Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Mar 4, 2025
Contributors
Joel Kotkin

The Democrats’ Coming Civil War

Contributors
Joel Kotkin
Joel Kotkin
Senior Research Fellow
Joel Kotkin
Summary
Voters are tired of failed ‘progressive’ dogmas, even in the Democrats’ urban heartlands. But will the party listen?
Summary
Voters are tired of failed ‘progressive’ dogmas, even in the Democrats’ urban heartlands. But will the party listen?
Listen to this article

At a time when the world press is obsessed with US president Donald Trump and his often imbecilic machinations, perhaps a more consequential struggle is taking place on the other side of the aisle. Trump and his minions may completely control the GOP, but the future of the Democrats is uncertain. The party’s left is locked in battle with those who embrace the party’s traditional values, like support for economic growth and enforcing the law.

Right now, on a national level, the Democratic Party seems to be continuing its movement leftwards. Kamala Harris is still its front-runner for the 2028 presidential election and representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett, who are further to the left, are widely seen as rising stars. Looking at the behaviour of the Democrats and their media allies, they seem to be reprising Talleyrand’s quip that the Bourbon kings of France ‘learnt nothing and forgot nothing’ after the revolution.

At the recent Democratic National Committee election for the party’s new leadership, there was an enduring obsession with race and gender. Veteran Democrat Ruy Teixeira described it as ‘like outtakes from a humanities seminar at a small liberal-arts college’. We saw similar scenes in November, with the backlash received by Massachusetts congressman Seth Moulton when he dared to share concerns about his young daughter potentially having to compete against male athletes. As a result, he faced the resignation of key staffers, as well as threats from one university to cancel an internship programme associated with his office.

Continue reading at Spiked

10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

Dissident Blessings in the Negative World

Pursuit of Happiness
May 1, 2025

Why Reciprocal Trade Negotiations Will Fail

Economic Dynamism
Apr 30, 2025
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Politics

Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville

This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.

Raúl Rodríguez
Politics
Feb 25, 2025
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas

Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.

James Gimpel, Daron Shaw
Politics
Feb 6, 2025
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts

Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.

Grant Ferguson, James Gimpel, Mark Owens, Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 13, 2024
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Trump Victory Driven by Voters Who Reject Status Quo

The poll asked 1,200 Americans an array of questions about how things are going in America.

Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 11, 2024

The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

View all
** items
Relief for Trump in Sight — If Supreme Court Special Session Reins in Rogue Judges

Nationwide injunctions have proven a disaster for the federal judiciary.

John Yoo
Politics
Apr 25, 2025
The Dangers of the Political Gender Gap

Young women and men are gravitating towards opposite political extremes, with potentially explosive consequences.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Apr 24, 2025
What Trump Can Learn from George W. Bush on Immigration Strategy

The White House should follow the Bush administration’s example and avoid antagonizing the Supreme Court.

John Yoo
Politics
Apr 23, 2025
Trump Could Have a Strong Case to Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status

Thanks to a 1983 opinion widely hailed by progressives at the time, the administration could be on solid ground.

John Yoo, Robert Delahunty
Politics
Apr 21, 2025

John Yoo: The DOJ Is Being ‘Tricky’ but They May Be Right

Politics
Mar 18, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: How Will Trump Try to ‘Redirect’ the Justice Department Toward ‘Public Order and Safety’?

Politics
Mar 14, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: Musk’s Audits Are Part of Alexander Hamilton’s ‘Energetic Executive’

Politics
Feb 10, 2025
1:05

Lord Andrew Roberts on Winston Churchill and the US-UK Special Relationship, Then and Now

Politics
Sep 26, 2024
1:05

Justin Dyer on Civic Education: Live at AEI's Future of the American University Conference

Politics
May 14, 2024
1:05
No items found.
No items found.
The Ukraine-Russia Symposium

What does Ukraine mean to America?

Richard Reinsch
Politics
Apr 29, 2025
How Trump Should Answer Putin’s Foot-Dragging

Although Russia possesses the strategic initiative, its advantage over Ukraine isn’t decisive and can be eroded.

John Hardie
Politics
Apr 29, 2025
Ukraine's Cause Can Be Vindicated

Ukraine's cause for national freedom remains possible if America and Europe resolve to thwart Russian aggression.

Max Prowant
Politics
Apr 29, 2025
Ukraine: Beyond Tragedy and Self-Defeating Manichaeism

We in the West are morally and civically obliged to work to ensure that tragedy and inexpiable conflict do not have the final word.

Daniel J. Mahoney
Politics
Apr 29, 2025
No items found.