In this fiery episode of Between the Left and a Hard Place, Dean Charles takes the gloves off and calls out prominent Democrats who claim to be center-left but refuse to reject socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America platform publicly. Drawing on his years defending Democrats on a Hannity-and-Colmes-style radio show in Las Vegas, Dean questions whether the party has lost its grip on the middle.

He names names: Alyssa Slotkin, Cory Booker, Jason Crow, Catherine Cortez Masto, and dissects their recent public statements (or lack thereof) on the growing socialist influence inside the party. Dean warns that ignoring this issue is political suicide, especially when it comes to winning over independents and moderates.

This is a passionate, unfiltered look at why the Democratic Party risks alienating the very voters who could decide the next election.

Key Takeaways

• Why silence matters: Public figures like Alyssa Slotkin, Cory Booker, and Jason Crow refusing to push back against socialism sends the wrong message to moderates.

• The 80/20 principle: Winning issues lie in appealing to the political middle, not the far left.

• Electoral consequences: Dean warns that embracing, or failing to reject, socialism could hand elections to Republicans.

• The call to action: Center-left Democrats must unite, clearly reject socialism, and focus on pragmatic issues if they want to win.

In this Episode

• [00:00] Dean sets the stage for the discussion on socialism in the Democratic Party.

• [00:18] Reflecting on his past defense of Democrats and shifting views.

• [01:04] Alyssa Slotkin’s Colbert interview and her failure to denounce socialism.

• [02:25] Cory Booker’s “stay out of New York politics” response.

• [03:22] Jason Crow’s surprising defense of Zohran Mamdani on Bill Maher.

• [04:21] Why Dean wants more action from Cortez Masto.

• [04:45] How not rejecting socialism could cost the Democrats the election.

• [05:29] Dean’s plea for the center-left to unite and reject socialism.

Notable Quotes

• [03:09] “Cory Booker says, 'Let New York politics be New York politics.' Come on. Are you a socialist? Seriously, Cory, are you gonna run on the socialism platform? Gimme a break. You're gonna lose the independence and the left and the center left. You're just gonna lose them.”

• [05:01] “The big umbrella thing isn't gonna work. I'm telling you it's not gonna work. The Republicans are gonna beat you to a pulp. Seriously, they're gonna pull out the 80/20 issues and it's gonna be over. You don't seem to understand why you lost the last election. You should really think about it more 'cause you're not understanding why you lost.”

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In this episode, Dean Charles delivers a blistering critique of Democratic Party leadership, from Chuck Schumer to Catherine Cortez Masto, for enabling the rise of Democratic Socialists within their ranks.

Dean argues that socialism and traditional Democratic values cannot coexist. He draws a hard line: if leaders continue backing figures like Zohran Mamdani, they are alienating moderates, independents, and lifelong Democrats like him. He warns that this isn’t just bad politics, it’s electoral suicide.

With personal anecdotes, blunt truths, and a fiery defense of capitalism, Dean breaks down why the Democratic Socialists of America are fundamentally at odds with American values and why staying silent is no longer an option.

He leaves listeners with a stark ultimatum: choose socialism, and you lose America.

In This Episode:

• [00:07] Why Democrats and DSA can’t share the same tent

• [00:56] Independence, not ideology, decides elections

• [01:48] Schumer, Jeffries, and the Mamdani problem

• [03:00] DEI backlash, free speech, and youth alienation

• [05:25] Why Gen Z white males are voting Republican

• [07:00] What moderate Democrats still don’t understand

• [08:32] The false promise of equality in socialism

• [09:40] Why capitalism offers real opportunity

• [10:45] A call to Cortez Masto and other silent moderates

Notable Quotes

• [02:38] "If you're going to choose the socialists, people like me, I'm a lifelong Democrat, are going to go to the other side." — Dean Charles

• [04:43] "Ask these kids, they'll tell you they didn't have it. If you're a straight white male, forget it. You did not have freedom of speech." — Dean Charles

• [06:42] "If you run a socialist in a moderate district, you're going to get clobbered." — Dean Charles

• [07:55] "The socialists don't even fight for equality. They don't want equality. They want to be the oppressor." — Dean Charles

• [09:53] "Capitalism affords everyone the ability to make their own way. It gives them a shot, gives them a chance." — Dean Charles

• [10:32] "You lost on all the 80/20 issues because the socialists are on the wrong side of every single 80/20 issue." — Dean Charles

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In this explosive episode, Dean Charles calls out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and every Democrat still trying to walk the tightrope between capitalism and socialism.

Dean breaks down why the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are not just another wing of the Democratic Party. With their own radical platform, abolishing prisons, defunding police, open borders, and anti-Western foreign policy, they’re openly at odds with core Democratic values. And yet, Schumer and Jeffries continue to defend them.

Dean highlights NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as a symbol of this growing takeover and asks: Why are top Democrats propping up socialists instead of pushing back? Why are moderates so silent? Why does the Democratic Party keep losing, and pretending not to know why?

It’s time to stop straddling the fence. Dean’s message is clear: Pick a side before it’s too late.

In This Episode:

• [00:07] The Democratic Party's crossroads

• [01:00] DSA influence and Zohran Mamdani

• [01:51] Electoral consequences and ideological divide

• [02:47] Call for moderate leadership and critique of Schumer

  
  

Notable Quotes

• [00:01:02] "He's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America... and Chuck, you're coming to his rescue? For what? He's not a Democrat. He's a socialist."

• [00:02:00] "The Socialists support anti-white colonialism... They wanna align with Iran and China."

• [00:02:22] "I call this AOC’s Project 2029. She's running for president, and this is what she believes."

• [00:02:54] "You used to be a stand-up guy. Now you're nothing but a wuss."

• [00:03:11] "The Socialists don’t even belong in the Democratic Party... It’s not the same party."

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