“To some degree, it matters who’s in office, but it matters more how much pressure they’re under from the public.”

Simplified Meaning:

The quote is saying that while it's important who our leaders are, what's more important is how much we, the people, hold them accountable. Imagine you are part of a sports team, and you have a coach. A good coach is important, but if the players push themselves hard and strive to improve, the team is more likely to win. Similarly, in government, if the public stays active, voices concerns, and demands action, leaders are more likely to make positive changes. For example, think about social movements in history, like the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. could influence change, but it was the large number of people who took part in protests and marches that really pressured the government to pass new laws. If everyone stayed silent, progress would have been much slower. So, if you want better decisions from your leaders, get involved. Vote, join community meetings, speak up about issues that matter to you. When many people do this, leaders feel the need to respond to public demands. This way, we can all help make sure our leaders do their job well.