The Tudor Dixon Podcast: How Socialism Is Rising in America

Guest: J.T. Young (Author of "Unprecedented: How Big Government Unleashed America’s Socialist Left")
Host: Tudor Dixon
Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tudor Dixon welcomes J.T. Young, a former congressional policy advisor and author, to examine the rising influence of socialism within America’s political systems, with particular focus on the Democratic Party and recent electoral victories by self-described socialists. They explore historical trends, poll data, international comparisons, and the ideological shifts that have seen socialist ideas move from the political fringe to mainstream acceptance. The conversation blends political analysis with warnings rooted in history—and offers advice on confronting and discussing socialism in today’s climate.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mainstreaming of Socialism in America

• J.T. Young outlines the shift: Where socialism was once a fringe label in the U.S.—as with Eugene Debs and other minor parties—recent years have seen candidates embrace it proudly.
  • Notable quote: “We are now seeing people not just running away from the Democrat socialist label, they're running to that label.” — J.T. Young [03:49]
• The Bernie Sanders effect: Sanders in 2016 galvanized energy around socialism within the Democratic Party, and even though he didn't win, his movement persisted.
  • “He took Hillary Clinton to the wire and candidly, I think he would have won had it not been for the Democrats basically rigged system of superdelegates that gave Hillary Clinton the nomination.” — J.T. Young [04:48]

2. Electoral Victories & Party Dynamics

• Recent wins by self-identified socialists: Victories in Seattle (Katie Wilson) and New York City (Mamdani) are highlighted as turning points—America's largest cities are now led by socialist mayors.
  • “We have Tweedledum and Tweedledee of the Socialist Party running the left coast and the east coast of the United States.” — J.T. Young [06:52]
• Gallup poll implications: 42% of Americans—and a striking 63% of Democrats—would support a socialist presidential nominee.
  • “The socialist runs on the two party ticket. It used to be that... you had to be on a third party ticket, you had no chance.” — Tudor Dixon [07:52]

3. Democratic Party’s Ideological Shift

• Biden as a vessel for the left: Young argues Biden’s weakness forced him to accommodate the far left to hold the coalition together.
  • “His support was so weak. And we are now seeing largely the same thing happening, not just to the Biden administration, but to the Democrat Party as a whole.” — J.T. Young [10:21]
• Inability to break with the socialist wing: Leading Democratic figures like AOC and Elizabeth Warren are seen as wielding increasing intra-party sway.

4. Risks of Normalizing Socialism

• Republican dilemma in messaging: Is calling Democrats “socialists” an effective critique or does it paint the U.S. as inexorably moving left, normalizing the ideology?
  • “By the same token, I think we don't do a service to the truth and to the country to not point out the reality.” — J.T. Young [12:02]

5. Real-World and Historical Consequences

• Case studies, past and future: The failures of socialism in Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea are cited—and the real-time experiment now unfolding in American cities is predicted to open eyes.
  • “In theory there's no greater allure than socialism because it promises something for nothing. But in practice, there's no greater repellent than socialism because it actually delivers nothing for something.” — J.T. Young [13:32]

International Comparisons & Federal Safeguards (19:06)

• Differences with Europe: Dixon asks about European cities drifting socialistic, and whether America’s federalist structure offers more protections.
  • “We do have safety nets here...we have a constitution that, despite what the left will say, is still robust. It still offers great protections to...our states.” — J.T. Young [19:49]
• Outcomes of policy divergence: Young underscores that state-level policy experiments (from tax rates to COVID responses) provide “50 case studies” on what works.

Internal Democrat Party Tensions & The “Purging” of Moderates (22:37)

• Departure of centrists: Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin, cited as moderates forced out by the party’s leftward momentum.
• Repercussions visible in polling: Only 23% of Americans identify as liberals, yet 54% of Democrats do—a recipe for electoral trouble, according to Young.
  • “You cannot keep building a party on the ideological minority...you are moving towards political suicide.” — J.T. Young [23:11]

The Allure & Manipulation of Socialist Promises (25:04)

• Promising “free”: Young satirizes the pitch: free buses, childcare, housing, groceries—“It’s all free, free, free, free.”
  • “When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is too good to be true.” — J.T. Young [25:13]
• Disconnect from lived reality: Many young Americans have never directly witnessed socialism’s failures, and elite university environments further insulate them from its economic consequences.
  • “Often they're coming from...our elite universities...that have promised them the same things that live on big endowments that don't support themselves...” — J.T. Young [26:32]

