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Are The Democratic Socialists Winning or Losing?

Aug 13, 2026 · 29m

Summary

Chief Political Analyst Nate Cohn analyzes recent Democratic primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin, where progressive candidates narrowly won or lost against establishment rivals. He explains that the progressive left is gaining ground by mobilizing young voters and mainstream liberals, though they struggle with older, high-income, and Black voters. Cohn argues that while this coalition can win primaries, it faces significant hurdles in general elections without broadening its appeal beyond its current base.

Topics discussed

Intro: Mixed results for progressive left in MI and WI primaries Defining the new progressive left and their recent competitiveness Analysis of the Michigan and Wisconsin primary races Demographic divides: Age, income, and race in primary voting How the progressive coalition has shifted since 2016 Economic populism vs. culture war issues in messaging Can the progressive coalition win a general election? Future of the Democratic Party and potential socialist influence Voter perspectives from Wisconsin on the primary results Outro: Trump admin stun gloves and episode credits
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