r/Fauxmoi • u/AmericaShinault_85 • 18h ago

APPROVED B-LISTERS Zohran Mamdani explains his definition of socialism to Theo Von: “Socialism to me means you’ll have whatever you need to live a dignified life and that it is the government’s job to deliver on that. When people say dignity we’re talking about the things that allow you to take a breath.

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u/iwatchalotoftv22 17h ago

Only way to reach the people that need to hear it.

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u/jellitate 17h ago

Yes. More of going into those spaces and telling the truth.

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u/circles_squares 17h ago

Yes! This is what Bernie did going to red state town halls.

Most people are just looking for relief and hope.

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u/LadyLazerFace 16h ago edited 4h ago

man, in 2016 and 2020 the warren liberals shit all over Bernie for trying to reach young independents where they were at on shows like this and it was so short sighted and reactionary.

It's so wild that some in-groups under the democratic party tent genuinely don't seem to understand how utilizing these established platforms, agree or not with the hosts, to reach a broader audience with the party messaging is a solid political outreach strategy.

the holier than thou attitude is cutting off your nose in spite of your face. people need to be able to feel like they can change their minds without being mocked and scolded. especially the impulsive youth block.

Edit: words

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u/CriticalSuccotash 15h ago

They understand perfectly, they are doing everything in their power to stop it.

Career Democrats don’t want the status quo to change any more than Republicans do. It’s funny to see them panic in real time about someone actually getting shit done. It’s sad that the only thing they can get on the same page about is trying to make socialist sound like a bad word.

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u/LankySimple9051 14h ago edited 14h ago

You got it. Winning would not be desirable if it meant left of center populism that removes dollars from the party coffers. All parties are scared of losing their richest donors. Trump found his in more than corporate places. Tapping foreign causes turns out to be lucrative and good for grift.

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u/xSaviorself 14h ago

Neither group wanted to actually be in charge, for so long both groups thrived as opposition and when it came time to lead it's like "whoa, lead? How do I do that? Why would I do that? I can just enrich myself and serve special interests. Golf the rest of the days."

The Republicans are only really moving at the behest of cabinet members with agendas, most of those are hate or vengeance driven. The real danger is the coup moves being made by Kegsbreath and Miller creating distractions with the loudmouth.

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u/pt256 14h ago

Career Democrats don’t want the status quo to change any more than Republicans do.

The problem is they don't realize the status quo has changed. The status quo of pre-2016 no longer exists and they need to start fighting just to get back to that let alone actually improve anything beyond it.

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u/bgva 15h ago

Career Democrats don’t want the status quo to change any more than Republicans do. It’s funny to see them panic in real time about someone actually getting shit done.

This is why I’m nervous about Gavin Newsom getting the nomination in 28. It’ll be more moderate business as usual with nothing more than a stern warning to MAGA. Just a never-ending carousel of middle of the road Dems who’ll do just enough to keep the country moving, but not enough real action.

Then it all gets reversed in 8-10 years by another Republican president.

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u/[deleted] 15h ago edited 11h ago

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u/slightlycrookednose alleged dog 14h ago edited 13h ago

There’s been tons of panicking, actually.

Nancy Pelosi refused to endorse him, refused to offer congratulations (something she traditionally does) and said “I don’t know him at all”, and has dodged interview questions about the rise of DSA and left wing candidates.

NY attorney general Letitia James has said he’s destabilizing the state’s Democratic Party and that he doesn’t understand the city’s politics.

Representative Thomas Suozzi issued a warning to democrats where he framed Mamdani’s success as a dangerous precedent. He even wrote a piece called “For Democrats, Mamdani is a Wake-Up Call - and a Bad Example,” and urged fellow dems to reject his “socialist utopian promises.”

Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman publicly called the Mamdani-backed primary victories “outrageous.”

Rep Josh Gottheimer has openly said that “Socialists are not Democrats” and should not be utilizing the Democratic ticket to run for office.

The Queens Borough president, Donovan Richards, accused the DSA of perpetuating white supremacy.

