DSA & Zohran Shock Dem Party Machine w/ Morris Katz | MR Live
YouTube · Hzw7iD8IAPk
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖DSA candidates Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darrelisa Chevalier achieved significant primary victories in New York, with Valdez winning by 21 points and Lander by 30 points.
- ❖Darrelisa Chevalier's four-point win against a 19-year incumbent and Hispanic Caucus chair, Adriano Espaillat, was particularly surprising, given his previous landslide general election victories.
- ❖These wins demonstrate the power of organized movements to mobilize voters, with Hasan Piker's audience alone contributing over 90,000 calls, translating to at least 2,000 votes for Chevalier.
- ❖The Democratic establishment's narrative that the left is an electoral liability was disproven, as candidates won on platforms like Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage, and ending U.S. funding for Israel, which are broadly popular.
- ❖Morris Katz, a political strategist for Zohran Mamdani, emphasized that these victories reflect a 'hunger for a different kind of politics' that fights the status quo and addresses structural problems, rather than just opposing Donald Trump.
- ❖The host and guest criticized the establishment's 'blame the voters' response and their perceived disconnect from the economic realities faced by working people.
- ❖The issue of Israel-Palestine played a significant role, particularly in Brad Lander's victory in the 'most Jewish district in the country,' indicating that a critical stance on Israel does not equate to anti-Semitism for many voters.
Insights
1DSA's Decisive Primary Victories in New York
DSA-backed candidates achieved significant wins across New York City. Claire Valdez defeated mainstream progressive Antonio Reynoso by 21 points in the 7th District. Brad Lander won by 30 points against a sitting congressperson in the 10th District, a race heavily influenced by the Israel-AIPAC debate. Darrelisa Chevalier unseated 19-year incumbent and Hispanic Caucus chair Adriano Espaillat by four points in District 13, a result that surprised many.
Valdez won by 21 points (), Lander by 30 points (), Chevalier by four points () against Espaillat, who previously won general elections by 81-90% ().
2Disproving Establishment Narratives and Mobilizing Voters
These victories directly challenged the Democratic establishment's assumptions that young people wouldn't turn out, that money coalitions were unique, or that incumbents were safe. The wins were driven by a highly organized, mobilized movement. For example, Hasan Piker's audience made 90,000 calls, contributing at least 2,000 votes to Chevalier's narrow victory.
Morris Katz states that 'every pundit had kind of captured every single thing there was to say of, 'Oh, young people aren't going to turn out... incumbents aren't popular.' Um all of that being disproven' (). Hasan Piker's audience made 90,000 calls, translating to at least 2,000 votes ().
3The 'Smell Test' of Political Trust and Spending Priorities
The guest, Morris Katz, articulated that voters apply a 'smell test' to politicians. If elected officials are willing to turn a blind eye to issues like Palestinian liberation, or fund foreign conflicts while claiming no money for domestic needs like affordable housing or healthcare, it erodes trust and credibility on all other issues. This disconnect fuels voter anger and drives support for candidates who openly challenge these priorities.
Katz explains, 'If you're willing to sell anyone out... it doesn't pass the smell test. You're willing to turn a blind eye to this... and also there's not money for any of the things that make my life better, but there's money for this. It doesn't pass the smell test.' ().
4Democratic Establishment's Incompetent and Disconnected Response
The host and guest heavily criticized the Democratic establishment's reaction to the progressive wins, characterizing it as 'blaming the voters' and demonstrating a deep disconnect from the electorate's concerns. Figures like Jamie Harrison (former DNC chair) issued tweets demanding loyalty to the party rather than acknowledging the desire for policy outcomes, revealing an ossified, ideology-driven resistance to change.
Sam Seder notes that the establishment was 'completely blindsided' (). Jamie Harrison's tweet: 'If you hate the Democratic Party, then please don't run for our nomination.' (). Seder calls this 'juvenile' and 'bizarre,' highlighting Harrison's past as a lobbyist for corporate interests ().
Bottom Line
The 'consultant industrial complex' within the Democratic Party often imposes an ideology that prioritizes profit and maintaining the status quo over electoral success, even when data (e.g., Bernie Sanders' popularity) suggests otherwise.
This creates a self-serving ecosystem where consultants advise against popular progressive positions, perpetuating a 'blob Democrats in the middle' who take up space with unpopular stances, hindering the party's ability to connect with voters.
Progressive campaigns should actively challenge this complex by investing in field organizing over traditional paid media, aligning messaging with on-the-ground activism, and demonstrating that a clear, populist agenda is a winning strategy, not a liability.