Responding to Young Socialists’ Arguments (27:20)

• Challenges in debate: Dixon notes the common refrain: “It’s never been done right.”
• Young’s rebuttal: No society has made socialism work without economic or political degeneration; democratic socialism is a distinction without a difference.
  • “It's always that siren song of socialism that looks all the facts notwithstanding that it's never worked anywhere, at any time...we can make it work.” — J.T. Young [28:43]
  • “Once you do what socialism is, and socialism is really government monopoly...that's what it is all about.” — J.T. Young [29:26]

Prospects for Actual Socialist Policy Implementation (35:40)

• Can socialist mayors really enact radical policies? Dixon asks about the possible constraints on New York City's Mamdani.
• Young’s pessimistic outlook: He doubts Governor Hochul would act as a brake, citing her political need for NYC votes. “I wouldn’t put any hope in Governor Hochul…” — J.T. Young [35:49]

Implications for American Politics (37:08)

• A dangerous real-world experiment: Both agree that socialism in NYC may serve as a national cautionary tale—or may, if briefly successful, embolden the movement nationwide.

Ocasio-Cortez, Schumer, & the Democrat Succession (39:03)

• Does AOC want the Senate or White House? Young argues Schumer’s seat is likely hers for the taking, especially given the lack of grooming of new leaders by Democrats like Pelosi and Schumer.
  • “I would never want to get into AOC's head because I would be so afraid I wouldn't get out again.” — J.T. Young [39:33]
  • “Chuck Schumer’s terrified.” — J.T. Young [41:14]
• Critique of leadership hoarding: Pelosi and Schumer’s failure to bring up a new generation of leaders paved the way for a socialist takeover.
  • “History will say that ultimately what Nancy Pelosi thought she was protecting the Democrat Party from, she gave them a wide open space for social[ism] to come in and take over her party because of her own desire for personal power.” — Tudor Dixon [42:42]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the empty promise of socialism:
  “In theory there's no greater allure than socialism because it promises something for nothing. But in practice, there's no greater repellent than socialism because it actually delivers nothing for something.”
  — J.T. Young [13:32]

• On party messaging and truth:
  “I think we don't do a service to the truth and to the country to not point out the reality.”
  — J.T. Young [12:02]

• On the prospects for socialism in America:
  “You're going to see more of this. And I think this will put an example in front of people's eyes...to the paucity that is socialism and the poverty that socialism actually brings.”
  — J.T. Young [19:49]

• On “democratic socialism” as distinct:
  “Well, I don't think there is. And that's the whole point. Once you do what socialism is, and socialism is really government monopoly, that's what it is all about.”
  — J.T. Young [29:26]

• On AOC and Democratic leadership succession:
  “I would never want to get into AOC’s head because I would be so afraid I wouldn’t get out again.”
  — J.T. Young [39:33]

Key Timestamps

• 03:06: Tudor Dixon introduces J.T. Young and the episode’s focus on the spread of socialism.
• 04:48: Discussion on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign and lasting impact.
• 06:52: Noting socialist election victories in Seattle and New York City.
• 07:52: Gallup poll data on American support for socialism.
• 10:21: How Biden's weakness shaped Democratic party dynamics.
• 13:32: Young’s “theory vs. practice of socialism” quote.
• 19:49: Federalism and state-level policy as protection.
• 23:11: The Democratic Party “purge” of moderates.
• 25:13: The “free, free, free” critique of socialist campaign promises.
• 29:26: Definition and consequences of “democratic socialism.”
• 35:49: Probabilities of true socialist policies being enacted in NYC.
• 39:33: The Schumer vs. AOC Senate seat question; critique of leadership tenure.
• 42:42: Dixon on Pelosi’s personal power and party consequences.
• 43:31: Book information and closing thanks.

Book Promotion

• Book: “Unprecedented: How Big Government Unleashed America’s Socialist Left” by J.T. Young
• Where to find: jt-young.com, Amazon, major retailers [43:31]

Summary & Tone

The conversation is urgent, cautionary, and direct, expressing concern about the normalization and electoral success of socialism in American politics. Young, with historical examples and poll data, paints a picture of a party (and potentially a country) rapidly shifting left, propelled by youthful energy and institutional enablers. Dixon is not just a moderator, but an active participant, pressing the conversation toward practical advice and pointed critique of party leadership and cultural trends.

If you missed this episode, you’ll gain a high-level view of how and why socialism is on the rise in America—and why the hosts believe this trend is both unprecedented and perilous.