Furious progressives swarm Schumer's job as Democratic leader

• National progressive groups floated Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) as a possible Schumer replacement late last week.
• Van Hollen isn't pursuing Schumer's job, a source familiar told Axios, but he does want a "serious discussion on how to more effectively fight back" against President Trump.

Between the lines: Van Hollen has quietly been building his national profile, and some progressives want him to run for president. Progressives say they are open to other leadership hopefuls.

• Talking points privately circulated by the progressive groups last week argued Van Hollen is "uniquely prepared for this moment."
• Van Hollen spoke at a private gathering of national Indivisible leaders in Washington in June, a source said — a sign he has higher ambitions.

The big picture: "There's no expectation that Democratic senators call the question on Schumer right now," Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told Axios today.

• "The conversation is started, the conversation is legitimized and the conversation is moving forward, and the last people to accept the point will be those closest to Chuck Schumer, including some of his fellow senators," Green said.

• Green pointed to Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), both of whom have steered clear of Schumer criticism following the end of the shutdown.

The bottom line: Green likened the current moment to when figures like Ezra Klein and Jon Stewart got "the conversation going about [former President Biden's] suitability to be the standard-bearer as president."