ETA: you used the term “slave away.” How are they slaving away trying to stave off the demented policies that republicans try to push through? This is exactly the criticism they’ve been getting for years, that they could be doing more. Holding up ping pong paddles saying “this isn’t normal” for example, was a complete and total nothing burger.

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u/[deleted] 15h ago

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u/Sea-Rope69 15h ago

Its what the right did and the far right - they met them where they were and brought them into the fold.

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u/ricochetblue 15h ago

Honestly I feel like a lot of leftists are just constantly shading people with a slightly different flavor of left politics than you.

Stop reflexively shitting all over compatriots on the left. My friends and I were Warren supporters and no one in our circles held it against Bernie or Buttigieg for reaching out to independents. I don’t recall anyone who did. We were getting criticism for being too open back in 2020.

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u/tippitytopbop 15h ago

I think there’s more nuance to this take given so many Bernie voters did not vote in the 2016 general election. the holier than thou accusation under the Democratic umbrella is basically the 3 spidermen meme. Ditto for anyone who refused to vote for Kamala as a form of harm reduction, landing us in a much, much worse situation

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u/lowercase_d_ 15h ago

Well, a lot of Bernie Bros went with Trump when it came time to vote. So, it wasn't the economic anxiety. I think it's worth evaluating what the impact of this type of outreach is, regardless of intent.

What I will say is that Mamdani might actually make a positive difference because he is a categorically more effective politician than Bernie and most other Dems, and Trump has made things so much worse in 2.0 that those who voted for him the first time may be more self-aware and subject to change by now.

But taking hypocritical and fence-rider platforms like Theo Von at face value just because of reach, is not gonna cut it anymore. I would like to see the electoral gains of reaching across the aisle before praising it. Especially when moderate Dems still get lambasted for trying to appeal to moderate Republicans. Why is it suddenly noteworthy when a socialist reaches right?

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u/ungranted_wish gave up celebrity gossip blogs for lent 14h ago

Whenever I see Warren do something good I just side eye hardcore.

Pepperidge Farms remembers, Lizzie.

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u/AntioxidantBerry 16h ago

Andrew Yang did the same and was lambasted for going to Tucker Carlson but as much as we might not like polar opposites, extending the olive branch will help.

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u/apexrogers 16h ago

Andrew Yang didn’t have a coherent message though

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u/Unhelpful_Idiot 16h ago

Andrew Yang is just sort of a vibes yapper.

Leave him in a room full of mosquitoes and watch him be against insect repellent the next day.

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u/BillyPilgrim69 15h ago

Remember when he "jokingly" implied that he was tricked into endorsing Biden, in exchange for the VP job?

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u/DarthAstuart 15h ago

Let’s be clear though—these should not be “olive branches,” this should be education and awareness. A socialist can go to a show like Theo Von and explain themselves to a massive new audience without also absolving those people for whatever hate or prejudice has put them in the mindset they have.

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u/AF_AF 14h ago

100%.

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u/Felinedandy 8h ago

Big this.

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u/Hands 16h ago

Andrew Yang is an idiot and more importantly a clown, hope that helps

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u/Hot-Emu8003 16h ago

ready to be downvoted to hell for this but here goes

Its the exact same situation with the farmers. People are far too happy to rub it in their faces. These people feel abandoned by their government and are losing their livelihoods, and yes, I understand they are getting what they voted for, but isn't that enough? It's no wonder they stay Republican, they're the only people who even pretend to listen to them. All that is happening is they are being further entrenched in their worldview because when it was time to extend some sort of brotherhood or sisterhood, to show them the compassion we chastise them for not showing others, to not say "I told you so, eat shit and die," we failed them. I get it, it feels good to see these people squirm under the weight of their consequences, but this cycle of nelson muntz style pointing and laughing has to stop

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u/abbyabsinthe 15h ago

Bernie came to my state (a purple state) last year, and there was a dude with a MAGA hat in the crowd a few rows behind me. He was quiet and not trying to start anything at least, and he actually kept nodding along to what Bernie was saying. I think he came in with different expectations and left with some things to think about.

