Podcast Summary: “Meet the Socialist Socialites”

Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning with Sasha Stone
Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In “Meet the Socialist Socialites,” Sasha Stone examines a seismic shift within the Democratic Party: the mainstreaming of Democratic Socialism, embodied by NYC mayoral candidate Zorhan Mamdani. Stone dissects both the policy and the cultural-historical factors behind this shift, offering critiques of a party she views as disconnected from its working-class roots. The episode weaves together personal anecdotes, commentary on elite virtue-signaling, and broader warnings about the dangers of binary ideological thinking, invoking Orwell’s Animal Farm as a cautionary tale.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Rise of Democratic Socialism in the Democratic Party

• Establishment Anxiety:
  • Sasha opens by dramatizing establishment Democrats (e.g., Hillary Clinton, Neera Tanden, Huma Abedin) resigning themselves to “kissing Mamdani’s ring.”
  • She notes the party’s shift, recalling past hostility to socialism and now its reluctant embrace (00:00-01:24).
  • “Once upon a time, that was their worst nightmare. Now it’s their inevitable reality.” (00:13, Sasha Stone)

2. From “Hillarycrats” vs. “Bernie Bros” to Socialist Socialites

• Reminiscing on the heated 2016 Democratic primary, Sasha highlights the generational split and the fears of “democratic socialism” pulling the party too far left.
• “We wanted to smash the patriarchy. They wanted to smash the oligarchy.” (01:35, Sasha Stone)
• Skepticism remains: “Not only doesn’t communism sell, but it doesn’t work.” (02:08, Sasha Stone)
• The party is now “out of moves”—need to appear unified, even if discontent brews privately (02:40).

3. Woke Socialism — Culture, Status, and Social Media

• Mamdani is described as “the perfect love child” of AOC and Bernie Sanders (03:20).
• Stone highlights the emergence of the “poser class”—affluent progressives seeking social credit for their activism, especially on social media.
  • Peter Savodnik: “This is the opposite of the so-called invisible majority. This is the poser class.” (03:53, quoted by Sasha)
• Sasha comments on “socialist socialite” voting as a new form of “pretty girl cred” and virtue-signaling (04:37).

4. Identity, Virtue, and Elite Consumption

• Contrasts between calls to “Tax the rich” and the performative, wealthy “Woketopians” at events like Vogue World and the Met Gala.
  • “How to reflect social justice while luxuriating in extreme wealth? Just chant ‘Tax the rich.’” (06:30, Sasha Stone)
• Argues AOC abandoned her “working class cred” for establishment validation (06:45).

5. Populism, Binary Thinking, and Dangers of Absolutism

• AOC’s rally speech (08:06–11:47) presented as ‘us vs. them’ populism; cast as both a call for inclusive unity and a rallying cry against “authoritarian criminal presidency” and “right-wing extremists.”
  • Notable quote:
    “We welcome people of all religions, faiths and creeds. We honor all genders, races, orientations and status. And here we defend immigrants. We are a working people's borough in a working people’s city. And all of that makes us us, a fascist’s worst nightmare.” (08:11, AOC)
• Stone counters, arguing this is now a party of the “wealth and the ruling class,” papering over contradictions with identity politics (11:47–14:54).

6. Class, Status, and the Managerial Class Pretending to be Revolutionaries

• Matt Taibbi and Walter Kern appear (America This Week, 12:03–14:54), expressing disbelief that the modern Democratic party—once rooted in unions and working-class struggles—now belongs to the “managerial class”:
  • “This is the managerial class pretending to be the revolutionary class.” (14:54, Kern as quoted by Stone)
• The party’s obsession with race/gender is seen as a buffer to allow immense wealth among the elite (15:00).

7. Critiques of Mamdani and ‘Protective Status’

• Dave Portnoy (Barstool Sports) criticizes Mamdani and the supporters:
  • “Who are these kids who are voting for him? He’s 33, he’s never had a real job. The people voting for him have never had a real job...he's openly saying he hates America in the capitalist way and wants to change the whole thing.” (16:00)
• Stone asserts that Mamdani’s identity shields him from criticism, likening his appeal to the hope kindled by Barack Obama (16:46).

