What Drives Urban Democrats to Elect Socialist Candidates?

During this edition, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie welcome a special guest, Kate Andrews, a political columnist for The Washington Post, to analyze how governance in large urban centers is evolving within Democratic-leaning cities. They explore why politicians with tight links to organized labor and socialist platforms — such as New York City’s Zohran Mamdani and Seattle’s Katie Wilson — continue to triumph in major metropolitan areas even as housing costs rise and residents relocate. The panel also weighs whether these outcomes reflect voter preferences, a lack of viable alternatives, or a broader breakdown of reform-minded factions on the left.

Shifting focus to international events, the conversation turns to Iran, where President Donald Trump has unveiled “Project Freedom,” a strategy for the U.S. Navy to escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions and ambiguity about how the conflict might unfold. They analyze the economic stakes, political repercussions, and what the absence of a decisive resolution implies for the long-term direction of American foreign policy. The dialogue then moves to King Charles’ visit to the United States and what it reveals about political culture, symbolism, and leadership on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally, a listener asks why voters continue to reward politicians who pander and whether meaningful reform is possible within the current electoral system.

0:00—Why voters in big cities keep backing socialist candidates
23:01—The Strait of Hormuz and “Project Freedom”
36:35—Listener question about voter behavior
45:34—King Charles’ visit to the U.S.
53:03—Gillespie’s interview with Justice Neil Gorsuch
57:08—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

“Seattle’s Socialist Mayor Laughs at Wealthy Residents Leaving To Escape High Taxes,” by J.D. Tuccille
“Project Freedom,” by Liz Wolfe
“Justice Neil Gorsuch: ‘Aspirations for Power Need To Be Checked’,” by Nick Gillespie
“Prison Doesn’t Work the Way You Think,” by Billy Binion
“Is The Devil Wears Prada 2 the Great Millennial Journalism Movie?” by Peter Suderman