What does it mean to be a democratic socialist?

A condensed version of my op-ed column appears in today’s Morning Call newspaper in Allentown, PA.

Opinion: What does it mean to be a democratic socialist?

https://www.mcall.com/2026/07/29/opinion-what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-democratic-socialist/

A recent poll ahead of the 2026 midterms found voters describing Democrats as “out of touch” and “weak.” How is the party’s ground game shaping up in Pennsylvania?

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals a growing divide between Democratic voters and party leaders, with nearly two-thirds calling for new leadership.

According to Politico, DNC members have described chairman Martin as “weak,” “whiny,” and “invisible,” underscoring the mounting frustration within the party.

Amid an identity crisis, the party’s approval ratings have taken a nosedive. Recent CNN and NBC polls show Democratic favorability slipping below 30%, with no obvious frontrunner for 2028.

Frustrated voters aren’t mincing words: “The leadership is disconnected,” a strategist told Reuters. “The base is raising concerns, but no one at the top appears to be paying attention.”

Lower-level DNC staff are buzzing with rumors about the party’s future, including talk of impeaching Chair Ken Martin and whispers of a potential Social Democrat coup d’état.

Last Sunday, The New York Times published a blistering piece on Ken Martin’s leadership, portraying it as a sinking ship steered by a paranoid, incompetent leader who yells at staff, slams his phone onto their desks, and mismanages finances, racking up $2 million in debt.

The piece also suggested that the Democratic Party is losing support for prioritizing billions in aid to Israeli Zionists over Americans.

In Michigan, tensions rose in the political arena when Governor Gretchen Whitmer and South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn threw their support behind Rep. Haley Stevens, a move that left many grassroots Democrats feeling uneasy.

Whitmer’s popularity took a nosedive for neither backing Abdul El-Sayed nor staying neutral in the primary, and for not speaking out against the influx of dark money, including over $50 million from AIPAC, into Rep. Stevens’ campaign.

Tensions between Democrats and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have erupted over which candidates will appear on the November ballot.

The dispute is shaping up like a political civil war, underscoring the ongoing shake-up within the Democratic Party.

The DNC has its fair share of flaws, such as being slow to take a firm stance against the rise of Trumpism and fascism and favoring corporate and wealthy donors over truly addressing the needs of its constituents.

The Democratic Party is nearing bankruptcy as voters become increasingly frustrated with contributing without seeing meaningful results or getting value for their support.

Rather than connecting with their supporters, the party leans heavily on mega donors, lobbyists, misguided strategists, and corporate sponsors to stay afloat, often operating behind closed doors with little trust, honesty, or transparency.

Without proper diligence, the DNC has backed campaigns like Rep. Stevens’, which have taken dark money without any accountability.

With November’s midterms on the horizon, uncertainty lingers over whether they’ll proceed as scheduled and be free and fair.

The Democratic Party appears to be clashing with both its donors and its voter base.

On the contrary, the GOP is shaping media narratives to align with fascist and white nationalist movements, while backing MAGA, the Epstein network, and Zionist lobbyists, fueling corruption, market manipulation, insider trading in the White House, authoritarianism, and increasing wealth and income inequality.

The disconnected Democrats turned their attention away from the working class, leaving them behind while counting on the Republicans and the chaotic, lawless leader Trump to implode, aiming to seize control of the Senate and the House.

Republicans appear to be shooting themselves in the foot, as anxiety grows in the White House over the possibility of both the House and Senate flipping to the Democrats.

Trump’s poll numbers are dropping, and there are hints of attempts to sabotage the election.

The DNC offices seem like a shrine to pro-Israel lobbying groups, with Zionist members of Congress stopping by during their campaigns to make fundraising calls.

It seems the DNC is confident it can win with a platform backing Wall Street, the military-industrial complex, billions in aid to Israel, and generous tax breaks for billionaires.

The DNC needs a major overhaul, and it’s time to call out strategists steering the party in the wrong direction, like James Carville with his ridiculous idea to just sit back and wait for the GOP to implode.

Young progressive Democrats like Mamdani and Dr. Abdul Al-Sayed are stepping up to take on entrenched corporate Democrats in the House, refusing to wait for change from the Party’s aging leadership under Hakim and Schumer.

They feel the country can’t wait for this kind of change. Our Republic has been overrun by Trump supporters, dismantling its core institutions, safety nets, and the rule of law. Our democracy is falling apart day by day.

Call on local Democratic Party leaders to push for genuine change, not hollow gestures. Let’s ignite a movement to replace the entrenched elite and build a nation that prioritizes the interests of Americans over those of Ukraine or Israel.

The Democratic Party has struggled to settle on a winning platform and agenda.

Over time, missteps, overconfidence, and a strong reliance on AIPAC funding and corporate-connected political and media consultants have put its chances in both the upcoming and 2028 elections at risk.

The Party of donkey has declined over the past eight years under genocide Joe, and it’s no surprise Kamala Harris lost. There’s still time to push for compliance with six federal laws allegedly being violated by unconditional weapons shipments to Israel’s war in Palestine.

The DNC feels like an impenetrable fortress, with a moat and a locked drawbridge, making it almost impossible to get inside and have a voice.

Change is coming, and it’s time to figure out your stance. Spot it early and decide, before it hits, which side of the fight you’re on.