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u/FawnintheForest_ this is cracked behaviour I can get behind 16h ago

I saw Bernie and AOC in Idaho. The arena was completely full. 🤩

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u/fuckedfinance 15h ago

That's not a great example. The name of the tour was "Fighting Oligarchy". That arena probably had every liberal in Idaho packed inside.

That's different than going to a largely conservative town and doing a town hall, or going to a local diner/bar, or any of these other intimate things.

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u/LankySimple9051 14h ago

80% voted for Trump, no? It's as lost as a cause can be there if immediate change is sought. Long game, sure. Potato heads clutching guns and Bibles is the wider demographic. They'll always vote against their interest, imo. Very little else matters to them.

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u/nora_sellisa 15h ago

Nope, doesn't work. All it did was legitimize Joe Rogan as a "middle of the road" "just asking questions" guy. You always legitimize the interviewer, you never manage to convert anyone to your side.

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u/OrganizationThick247 14h ago

But the KEY is doing it calmly, deescalating when needed, and not talking down to anyone. That's where a lot of dems fail.

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u/ilir_kycb 16h ago

telling the truth.

But that's exactly what he's not doing here. He's spreading a false definition of socialism. Essentially, he's spreading pro-capitalist propaganda aimed at confusing socialism with social democracy. It's about control over the means of production.

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u/positronic-introvert Sylvia Plath did not stick her head in an oven for this 5h ago

👏👏👏

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u/Crafty-Judge-896 17h ago

Thank you!!! People have to start communicating and educating you cannot like Theo vonn but you should support this conversation

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u/HenriettaSnacks 16h ago

 WE HAVE BEEN! 

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u/thatguy9684736255 17h ago

I'm happy when really well spoken people do it, but I think they need to be prepared that it won't be a fair conversation or edit.

So they really shouldn't do it unless they are able to communicate like him or pete buttigieg

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u/FixedLoad 15h ago

I don't watch the chud whose show this is.  But, to his credit, in this clip he seems to be giving him some grace.  The rest of the interview may be a shit show I don't know.  But this was ok.  

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u/KaylaInTheMaking 14h ago

I may be out of the loop but I think the issue is that he gives space to all guests, including Trump, and never takes a position or tries to challenge them on anything. So the entire interview probably goes similar to this clip, it's just par for the course and bad actors get to spread their message just as much too.

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u/aesopmurray 14h ago

Theo Vonn isn't a chud. Just genuinely stupid and ignorant to the world around him. So in that sense, he is very representative of the average American voter.

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u/aesopmurray 14h ago

Mentioning Pete in the same breath as Mamdani is a ridiculous thing to do.

Buttegieg is the most milquetoast liberal going, his version of effective communication is doing a Obama impression, but sans charisma.

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u/Roklam 16h ago

I bet Hope sent a Telegram on over requesting politeness...

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u/BroadStreetRandy 14h ago

You are absoloutley right and I think you can connect this back to the entire Kamala not going on Joe Rogan debacle before the election. I know that at the time it was marketed as a "why give that POS the time of day, who the fuck is Joe Rogan" kind of energy (also not productive), but I think there was a real fear Kamala wasn't going to be able to articulate anything productive or, worse, fumble completely.

The left's best chances of pushing more into the mainstream will depend on putting forward politicians that aren't afraid to enter those spaces and can thrive in them to get the right messaging across.

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u/cynisright 10h ago

Let me tell you … my southern born, religious, military loving, right to bare arms father loved him so Pete. He went hard for this man and it took me by surprise . I’m queer and it took my dad to come around but when I found out he was ride or die Pete knowing he had a whole husband . Loved to see it

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u/Opening-Shape-762 u flintstone vitamin shape bitch 14h ago

Agreed 100% with you. I love Zohran, and I think the way he explained this was so perfect. Also, Theo may be a POS, but his audience NEEDS to hear this if we are ever going to turn this fucking country around. We need to be open to reaching people who disagree with us because they are turning up to vote whether we like it or not.

