The resistance is rising

Transcript:

I’m Thomas Mills for PoliticsNC. Today is March 23, 2025 and the Republic is still standing–and the resistance to authoritarianism is taking shape.

Over the last few days, Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, better known as AOC, have been touring swing states and drawing huge audiences. Rallies in Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona tapped into the anger Democrats feel toward the Trump administration. Bernie was the headliner, but AOC got as much attention as the heir-apparent to his movement.

AOC moved away from her roots as a Democratic Socialist and embraced a role as the leader of an opposition movement. She said the divide in the Democratic Party is not between moderates and progressives but between those who will fight and those who won’t.

She was clearly taking a shot at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Earlier this month, Schumer folded in negotiations over shutting down the government when he brought the votes to pass a Republican funding bill. Schumer claimed opposing the bill would allow Donald Trump and Elon Musk to indiscriminately shut down government programs. He said passing the stop-gap measure would protect programs funded by the bill.

But that didn’t seem to pan out. Within days, Trump and Musk shut down Voice of America and issued an order to dismantle the Department of Education. They seemed to be thumbing their noses at Schumer’s move.

Regardless, Democrats wanted a response to Trump and Schumer failed to give it. AOC is picking up the mantle of leader of the resistance. She’s focusing on economic issues in an attempt to broaden the Democratic coalition and she’s offering a new generation of leadership.

It’s too early for Democrats to start focusing on presidential candidates in 2028, but they need to fill the leadership void that’s emerged since the election. AOC is stepping up. More leaders are likely to follow. Expect to see Pete Buttegieg start moving around more now that he’s announced he isn’t running for the Michigan Senate. Watch Jasmine Crocket, the firebrand Texas Congresswoman who’s made a sport of ridiculing Republicans. And there are others.

Right now, Democrats want fighters and need leaders. They’ll reward politicians who take stands against Donald Trump and Elon Musk. They are looking for a vision for our future that is more inclusive than divisive. Expect the opposition to emerge organically. It will be broader and less ideological. It’s a reckoning the Democratic party needs.

Whether you supported Bernie Sanders or AOC in the past is largely irrelevant. What they are doing right now matters. They are giving voice to the frustration felt by Democrats across the country. They are providing an outlet to that frustration at rallies that bring people together.

We have plenty of time to argue over who would be the best presidential nominee in 2028. Right now, we need leaders willing to stand up to authoritarians and give people hope and a sense of purpose. AOC and Bernie Sanders are doing just that. The resistance is rising. Get on board.

I’m Thomas Mills signing off for PoliticsNC.