This week on Branding Democrats, we sit down with Essy, better known online as @TheDarkLeft — a progressive creator and Substack writer who’s built a massive following by cutting through right-wing spin with clarity and conviction.

In this episode, we unpack how modern fascism doesn’t look like tanks in the streets. It looks like what we’re living through right now: a president weaponizing government shutdowns, silencing critics through intimidation, and flooding the media ecosystem with disinformation.

Essy shares how his platform became an outlet for millions who felt unseen on the left, and why the Democratic Party’s messaging often struggles to match the right’s emotional punch. The conversation dives into how the GOP reframes lies into viral talking points, why mainstream media still hesitates to call out authoritarian behavior directly, and what Democrats must do differently.

To hear more from Essy, find him on TikTok, Instagram, and Substack: @The Dark Left

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This week on Branding Democrats, we sit down with creator and comedian Bill Jubran to unpack a wild stretch in American politics.

We dive into the revival-style atmosphere at Charlie Kirk’s memorial and what it signals about MAGA’s future. We contrast Erika Kirk’s unity-and-forgiveness moment with Trump’s open calls for retribution on the same stage, and ask what happens when a movement mixes religion with raw power politics.

Then we zoom out: What do you do when the umpire’s biased? With a Supreme Court that keeps greenlighting executive overreach, Bill lays out why creators, validators, and everyday voters have to apply pressure in the culture as well as the courts. We talk why “deregulation” = removing protections, the real stakes on health care, and how to reach the 2–3% of persuadables who decide elections.

Check out more of Bill's content @Bill.jubran and @Bill.Jubran 2025

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This week on Branding Democrats, we are joined by political creator and podcaster Jon Cooper (@counterpointpolitics) for a raw conversation about America’s deepening crisis.

We begin the episode by addressing the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a Utah rally. Political violence is a symptom of a larger problem in our society, and we take some time to unpack what's going on.

Later, Jon gets into why false equivalence is so dangerous, why Republicans win on branding even when they lie, and what Democrats must do to fight back.

We also dive into Trump’s failing economic agenda, the danger of his tariff obsession, and whether figures like JD Vance could be even worse for our democracy.

It’s part therapy session, part strategy talk — and a call to action for Democrats to stop playing defense and start owning the narrative.

Check out more of Jon's content:

TikTok: @counterpointpolitics

Podcast: The Left Wing

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