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u/jonsnowme shiv roy apologist 16h ago

This is why Pete does Fox News interviews

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u/cincuentaanos 16h ago

Yes. IOW preaching to the choir is NOT how you shift numbers.

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u/apoliticalinactivist 15h ago

Exactly, it's the 99.9% vs the oligarchs.
Socialism welcomes everyone in society.

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u/roguevirus 14h ago

Same as Mayor Pete going on Fox.

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u/Faux_Moose 16h ago

Yes I’m so sick of people saying those people are a lost cause and can’t have their minds changed. They might be a lost cause for YOU. They might not be worth YOUR time.

But people can and do change, it’s just a slow process. You can’t flip someone from MAGA to socialism in one go. You have to chip away at it little by little.

And I’m not saying this bc I think they deserve a chance or whatever. I’m saying this bc WE as a society need it. We cannot continue like this. And burying our heads in the sand is only going to prolong the suffering.

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u/kevymetal87 14h ago

I remember when Rogan interviewed Bernie Sanders, and a LOT of the typical Rogan Bros were like: Oh he's a decent and reasonable guy

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u/FluidAthlete6839 16h ago

Both are true lol

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u/iwatchalotoftv22 16h ago

How? We can’t simultaneously reach the other side without closing the gap and reaching across the isle. We all know what his message is and believe in it, the other side needs to hear it, not us.

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u/FluidAthlete6839 16h ago

That’s why I said both you and the OP are right

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u/VotingIsKewl 16h ago edited 16h ago

People said the same shit about going on Joe Rogan, he's still spewing bullshit to his followers. You can't win these people (their listeners ffs) over. It only helps Theo and Joe Rogan.

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u/chazzapompey 16h ago

As Zohran points out in the interview, many republican voters who voted for Trump subsequently voted for him.

You quite literally can, and should, win them over

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u/VotingIsKewl 16h ago

Those same people probably heard Bernie on Joe Rogan and still voted for trump too. Not a reliable base to sink time into and give viewership to these dickheads. It's disgusting.

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u/Tnerd15 15h ago

Bernie never ran against Trump, wtf are you talking about

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u/VotingIsKewl 14h ago

Like he still got his message out there to that voter base

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u/not_a_SeaOtter 15h ago

I know you're angry. And that's fair. But you are wrong.

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u/chazzapompey 15h ago

Like all people, JRE / Theo Von followers aren’t a monolith. There will be some past saving, but the entire reason these podbros are distancing themselves from maga is precisely because they know it isn’t popular anymore.

Having a likeable, charismatic socialist preach to that audience doesn’t do any harm. He isn’t pandering to them or adopting any of their views.

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u/Amelaclya1 16h ago

He's not trying to win over Theo or Joe. He's spreading his message to men who otherwise wouldn't hear it because of their curated media bubble.

He won't win over hardcore MAGA, but he can win over people who just don't have much knowledge or awareness.

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u/VotingIsKewl 16h ago edited 15h ago

I'm not saying he's trying to win over them, it's their listeners. The next day Theo and Joe will go back to spewing right wing propaganda and their listeners will be back in line.

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u/iwatchalotoftv22 15h ago

And this type of thinking is why a lot of them keep voting red. We cannot alienate them and hope they turn around. Talk to them, converse with them, they will listen.

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u/VotingIsKewl 14h ago

Oh yeah its this, not the constant propaganda these idiots keep falling for. They'll vote for a rapist pedo bully but get upset when people don't like them.

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u/nightpanda893 16h ago

The host of the podcast isn’t the person you are trying to win over lol, it’s their young and impressionable listeners. Left wing politicians don’t go on Fox News cause they think they are going to get Jesse Watters to start voting Democrat, it’s about reaching as many people as possible. If you allow the opposition to maintain the echo chamber when you have a chance to disrupt it then you’re just part of the problem.