Why Elizabeth Warren is never going to do Medicare for All

Would the constituents of moderate Democrats’ districts be better off under Sanders’ Medicare For All plan? Undoubtedly. But good luck selling that message at the same time that you’re trying to explain why their taxes are going up all while a multi-billion dollar ad campaign opposing M4A buzzes in the background.

And then there’s the presence of other, light-lift options which aren’t as sexy as M4A, but get us within striking distance to universal access to healthcare.

Meaning that the next Democratic president will have two options:

(1) Put all their chips in the center of the table for Medicare For All, which would be unlikely to pass and, if it did, would probably have adverse consequences for the 2020 election and prevent action on any other policy front.

(2) Expand Obamacare and increase access without forcing the entire Democratic caucus to stick their necks out; pocket the win; and then move on to whatever is the next most important item on the agenda. Like, for instance, climate change.