Can the Democratic Socialists of America win over voters?

Justin Webb (0:00)

A few years ago, it was a fringe organization, really, based in Washington, DC. It is now very much front and center of a movement that's turning the Democratic Party on its head, or at least wants to. So who are the Democratic Socialists of America? Why are they gaining popularity right now? And could they one day end up taking over the Democratic Party? Welcome to Americast.

Sumi Somaskanda (0:24)

Americast from BBC News.

SPEAKER_3 (0:27)

Whatever you want to talk about, Abdul, keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth because she's way out of your league.

SPEAKER_4 (0:33)

The tide is coming. And this time, we intend to win it all.

SPEAKER_5 (0:39)

See, he doesn't want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar.

SPEAKER_6 (0:51)

When I'm not around, you're going to be broke.

SPEAKER_7 (0:53)

There's not going to be anybody to report on.

SPEAKER_3 (0:55)

Nobody gives a damn about anybody else.

Justin Webb (1:03)

Hello, it's Justin in the worldwide headquarters of Americast in London, England.

Sumi Somaskanda (1:07)

Hi, it's Sumi sitting in the Washington DC office.

Justin Webb (1:09)

And Sumi, we're going to talk about the Democratic Socialists of America today, who are such a renewed force, aren't they, in the nation's politics. And I've been talking to their national co-chair Ashik Siddique, fascinating conversation about, well, everything, really, the strategy, the policy positions, but also the recognition that they're not there yet when it comes to being genuinely popular across the whole nation, but how they might get there, how they might bring skeptical voters into the fold. But I'm right to say, aren't I, Sumi, that they really do matter more now, certainly than they have done in recent years.

Sumi Somaskanda (1:45)

Oh, yeah, we've seen a massive rise in the DSA. It's a fascinating conversation to look forward to hearing, Justin, because I'm really interested in to hear how they defend some of the policy positions that are seen as more extreme and how they see themselves aligning with the Democrats. But if we take a step back, who is the DSA? This is not a formal political party. They were founded in the 1980s, and it's a grassroots organization, has over 100,000 members, local chapters across all 50 states.

The organization has gained in prominence in recent years, and in particular with, of course, New York mayors, Zohran Mamdani, one of the big faces and voices of the DSA movement. We've gotten asked this question a few times on this podcast, Justin, how can the DSA vote as Democrats or represent as Democrats? That's because, as I said, they're not their own political party. They are a wing of the Democratic Party. And because of that, they can be on the ticket as a Democrat as they have been. But it's not just Zohran Mamdani, it's people like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It's some of the up and coming figures. Somebody like Angie Nixon in Florida, who's now the Democrats Senate candidate there. And I mean, a Senate candidate in Florida who's a Democratic Socialist is pretty astonishing. So I think, Justin, that tells you all you need to know about how this organization has really risen through the ranks in the last few years.

Justin Webb (3:13)

Yeah, they're really going great guns, aren't they? And built really around the Mamdani win, I suppose, initially. But actually, it is much wider than that. It's also worth saying, isn't it, that the fact that they have come to prominence now has also brought to prominence the various reasons why a lot of Americans would say, well, hang on a second, they may have an appeal to some, but they ain't never going to be a majority by any stretch of the imagination, even of the Democratic Party. You look back to this candidate they had for, it was the governor's race, wasn't it? Wisconsin, Francesca Hong, who didn't like Thanksgiving. I've forgotten the whole list of things she didn't like. There were all sorts of things about her that I think for a lot of Americans brought to the fore what they would regard as the weirdness of this movement and how un-American in their view it is. The Thanksgiving thing, you just thought you could see, couldn't you?

In party headquarters across the country, people are raising their eyebrows, if not banging their heads on the table.

SPEAKER_7 (4:21)

There was a post from you in 2021 where you said Americans should cancel Thanksgiving, should have done this in 1621

The post has been deleted, Republicans have been highlighting it. Do you still believe that Thanksgiving should be canceled?