Woke has faded away — but what’s emerging from its remains should alarm every American

Shift in Democratic Politics

Christopher Rufo, a host on Blaze TV, asserts that the Democratic Party’s traditional platform, characterized by “woke” politics, is giving way to a more extreme faction: hard-line socialists and proponents of Third Worldism.

Recently, three candidates backed by Zoran Mamdani—Claire Valdez (7th New York), Daliaza Avila Chevalier (13th New York), and Brad Lander (10th New York)—successfully defeated established Democratic incumbents in primaries, illustrating a significant shift within the party.

Rufo remarks, “The Democratic establishment is utterly fragmented, weak, and lacks power.” He notes that, over the past year in New York, there has been an effort to promote moderate candidates. However, he believes it’s the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) that are effectively in charge.

He elaborates, stating, “They dominate the city government, hold sway over the New York City Council, and have built a lasting framework for their influence.” Rufo posits that calling it the “Democratic Establishment” has become a misnomer, arguing that the DSA has morphed into a true establishment force, focusing on full-time activism and strategic messaging.

His co-host, Jonathan Kiemann, disagrees with framing the struggle as a conflict between the old establishment and the DSA. He suggests that a “lack of leadership” on the left has led to the DSA effectively “colonizing” the remnants of the traditional Democratic Party.

Rather starkly, he describes the Democratic Party as “a ship without a rudder.” Rufo concurs, believing the more radical factions within the party now wield substantial momentum, likely leading to transformative changes from within.

Although he acknowledges that the DSA’s influence is largely contained within deeply liberal regions—like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco—he finds their capacity to infiltrate and manipulate larger political structures troubling.

“Expect to see many of the DSA’s ideas gradually infiltrate the party,” Rufo warns, adding that these activists will leverage their influence and charisma to reshape the Democratic landscape.

This raises concerns for Rufo, as he sees these shifts rooted more in Third Worldism than in woke ideals. He describes this as a “serious threat to life, liberty, and property.”

He concludes by stating that the left has moved away from narratives focused on oppression and now promotes a more aggressive political ideology that includes radical ideas like property seizure.