What Happened to the Populist Left?
Photo by Parker Johnson on Unsplash
Author: Dan Sally
Published: 13 Jan, 2025
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Updated: 18 Jun, 2025●
1 min read
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, left-wing populism surged with movements like Occupy Wall Street and figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Yet, while the MAGA wing fuels right-wing populism’s dominance in the GOP, the populist left has seemingly lost its momentum.
Why?
In this episode, Dan speaks with Jack Eckblad, Milwaukee County Commissioner and progressive organizer, to unpack the Democrats' struggles to connect with voters in key states like Wisconsin. They explore how the party’s nomination process—not its grassroots energy—has held back the populist left and how this impacted the 2024 election.
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