#1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare

**Air Date: 7/18/2026** *Today we examine recent primary elections and how the political smear of crying 'socialism' has been dusted off and aimed at a new generation of candidates. What's changed is that the people being smeared are actually winning elections, and the more the establishment called them dangerous, the stronger their numbers got.* Full Show Notes Transcript **Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com** **BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)** **Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!** **Join our Discord community!** * * * **TOP TAKES** KP 1: The Red Scare Returns Trump Is Calling Us Communists - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 7-8-26 KP 2: Brooks and Capehart on What's Next for Democrats in the Maine Senate Race - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 7-10-26 KP 3: Why Dems Like Him Are Crashing Out Right Now with Jeet Heer Part 1 - The Majority Report - Air Dat 7-3-26 KP 4: A Progressive Compact for America Part 1 - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 6-20-26 KP 5: Democratic Socialist Electoral Victories and the Implications for American Politics Part 1 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 7-12-26 KP 6: Unsticking Congress with Maya Kornberg Part 1 - Future Hindsight - Air Date 5-7-26 * * * **(00:48:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR** The Democrats Are Losing Because They Chose Wall St. Over Workers My commentaries on YouTube - Share them! * * * **DEEPER DIVES** **(00:59:58) SECTION A: WHO THEY ARE** A1: Can a Democratic Socialist Win in a Swing State This Progressive in Wisconsin Thinks so - MS Now Reports - Air Date 7-8-26 A2: Stop Trump's Project 2025 Scheme to Kill Science; Guest Dr. Colette Delawalla of Stand Up for Science Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-24-26 A3: How Colorado Spooked the Establishment with David Sirota - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-4-26 A4: Primary Fights - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 6-4-26 A5: How Colorado Spooked the Establishment with David Sirota Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-4-26 A6: Stop Trump's Project 2025 Scheme to Kill Science; Guest Dr. Colette Delawalla of Stand Up for Science Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-24-26 A7: Why Dems Like Him Are Crashing Out Right Now with Jeet Heer Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Dat 7-3-26 * * * **(02:00:45) SECTION B: WHAT THEY BELIEVE** B1: The Socialists Are Coming! Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-26 B2: DSA & Justice Democrats on Changing the Democratic Party, Mamdani, Gaza & More - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-10-26 B3: The Socialists Are Coming! Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-26 B4: Trump's America250 Spectacle, the SSPX Schism, and the Rise of Democratic Socialists - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-3-24 * * * **(02:27:27) SECTION C: MONEY, POWER, AND THE RECKONING** C1: A Progressive Compact for America Part 2 - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 6-20-26 C2: Seth Stern on Criminalizing Dissent - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-26-26 C3: Unsticking Congress with Maya Kornberg Part 2 - Future Hindsight - Air Date 5-7-26 * * * **(02:57:37) SECTION D: CRITIQUES AND THE PATH FORWARD** D1: Why I Left the (White) Left Part 1 - Signified B Sides - Air Date 6-2-26 D2: Democratic Socialist Electoral Victories and the Implications for American Politics Part 2 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 7-12-26 D3: A Joy Reid Rant Democrats Want Obedience; We Need Justice Part 1 - The Joy Reid Show - Air Date 7-12-26 D4: Why I Left the (White) Left Part 2 - Signified B Sides - Air Date 6-2-26 D5: Why the Center Left Is Losing, the Squad Vs. the Median Voter, and How Patriotism Wins Elections Part 1 - The Good Fight - Air Date 6-27-26 D6: A Joy Reid Rant Democrats Want Obedience; We Need Justice Part 2 - The Joy Reid Show - Air Date 7-12-26 D7: Why the Center Left Is Losing, the Squad Vs. the Median Voter, and How Patriotism Wins Elections Part 2 - The Good Fight - Air Date 6-27-26 * * *   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com