In this episode, Dean Charles takes on what he calls the Democrats’ biggest problem — they’ve lost their center. With the government still shut down and people growing frustrated, Dean asks the question most Democrats seem afraid to: what happens when your silence becomes the story?

He digs into the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the party’s refusal to draw a line. When leaders like Zohran Mamdani are celebrated instead of challenged, Dean argues, it’s no wonder moderates and independents are walking away. “Either you’re a socialist or you’re a capitalist — you can’t be both,” he says bluntly.

But this isn’t just about labels. Dean connects the dots between ideology and everyday issues — from drugs and crime to the loss of safety and opportunity that once defined the American dream. He gives credit where it’s due, even praising Trump for tackling the drug crisis in a way past presidents ignored.

By the end, Dean’s message is clear: if Democrats want to win again, they need to stop fighting each other and start fighting for people’s trust. Common sense, not ideology, wins elections — and right now, common sense is what’s missing.

In This Episode:

• [00:00:00] Government shutdown and growing divisions inside the Democratic Party

• [00:01:00] The rise of the DSA and how it’s reshaping the party’s identity

• [00:02:20] Why entitlement culture and anti-capitalist rhetoric don’t work in America

• [00:03:15] Dean’s challenge: pick a side — socialism or capitalism

• [00:04:00] Why safety and opportunity are the true foundations of the American dream

• [00:05:00] Trump’s drug policies and why Dean says he was right to take action

• [00:06:15] Looking back on New York’s drug crisis in the ’80s

• [00:07:30] Why no president before Trump was willing to take on the drug problem

• [00:09:00] The real conversation about gang violence and crime that no one wants to have

• [00:10:15] When ideology gets in the way of saving lives

• [00:11:45] The moral contradiction of ignoring inner-city violence

• [00:13:00] What Democrats risk if they keep avoiding hard truths

Notable Quotes

• [00:03:45] “Either you’re a socialist or you’re a capitalist. You can’t have it both ways.” — Dean Charles

• [00:04:55] “There are two things that define this country: safety and opportunity.” — Dean Charles

• [00:07:15] “Every president ignored the drug crisis — Trump was the first to say, ‘I’m going to stop it.’” — Dean Charles

• [00:09:30] “Why wouldn’t you want to stop kids from dying in the streets?” — Dean Charles

• [00:12:11] “Let Trump go in and clean up that kind of crime. Stop the murders.” — Dean Charles

• [00:14:35] “If Democrats don’t rethink their approach, they’re going to lose — badly.” — Dean Charles

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In this episode of Between the Left and a Hard Place, Dean Charles delivers a direct message to Democratic politicians: it’s time to denounce socialism and separate from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Dean argues that failing to take a strong stance on socialism will be used against Democrats in the upcoming elections, with Republicans already branding them all as socialists. He emphasizes that figures like Zohran Mamdani, who’s leading the New York mayoral race, represent the DSA’s radical agenda, and without a clear rejection of these ideas, Democrats risk losing support in crucial swing districts.

Dean highlights the growing divide within the Democratic Party, where moderate voices are remaining silent or failing to denounce socialism. He also critiques the DSA’s platform, warning that its policies—such as defunding the police and promoting open borders—are out of touch with the majority of Americans. The episode explores how the left's ideological shift is causing a rise in right-wing populism and why moderate Democrats must return to pragmatic policies to regain the middle ground.

In This Episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: The Democratic Party’s internal divide

• [00:01:00] Zohran Mamdani’s rise and the impact on the Democratic Party

• [00:02:00] Moderates avoiding the socialism debate

• [00:03:00] Republicans using socialism as their attack mantra

• [00:04:00] The potential impact of Mamdani's policies on New York

• [00:05:00] The dangers of the DSA platform

• [00:06:00] The dark money influence and growing socialist movement

• [00:07:00] Sweden’s capitalist success vs. misconceptions about socialism

• [00:08:00] Fascism vs. socialism: Why the middle will choose fascism

• [00:09:00] Accusations against moderate Democrats like Alyssa Slatkin

• [00:10:00] The left needs to focus on winning the middle ground

• [00:11:00] Citizens United and the growing influence of money in politics

• [00:12:00] Term limits and the need for reform

• [00:13:00] Regulations to protect the public from corporate greed

• [00:14:00] Democrats must reject socialism to stay relevant

• [00:15:00] The failure of social media companies to address division

• [00:16:00] The impact of Citizens United on future elections

• [00:17:00] Moderate Democrats must act now to denounce socialism

Notable Quotes:

• [02:32] “If you can’t get on the right side of the 80/20 issues, you have no chance of winning.” — Dean Charles

• [04:25] “Charlie Kirk told the youth that they have value, that their lives mean something. That’s why he won them over.” — Dean Charles

• [06:00] “Socialism is not the answer. If you endorse Zohran Mamdani, you’re a socialist, plain and simple.” — Dean Charles

• [07:15] “Free stuff doesn’t solve anything. The reality of paying for it just doesn’t add up.” — Dean Charles

• [09:40] “The left needs to reject the far-left ideologies and return to common-sense policies if they want to stay relevant.” — Dean Charles

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In this episode, Dean Charles takes a hard look at the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) within the Democratic Party. He argues that these factions are incompatible, and it’s time for the Democratic Party to separate from socialism to regain support from the center-left and moderate voters. Dean reflects on his experience defending Democrats during his Las Vegas radio days, only to find himself questioning the party’s direction as more and more leaders endorse socialist policies. He critiques key Democratic figures like Elizabeth Warren and Kathy Hochul for supporting socialist candidates like Zohran Mamdani, while a few brave Democrats, such as Congressman Tom Suozzi, have openly rejected the DSA’s influence.

Dean touches on the core issue of the Democratic Party's failure to align with the views of the majority of Americans, especially on “80/20 issues”—those where public opinion is overwhelmingly on one side. He highlights contentious topics like transgender athletes in women’s sports, DEI programs, and open borders as areas where the party is out of touch with the majority of voters. Dean also discusses how Charlie Kirk, despite being a conservative, has captured the attention of disillusioned youth by offering them a sense of value and purpose, something that the left has failed to do.

The episode ends with a strong call to action for Democrats to return to pragmatic, center-left policies if they hope to remain relevant and win future elections. Dean emphasizes that unless the party denounces socialism and takes a clear stance on key issues, they risk losing even more voters.

In this Episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: The divide within the Democratic Party

• [00:01:00] The growing influence of Democratic Socialists in the party

• [00:02:15] Bill Maher and the debate over the Democratic Socialists’ place in the party

• [00:03:00] The role of Charlie Kirk in bringing the youth vote to Republicans

• [00:04:00] Democrats losing the 80/20 issues: transgender athletes in women’s sports

• [00:05:00] Why Democrats need to reject socialism: Charlie Kirk’s impact on the youth

• [00:06:00] The dangers of open borders and free healthcare for all

• [00:07:00] The Democratic Socialists’ radical platform: defunding the police, abolishing prisons

• [00:08:00] The importance of pragmatism and realism in politics

• [00:09:00] Key moments from Bill Maher and Joe Manchin discussing the state of the party

• [00:10:00] The 80/20 issues and how the Democratic Party is losing touch

• [00:11:00] The importance of addressing issues like immigration with common sense

• [00:12:00] Conclusion: The need for the Democratic Party to change or face electoral defeat

Notable Quotes

• [02:32] "Do you understand why you lost the last election? It’s because what the Democrats were offering was so bad, people went with Trump." — Dean Charles

• [04:25] "Charlie Kirk told the youth that they have value, that their lives mean something. That’s why he won them over." — Dean Charles

• [05:00] "If you can't get on the right side of the 80/20 issues, you have no chance of winning." — Dean Charles

• [07:15] "Free stuff doesn’t solve anything. The reality of paying for it just doesn’t add up." — Dean Charles

• [08:52] "Socialism is not the answer. If you endorse Zohran Mamdani, you’re a socialist, plain and simple." — Dean Charles

• [10:00] "The left needs to reject the far-left ideologies and return to common-sense policies if they want to stay relevant." — Dean Charles

• [11:40] "Democrats can’t ignore the majority. You need to appeal to the people in the middle if you want to win." — Dean Charles

Resources and Links

Between the Left and a Hard Place

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