Etienne remarked.
There are differing opinions, however. Some assert that Pelosi's outreach merely consisted of getting groups on the phone to relay instructions. Adam Green from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee mentioned that “we hear more from Jeffries than we ever heard from Pelosi.”
During our interview, Etienne pointed out that, on the same morning Jeffries was delivering a speech about 100 days of fighting Trump, no one from his team had shared talking points about his address.
“And I'm going to be doing TV and this interview all day,” she said. “That's a failure.”
“How do you get to discipline if you're not telling people what the hell you want them to say?” she added.
Jeffries’ office countered that they conducted several calls with outside groups ahead of the speech, and that Etienne participated in one of them.
In the meantime, some centrist party figures have privately expressed doubts about Jeffries' ability to manage the more progressive elements of the party. His earlier decision to embrace a potential government shutdown—only avoided when Chuck Schumer intervened—has led some to question whether Jeffries can effectively say no to the party's left flank. However, Etienne credited him with maintaining unity within the caucus.
Pelosi, known for her pragmatism, frequently asserted, “I need your energy, not your policy.” She often reined in progressive ideas in her own ranks, from Medicare for All to the Green New Deal.
Jeffries hasn’t yet pushed back against the left significantly. Some Democrats hoped he would have rebuked Rep. Al Green for his comments during Trump's joint address to Congress, but he did not. Others criticized him for heeding liberal groups when he rallied members against a GOP bill aimed at sanctuary cities, despite the party's poor polling on immigration.
Jeffries is generally seen as cautious, adhering closely to established talking points. As a former corporate lawyer, he tends to approach decisions with deliberation. But with a divided Democratic Party, Etienne observed that members are seeking assertive and visionary leadership. She noted that some House Democrats feel frustrated with Jeffries’ tendency to solicit extensive input before making a decision.
“He takes too much counsel and then takes too long to make a decision—which suggests maybe you don't trust your gut in the moment—which is fair when you're a new leader, because you're still trying to figure it all out,” she said. “But it might also suggest maybe you don't have a handle on the caucus—or you don't have a hand on how to actually land some punches on Donald Trump.”
Even on occasions where Jeffries has taken a stand, he has struggled to keep his members in line. For instance, he advised his caucus not to protest during Trump's address to Congress, yet many members disregarded this and drew attention away from the president, turning the evening into a story about the party itself.
In moments like this, Etienne noted, Pelosi would often leverage moderates against progressives. From her experience covering Pelosi, she remembered how the former speaker would empower moderate members like then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin to vocalize criticisms of leftist proposals, framing them as poor political strategy.
“Where Pelosi would always start is: We've got to get to a win—that's all that matters,” she said. “Without the moderates, we don't win. Without winning, we don't have the majority. We can't do what we really want to do. And progressives would eventually cower to that argument.”
Etienne theorized that Jeffries isn’t reaching out to Pelosi for advice due to “ego—I hate to say it.”
She noted that Jeffries and his team are trying to establish their own leadership identities but acknowledged the challenge of having Pelosi as a constant presence, who would likely dominate any interaction. Nonetheless, she believes Jeffries could learn valuable lessons from his predecessor while putting his own stamp on the role.
Ultimately, Jeffries is still refining his leadership style, learning as he goes. Etienne suggested that perhaps he should more frequently reach out to Nancy for insights.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
However, according to a longtime advisor to Nancy Pelosi, Jeffries' leadership may be falling short.
In this week's Playbook Deep Dive podcast, I had a conversation with Ashley Etienne, who previously led Pelosi’s anti-Trump war room, about the Democrats’ current attempts to regain political relevance. We discussed the essential steps Democratic leaders need to take to win back voters—such as enhancing grassroots efforts and moving away from desperate attention-seeking stunts. Etienne criticized the Democratic Party for not fully analyzing the setbacks from the 2024 elections, resulting in contradictory conclusions about needed solutions.
The most compelling aspect of our discussion revolved around Jeffries. While Etienne expressed "a tremendous amount of respect" for him, she echoed concerns I've heard from several Democrats in private: that the New York Democrat lacks the necessary strength as a leader and his organizational skills are subpar at a time when strong and innovative leadership is crucial.
“Trump is just giving us all this incredible red meat. I mean, incredible. I've never seen anything like this before. It's like the biggest gift any party has been given by the opposition and we're just squandering it," Etienne stated, identifying Jeffries as a leading figure in this misstep.
Etienne argues that Jeffries is not adequately integrating an anti-Trump message into the Democratic infrastructure. She criticized him for a lack of coordination with external organizations and elected officials nationwide and suggested that moderates are not being effectively utilized to argue for a centrist approach.
“If you don't have coordination, you've just got words on a paper that you're calling talking points," she remarked. "It's meaningless. And I think that's where we are right now."
Her insights carry weight. She has witnessed Pelosi's leadership firsthand and understands the importance of coordinated messaging. In addition to her time with Pelosi, Etienne worked for Barack Obama and House Oversight Chair Elijah Cummings, and served in the Biden White House as an advisor to Kamala Harris.
One surprising revelation from our interview was that Etienne claims Jeffries’ team has rejected the idea of seeking guidance from Pelosi or her former aides. She mentioned an encounter with Jeffries’ staffers where she offered her assistance, only to be told that “the members don’t want any Pelosi.”
