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Socialism

My New USA Today Article On Dangerous Similarities Between "Democratic Socialists" and MAGA Nationalists

Both seek sweeping government control over the economy, thereby imperiling liberty, prosperity, and democracy.

Ilya Somin | 9.3.2026 10:24 AM

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USA Today just published my op ed entitled ""Democratic Socialists and MAGA Share a Dangerous Flaw." Here's an excerpt:

Beginning with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's election victory in 2025, democratic socialist candidates have won a string of major Democratic primaries – most recently Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon's upset U.S. Senate nomination win – and come close in several others. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has long been the most prominent self-proclaimed democratic socialist in national politics, and was the runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination in both 2016 and 2020.

Democratic socialism is a terrible ideology. If implemented, its agenda would cause grave harm and imperil democracy itself. And in seeking massive state control of the economy, today's socialists ironically have much in common with the MAGA nationalists they claim to oppose.

Both promote government control over the economy, and both paths undermine liberty,........

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