Let me start with a confession.

A few years ago, when I was mayor of Ithaca, New York, I climbed onto the roof of City Hall and caught one of my interns vaping. He froze. I froze. We both knew the moment was loaded.

I could’ve scolded him — I was the boss, the elected official, the health policy nerd. But instead, I just said, “Well… better than actually smoking.”

He exhaled (literally), and we had a real conversation about risk, addiction and choices.

That, my friends, is harm reduction. And if Democrats are serious about winning back male voters — and winning back the majority — we need a whole lot more of that energy.

Unfortunately, too often, Democrats sound like that one nosy Ned Flanders type of neighbor you would avoid at the block party as a teenager.

"Pull up your pants. Pull up your mask. Fix your posture. Stop vaping. Stop swearing. Did you know football causes concussions? Mixed martial arts is bad. Cars are bad. Stoves are bad. You're bad. Everything is bad."

COVID pandemic public health measures were necessary, but the heavy impact of broad restrictions alienated voters and made Democrats seem overbearing.

We're supposed to be the party of compassion, progress and personal freedom, but somewhere along the way, we got saddled with the vibe of a hall monitor with a clipboard.

And voters, especially men, have noticed. In........

© The Hill