Overview
- Paul Rivera, the author of the DNC’s after-action review, publicly released a previously unpublished 28-page chapter and a 500-page independent report called Blue by 2032 on Aug. 3, saying the chapter had been omitted from the committee’s May draft.
- The DNC and Chair Ken Martin say they never received the chapter and that they released all material provided in May after an internal review that found no such section in their files.
- The chapter accuses a ‘self-enriching’ consultant class of being out of touch, questions President Biden’s decision to run again, and reviews losses among Hispanic, Black, Asian American and Native American voters.
- The dispute deepens scrutiny of DNC leadership and finances, with reporting that the committee carried debt, faced pauses from major donors, and has had staff complaints about Martin’s conduct.
- Coverage differs by outlet but converges on the same facts: Rivera provided the chapter to The New York Times, the DNC denies receipt, and the fight could complicate the party’s effort to use its autopsy to guide reforms before the 2026 midterms.