Have Socialists Drifted Away from Wokeness?

This week, the editorial team discusses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s confession that “Woke 1 was crazy” and whether the DSA’s renewed focus on affordability signals a genuine break from the politics seen in 2020. They explore whether progressives have truly moved past the pandemic-era excesses, whether the DSA’s economic program is more workable, and why affordability has become such a powerful message on the left.

The crew also looks at how rising living costs are fueling disputes on the right, from online chatter about $20 burritos to broader disagreements over tariffs, immigration, and the Iran situation. They consider the latest move by Trump to end birthright citizenship and what the Cambridge University plagiarism controversy involving Jason Arday reveals about the persistent ideological tensions within academia. Lastly, a listener question considers whether massive CEO compensation and widespread layoffs weaken the case for capitalism.

 

0:00—Ocasio-Cortez says “Woke 1 was crazy”

15:19—Conservatives argue about the burrito price tag

28:49—Trump’s birthright citizenship executive action

33:12—Listener question about capitalism

46:08—Arday controversy and resignation

55:54—Weekly cultural picks

 

Upcoming events:

In New York City on Tuesday, August 11, an event features a discussion of THC, INC. Attendance is free but seats must be reserved in advance.

 

Mentioned in the podcast:

“The Socialist Surge Revives Failed and Hateful Ideas,”

“The ‘Affordability’ Agenda That Taxes Your Dinner,”

“Can You Imagine a Future Where Adults Don’t Believe in Socialism?”

“Socialist Moment,”

“Abdul El-Sayed Says He’s Not a Socialist. His Policy Agenda Says Otherwise,”

“Socialists Are Trying To Take Hold of the Democratic Party—and They’re Winning,”

“The GOP Is Warning About Socialism While Quietly Embracing It,”

“Francesca Hong’s Hateful Holidays, Burrito Prices, and Woke 1.0,”

“A Burrito Costs How Much?”

“A Viral Tweet Set Off a Discourse on $20 Burritos. Here’s the Truth About Inflation,”

“Trump’s New Birthright Citizenship Executive Orders Are Mostly Theater,”

“Trump Issues Another Unconstitutional Executive Order Targeting Birthright Citizenship,”

“The Trump Administration Promises the ‘Largest Denaturalization Effort Ever,'”

“Rethinking the Social Responsibility of Business,”

“Milton Friedman Accused of Making Corporations Greedy,”

“Phil Magness: Holding Leftists and Libertarians Accountable,”

“The 1619 Project Unrepentantly Pushes Junk History,”

“What The New York Times‘ 1619 Project Gets Wrong About Capitalism: Phillip Magness,”

“One Night Only Is a Rare Rom-Com About Regulation,”

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