Podcast | Is socialism the future of the Democratic party?

Kshama Sawant, Tina Podlodowski and Sarah Smith discuss whether the ideology has a place in the party, or if it's already there.

Socialism’s role in American politics

David Plotz asks the questions during the socialism session at the Crosscut Festival on Saturday, May 4, 2016, at Seattle University.

The word "socialism" may ignite the ire of Republicans and many baby boomers, but it is gaining broad acceptance among millennials, as politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders urge the country to adopt some of its tenets. For this episode of the Crosscut Talks podcast we bring together socialist Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Democratic Socialist upstart Sarah Smith and Washington state Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski to talk about what socialism is, what it isn’t and how it could play into the future of the Democratic Party. David Plotz, CEO of Atlas Obscura and Slate Political Gabfest co-host, leads the discussion. 

This conversation was recorded on May 4, 2019 at Seattle University as part of the Crosscut Festival.

 

Tina Podlodowski
Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski. (Photo by Dorothy Edwards/Crosscut)

 

Socialism in America
Festival attendees packed Redhawk Center for the talk. (Photo by Dorothy Edwards/Crosscut)

 

Kshama Sawant
Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. (Photo by Dorothy Edwards/Crosscut)

 

Sarah Smith
Former congressional candidate Sarah Smith. (Photo by Dorothy Edwards/Crosscut)

 

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