Episode Details

Steve Gruber welcomes Chris Talgo, Socialism Research Fellow at The Heartland Institute, to break down a stunning new data point: 52% of young voters now hold a favorable view of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. Talgo and Steve dig into what’s driving this surge in support for openly socialist candidates, from cultural shifts and failing civic education, to the power of social media narratives and the GOP’s struggle to connect with younger Americans. They unpack what Mamdani represents politically, why New York voters embraced him, and what this trend says about the future of the Democratic Party and the ideological fault lines shaping the next generation. A sharp, eye-opening conversation about why socialism keeps gaining ground, and what conservatives must understand if they want to push back.