The Democrats Surrendered
A commentary on the current state of the Democratic Party from a midwestern democrat.
The Democrats Surrendered
The Democrats Surrendered Zohran Mamdani
What happens when the Democratic Party that champions democracy can't handle democratic outcomes? Zoran Mondani's grassroots victory has triggered not celebration but suspicion among Democratic powerbrokers, revealing a party in crisis – caught between its progressive base and establishment fears.
Edward Williams takes you deep into this contradiction, examining how the same Democrats who chant "vote blue no matter who" suddenly fall silent when voters choose someone outside their comfort zone. From lukewarm acknowledgments by Hakeem Jeffries to Lawrence Summers calling Mondani's agenda "profoundly alarming," the establishment response follows a familiar playbook: caution, criticism, and quiet undermining of their own democratically chosen candidate.
The controversy surrounding phrases like "globalize the intifada" serves as a perfect case study in political courage versus convenience. Without evidence that Mondani ever used this phrase, critics demand denunciations while ignoring the larger context. Meanwhile, polling shows younger Democrats have dramatically shifted on issues like Israel-Palestine, demanding justice alongside peace – a reality the establishment seems determined to ignore.
This episode doesn't just analyze a single campaign but examines a critical crossroads for Democratic politics. Will the party continue surrendering to donor interests and outdated strategies, or embrace the courage shown by leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who stand by Mondani? The answer matters not just for New York City but for progressive politics nationwide.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode to support voices that speak truth to power. Remember – the path forward requires standing firmly on the right side of history, even when that means challenging your own party's leadership.
Welcome to the Democrat Surrendered, the podcast that exposes the cracks in a party that's forgotten how to lead. I'm your host, edward Williams. Today, we're talking about what happens when someone outside the comfort zone of the Democratic leadership wins. When someone the donors don't like starts gaining real traction, when a candidate who doesn't play the game starts reshaping it. That someone is Zoran Mondani, and when he won, the Democrats who love to say vote blue, no matter who, suddenly became quiet, because when it's Zoran Mondani, the same Democrats who shout about the will of the people call that will the wrong choice. This episode is titled the Democrats Surrendered Zoran Mandani.
Speaker 1:Zoran Mandani won. He ran a people-powered campaign with progressive values, grassroots energy and bold policy ideas, and he won. But instead of a celebration, what he got was silence and suspicion, because for Democratic leadership, his win wasn't a cause for unity. It was a cause for concern. Why? Because he represents something they can't control, and so the establishment's response has followed a now familiar playbook Caution, criticism and quiet efforts to undermine. Let's break this down clearly.
Speaker 1:Here's how the Democratic power brokers at every level are handling Mondani's rise. Leaders like Kathy Holko and Hakeem Jeffries offered faint praise for Mondani's campaign energy. They mentioned affordability. They nodded at his organizing, but they stopped short of endorsing his platform. But they stopped short of endorsing his platform. Centrist voices like Third Way and economist Lawrence Summers have sounded the alarm. They warned that Mondani's platform could devastate the party nationally by pulling the conversation too far left. Summers even called his agenda profoundly alarming, focusing more on the fears of market reaction than on the movement of people. Rep Lauren Gillen flat out called him the wrong choice. She cited concerns about anti-Semitism, radical ideas and unrealistic promises. Other figures like Tom Susie and Dan Goldman took a more diplomatic tone, distancing themselves publicly while urging Mandani to prove he can reassure Jewish voters.
Speaker 1:But not everyone is running scared. While urging Mondani to prove he can reassure Jewish voters, but not everyone is running scared. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez they're not just standing by Mondani, they're holding him up as the future. Bernie rebuked the panic. He called Mondani a model for democratic courage, a wake-up call for a party stuck in fear. He said we need Democrats willing to tackle moral and economic crises head-on. Zoran is doing that.
Speaker 1:Now let's talk about the elephant in the room, the phrase globalize the Inatata. It's controversial, it's charged and it's become a test of political backbone. There is no evidence that Zoran Mandani ever used that phrase, but that hasn't stopped critics from demanding he denounce it. So far he hasn't, and for some that's a problem. But I'm going to tell you why he's handling this the right way, not just politically, but morally. Reason one New York needs a mayor who won't fold. This is a city that tests leaders, that demands toughness, not just in action but in conviction. People thought Eric Adams was that kind of leader until he bent the knee to Donald Trump to save his own skin from legal trouble. Since then, adams' image has crumbled. Mondani he's showing that he won't be bullied by headlines or forced into soundbites. He's taking heat, yes, but he's holding the line, and that's what leadership under pressure looks like. Reason two the Democratic base has changed, and Mondani knows it.
Speaker 1:Polling shows that most Democrats, especially younger voters, have shifted. They're not lining up behind blind support for Israel anymore. They're asking harder questions. They're demanding justice for Palestinians. To many of these voters, globalizing the infatada doesn't mean violence. It means uprising, shaking off oppression, demanding dignity. Yes, the second infatata was violent, but the first it was largely civil disobedience Boycotts, strikes, marches, just like the American Civil Rights Movement. It's time to understand that for some this phrase represents terror, but for others it represents survival. Unless we understand both meanings, we can't have a real conversation about peace or about justice.
Speaker 1:Zoran Mandani is not a threat to democracy. He is a threat to the machine, to tired strategies, to donor-friendly Democrats who claim to fight for the people but cower when the people actually fight back. He's not the party's wrong choice. He's what happens when voters make a choice that the party didn't pre-approve. The Democrats surrendered their leadership the moment. They began fearing candidates like Mondani more than they fear Republicans who threaten our rights every single day. But here's the good news it's not too late to choose courage to support leaders who don't speak in platitudes but act with purpose. The question is will the party meet this moment or will it keep surrendering? Thanks for listening to the Democrat Surrendered. I'm Edward Williams. If this episode resonated with you, share it. Let the people know what real leadership looks like and how it's being silenced. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and remember we don't need permission to speak truth to power. Until next time, stay focused, stay fearless and never apologize for standing on the right side of history. Thank you.