Lessons
- Prioritize grassroots organizing and direct voter engagement: The DSA's success underscores that consistent door-knocking, phone banking, and community presence are more impactful than traditional, expensive media campaigns.
- Develop a clear, populist agenda that addresses structural problems: Focus on tangible issues like affordable housing, universal healthcare, and fighting corruption, rather than solely framing the opposition as Donald Trump.
- Challenge establishment narratives and 'smell tests': Be explicit about how political spending and policy decisions impact everyday people, especially when funding foreign conflicts over domestic needs, to build trust with voters.
- Embrace new voices and expand the 'tent' of the party: Recognize that insurgent candidates and movements can bring in new voters and strengthen the party, rather than viewing them as threats to be appeased or exiled.
Progressive Electoral Victory Playbook
**Build a Movement, Not Just a Campaign:** Emphasize robust field organizing, door-knocking, and phone banking to create a visible, credible presence that matches campaign messaging.
**Articulate a Clear, Populist Economic Agenda:** Focus on issues like raising the minimum wage, universal healthcare, affordable housing, and fighting corporate influence, which resonate broadly across diverse demographics.
**Challenge the Status Quo and Establish Trust:** Be unafraid to call out systemic issues (e.g., 'genocide,' 'corruption,' 'dark money') and demonstrate consistency between rhetoric and action, passing the 'smell test' for voters.
**Leverage Popular Messengers and Digital Mobilization:** Utilize influential figures (like Zohran Mamdani or Hasan Piker) and digital platforms to amplify calls to action and mobilize large volunteer bases for direct voter contact.
Notable Moments
Sam Seder sarcastically addresses the 'scary time for Jews' narrative after the election results, highlighting the absurdity of claiming a Jewish candidate's victory in a Jewish district is anti-Semitic.
This moment underscores the podcast's critique of how criticisms of Israel are often weaponized to dismiss progressive political movements, even when those movements are led by or supported by Jewish individuals.
Zohran Mamdani's victory speech at Claire Valdez's party, where he declares, 'Tonight, we use the language of fact,' celebrating the wins and crediting the volunteers for proving that the movement was 'the beginning,' not the end.
This speech encapsulates the triumphant mood and the belief that these victories are not isolated incidents but a continuation and acceleration of a growing progressive political force.
Quotes
"I cannot tell you how absurdly laughable that is. Just absurdly laughable. This is Michael Cohen... He writes, 'This is genuinely a scary night for New York City Jews.' I honestly like I I cannot tell you how cuz I think he's sincere. I cannot tell you... in my layperson's opinion he is demented."
"What you all have shown this evening, whether for State Assembly, State Senate, or Congress, is that a year ago, it was not the end of a political movement. It was the beginning."
"I think what you're saying what you saw in New York and across the country is just this immense immense hunger to change that and to fight not just Donald Trump, but to fight everything and captured by that status quo."
"If you hate the Democratic Party, then please don't run for our nomination. Don't use our resources. Don't rely on our volunteers. Don't use our infrastructure. Don't ask Democrats to invest their time, money, and energy in your campaign."
"The American left, including the left wing of the Democratic Party, currently embracing an orgy of virulent anti-Semitism."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
Secret Podcast Preview: The Last Temptation of Sarah Longwell
"Sarah Longwell and JVL delve into Pete Buttigieg's evolving political philosophy and critically analyze a viral tweet about Democratic election lessons, revealing their differing views on institutional reform and voter sentiment."
GOP Plots New Trump Supreme Court Pick Before Midterms | Elie Mystal | TMR
"Elie Mystal and Sam Seder discuss the Republican strategy to pressure Justice Samuel Alito into retiring before the midterms to allow Donald Trump to appoint a new, younger conservative justice, and the origins of the Supreme Court's 'shadow docket'."
NC Early Voting Push. Cancer Alley Win. NFL Shuts Out Black Coaches.Trump Nominee’s “White Identity”
"Roland Martin Unfiltered dissects systemic racism in politics, sports, and environmental justice, revealing how Black communities are fighting back against gerrymandering, corporate exploitation, and hiring discrimination."
Contested Primary Elections. Facebook Marketplace Shooting. Hey Black Girl Affirmations#TheBreakdown
"This episode explores a Georgia lawsuit challenging a new election law, highlights a community-driven real estate project building Black wealth, and features initiatives empowering Black women and girls."