“I was hearing from leadership staff that the leadership on Capitol Hill right now wants to sort of move away from that Pelosi era—that they … don't want to embrace anyone or anything that's like Pelosi,” she explained. “Which I just think is the dumbest s-h-i-t ever."
Pelosi, she emphasized, is "the baddest in the business. We actually landed punches. We actually won 40 seats. I'm just surprised that they're not calling everybody that has landed some punches on Trump asking for the best advice."
A spokesperson for Jeffries, Christie Stephenson, contested the notion that Jeffries is distancing himself from Pelosi and refuted claims about the office's outreach. She stated that Jeffries often seeks input from the former speaker, a point confirmed by Pelosi’s office. Regarding coordination, Stephenson highlighted that their office conducts weekly calls with grassroots organizations, typically attracting over 100 participants, and often organizes discussions with strategists and commentators.
While Jeffries has had notable successes as a leader—one being his role in urging Joe Biden to step back from the 2024 race—Etienne is correct that Pelosi wielded a level of command within the party that Jeffries has yet to achieve. Pelosi was adept at rallying diverse groups for collective action, knowing just how to provoke Trump to maximize her political advantage.
Jeffries is still in the process of finding his footing as a transformative leader, as Etienne implied.
However, Etienne did acknowledge that "Jeffries is doing very well," and she assigned the party a "C+" grade for its opposition to Trump. She also showed appreciation for the effort to "elevate new voices" within the House, recognizing actions like sit-ins and filibusters, and particularly highlighting the strategy of "demonizing Elon Musk" as effective.
“There are some things I think that I think are happening that are right, right?” she said. “What I think needs to be improved on is the most important, non-sexy aspect of politics—and that is lifting up the hood and creating the infrastructure."
Etienne doesn't necessarily believe Jeffries needs to consult Pelosi directly, but argues that understanding how she amplified anti-Trump narratives would be beneficial. Many outside groups are looking for more direction and guidance similar to what they received during Pelosi's leadership, she noted.
“They're not hearing from Capitol Hill right now, and I think that's a huge loss,” Etienne remarked.
There are differing opinions, however. Some assert that Pelosi's outreach merely consisted of getting groups on the phone to relay instructions. Adam Green from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee mentioned that “we hear more from Jeffries than we ever heard from Pelosi.”
During our interview, Etienne pointed out that, on the same morning Jeffries was delivering a speech about 100 days of fighting Trump, no one from his team had shared talking points about his address.
“And I'm going to be doing TV and this interview all day,” she said. “That's a failure.”
“How do you get to discipline if you're not telling people what the hell you want them to say?” she added.
Jeffries’ office countered that they conducted several calls with outside groups ahead of the speech, and that Etienne participated in one of them.
In the meantime, some centrist party figures have privately expressed doubts about Jeffries' ability to manage the more progressive elements of the party. His earlier decision to embrace a potential government shutdown—only avoided when Chuck Schumer intervened—has led some to question whether Jeffries can effectively say no to the party's left flank. However, Etienne credited him with maintaining unity within the caucus.
Pelosi, known for her pragmatism, frequently asserted, “I need your energy, not your policy.” She often reined in progressive ideas in her own ranks, from Medicare for All to the Green New Deal.
Jeffries hasn’t yet pushed back against the left significantly. Some Democrats hoped he would have rebuked Rep. Al Green for his comments during Trump's joint address to Congress, but he did not. Others criticized him for heeding liberal groups when he rallied members against a GOP bill aimed at sanctuary cities, despite the party's poor polling on immigration.
Jeffries is generally seen as cautious, adhering closely to established talking points. As a former corporate lawyer, he tends to approach decisions with deliberation. But with a divided Democratic Party, Etienne observed that members are seeking assertive and visionary leadership. She noted that some House Democrats feel frustrated with Jeffries’ tendency to solicit extensive input before making a decision.
“He takes too much counsel and then takes too long to make a decision—which suggests maybe you don't trust your gut in the moment—which is fair when you're a new leader, because you're still trying to figure it all out,” she said. “But it might also suggest maybe you don't have a handle on the caucus—or you don't have a hand on how to actually land some punches on Donald Trump.”
Even on occasions where Jeffries has taken a stand, he has struggled to keep his members in line. For instance, he advised his caucus not to protest during Trump's address to Congress, yet many members disregarded this and drew attention away from the president, turning the evening into a story about the party itself.
In moments like this, Etienne noted, Pelosi would often leverage moderates against progressives. From her experience covering Pelosi, she remembered how the former speaker would empower moderate members like then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin to vocalize criticisms of leftist proposals, framing them as poor political strategy.
“Where Pelosi would always start is: We've got to get to a win—that's all that matters,” she said. “Without the moderates, we don't win. Without winning, we don't have the majority. We can't do what we really want to do. And progressives would eventually cower to that argument.”
Etienne theorized that Jeffries isn’t reaching out to Pelosi for advice due to “ego—I hate to say it.”
She noted that Jeffries and his team are trying to establish their own leadership identities but acknowledged the challenge of having Pelosi as a constant presence, who would likely dominate any interaction. Nonetheless, she believes Jeffries could learn valuable lessons from his predecessor while putting his own stamp on the role.
Ultimately, Jeffries is still refining his leadership style, learning as he goes. Etienne suggested that perhaps he should more frequently reach out to Nancy for insights.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
