Last month, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a 28-year-old Democratic Socialist, beat Joe Crowley, a ten-term establishment Democrat in New York’s primary election. Is there room for Democratic Socialists who support progressive policies in the Democratic Party?
Ocasio Cortez’s win has emboldened progressive candidates around the country running for office on a similar platform, which includes sweeping changes on climate justice, tuition free college, and healthcare for all. Is it possible to change the corporate wing of Democratic Party from within?
Guests:
Kate Aronoff, contributor to The Intercept and writing fellow at In These Times covering climate change and politics
Norman Solomon, writer, activist, national coordinator of RootsAction.org, and author of a dozen books including War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death
Web Resources:
The Intercept: Young Leftist Candidates Are Breathing New Radicalism Into Stale Climate Politics
Common Dreams: What Joe Crowley’s Defeat Has to Do With Democratic Party 'Superdelegates'
GOOD: The Rise Of America’s Democratic Socialists
This American Life: It's My Party and I'll Try If I Want To