Ana Navarro describes conflict within the Republican party as a "telenovela" but warns that Democrats aren't immune. (Torrey Schenewerk, GCS Photography Inc.)
What makes Ana Navarro so compelling to listen to, whether it's on The View, on CNN or on stage at the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo, is her honesty and relatability.
"You've got to have some sort of commonality in order to engage someone politically," she told attendees at the Expo's afternoon keynote in San Diego. "The first thing you have to do is make sure the person you're trying to engage is sane and rational. Then you've got to be open to what they're saying and hear it."
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Navarro's quick wit and blunt honesty were a refreshing change from pundits who stick to political party talking points, reminding audience members that there's more to the Republican party than Trump, anti-vaxxers and the Second Amendment.
On Afghanistan, she spoke not as a Republican but as an American: "It's been a shock to our system and what we don't have the stomach for is to watch the images and the chaos that we've seen," she said. "It's a humanitarian crisis."
Navarro shared her level-headed insights on a variety of topics with attendees, including:
The future of the Republican party (and Democrat, too)
When it comes to her own political affiliations, Navarro has made no secret of her distaste for former President Trump but didn't waste time with cheap shots and criticisms, instead focusing on notable shifts happening within the party. "On the Republican side, you can see a huge difference among some of the governors. They're out there actively trying to get people to get vaccinated. Then in Florida, you've got Ron DeSantis running for reelection and positioning himself as the freedom fighter and unmasked crusader."
She noted that the party infighting isn't unique to the GOP, though "we focus a lot of the Republican drama because it's a really interesting telenovela." Democrats, she says, are also experiencing a widening rift between progressives and moderates.
Trump, round 2?
Whether Trump runs for reelection in 2024, he will have made a lasting impact on the way politics work, Navarro said. "He had 100% name recognition, the money to float a fledgling campaign, the larger-than-life personality and charisma. The guy fills up a room and is irreverent in a way, and I give him credit for having incredible political instincts despite not being a political person."
He essentially changed the rules for presidential candidates. "He's influenced the type of people running and winning. He's changed the persona, the personality and profile of a lot of politicians."
Navarro looked ahead to the potential frontrunners for the GOP candidate in 2024, including Rick Scott, Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz, and possibly even Josh Hawley. She also wouldn't rule out a run by Republican outcast Liz Cheney.
Vaccine and mask mandates
Navarro believes that a federal vaccine mandate is a step too far, but also that government mandates prohibiting local governments and businesses from imposing their own mask or vaccine mandates is just as much of an overreach. "I do think a cruise line, an employer has the right to say that they want all of their employees or customers to be vaccinated," she said. "You have a right not to get vaccinated, but you don't have a right to go into a restaurant, you don't have a right to go on a cruise ship, you don't have a right to be employed."
Demographic shifts to watch
The results of the latest census have shown us that our country has changed considerably over the past decade, but Navarro is quick to dispel the idea that certain demographics automatically will fall into party lines. "No group is a homogenous group," she said. "The idea that more Hispanics is going to give an advantage to Democrats does not play through. It's more complex than that. The longer people are here, the more diversity of thought there is amongst groups."
Then there's the issue of the younger generation and its dissatisfaction with the current political system. But despite what we hear, Gen Z isn't abandoning our political system. Navarro pointed to AOC and other younger folks getting involved in politics.
All in all, Navarro's message was this: Things aren't as bad as they seem. Take a breath, take a break, and turn off the TV for a little while.
"If we look around, we've survived," she said. "You have to look at the good, the people stepping up and doing amazing things. "We can all get flooded with feelings of anxiety, the bad things that are going on, but there are also good things."
Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