8. Mamdani’s Response & Allegations

• Mamdani gives a personal speech about Muslim identity and post-9/11 indignities (17:30–20:31), powerfully framing himself as a champion for the marginalized.
• Detractor (unidentified) lays out damning allegations, accusing Mamdani of once supporting the “Holy Land Five” (tied to Hamas) and refusing to condemn Hamas, warning of “totalitarianism” in the guise of “liberation.”
  • “What ends in totalitarianism starts at its core. And what is at the core of totalitarianism? It’s absolutism…It is a binary. Oppressed and oppressor. What does that lead to? Calling for the elimination of the oppressor.” (22:59)

9. Personal Reflections & Cautionary Parallels

• Sasha shares memories of life under Soviet socialism:
  • “My core childhood memory was going after school and standing in a long line...” (23:59)
• She connects today’s left-wing identity obsession to Soviet “protective status” and mob mentality, arguing dissent is met with accusations of bigotry.

10. “Woke Socialism” as Utopia and the American Left’s Dilemma

• Parallels with the American Civil War:
  • The left’s efforts to maintain its ideological utopia echo the South’s refusal to abandon slavery, both creating hierarchies counter to American ideals (26:35).
  • “Just as the south was a contradiction to America’s foundational principles...so too are today’s Democrats a contradiction to America’s promise that class no longer decides success.” (27:45)

11. Animal Farm & The Inevitability of Betrayed Revolutions

• Concluding with Taibbi and Kern on Animal Farm—all idealistic revolutions are ultimately subverted by human nature and new hierarchies:
  • “It is human nature that ultimately upends utopia. Sooner or later the powerful take control anyway. Because all animals might be equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” (31:32, Sasha referencing Orwell & Taibbi)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Sasha Stone:
  • “We wanted to smash the patriarchy. They wanted to smash the oligarchy.” (01:35)
  • “Not only doesn’t communism sell, but it doesn’t work.” (02:08)
  • “How to reflect social justice while luxuriating in extreme wealth? Just chant ‘Tax the rich.’” (06:30)
• AOC:
  • “We are a working people's borough in a working people's city. And all of that makes us us, a fascist's worst nightmare.” (08:11)
• Peter Savodnik (via tweet):
  • “This is...the poser class, the characterologically vapid, the faux progressive base.” (03:53)
• Matt Taibbi & Walter Kern:
  • “This is the managerial class pretending to be the revolutionary class.” (14:54)
• Dave Portnoy:
  • “Who are these kids voting for him? He’s 33 years old, he’s never had a real job. The people voting for him have never had a real job.” (16:00)
• Anti-Mamdani critic:
  • “What ends in totalitarianism starts at its core. And what is at the core of totalitarianism? It’s absolutism…It is a binary. Oppressed and oppressor.” (22:59)
• Sasha Stone (personal reflection):
  • “My core childhood memory was...standing in a long line...for groceries. Of course, it only could happen in Soviet Union.” (23:59)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:24: Setting the stage: Rising Democratic Socialism within the party; establishment unease.
• 03:20–06:30: "Socialist socialites," virtue-signaling, the intersection of identity, fashion, and status.
• 08:06–11:47: AOC’s “us versus them” rally speech.
• 12:03–14:54: Taibbi/Kern analyze the Democratic party’s class drift.
• 16:00–16:46: Dave Portnoy’s critique of Mamdani supporters.
• 17:30–20:31: Mamdani’s personal account of identity and exclusion; pushback on allegations.
• 22:59–23:59: Warning about binary populism and totalitarian tendencies.
• 26:35–29:42: Historical analogy between the Civil War South and today’s Left.
• 29:42–31:32: Reflection on Animal Farm and the inevitability of revolution’s betrayal.

Final Thoughts

This episode urges listeners to question whether the new iteration of Democratic Socialism is a true revolution or elite role-play, warning that utopian promises and binary thinking often end in disappointment and new hierarchies. Sasha Stone’s critique—sharply personal, historically informed, and skeptical of virtue-signaling—invites listeners to “free think” about both the ideals and the practical outcomes of America’s political turns.

For more: sashastone.com