US progressives urge Democrats to back populist policies as party reels from loss

Pramila Jayapal says party has to pick some big fights' and blames leaders for falling hostage to big-money interests'

As shell-shocked Democrats try to understand why working-class Americans - once the cornerstone of their political base - chose a billionaire over them, progressives argue the path forward is to champion popular and populist" economic policies.

Democratic recriminations have intensified in the nearly seven days since their devastating electoral losses, which may yet deliver a new era of unified Republican governance in Washington, after Donald Trump stormed to a second term while his party easily flipped the Senate and is on the verge of winning a majority in the House. Divisions have deepened, with progressives blaming the party's embrace of corporate America and swing-state Democrats accusing the left of tarnishing its appeal with ex-urban and rural voters.