The Democrats’ Groundhog Day: Why Bernie Always Saw It Coming
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Bernie Was Right, and He Always Has Been
“Baby, I swear it’s Déjà Vu.”
Another election day, another crushing defeat. Another victory for Trump, another round of frustration and outrage as the Democrats make the same tired, catastrophic mistakes. 2024 felt eerily like 2016—and, in some ways, 2020 too—but I wasn’t quite ready for just how much déjà vu I was about to experience. Maybe I was a little too optimistic (okay, embarrassingly so), but I genuinely believed that, after the “she’s too left” debacle, the Democratic Party would have learned something. Just something. Surely they’d see the need to pivot to the populist policies that the American people want. But no, my hope was dashed quicker than a Harris “unity” speech.
It didn’t take long for that precious optimism to be obliterated. Enter Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democratic elites, trotting out to slam Bernie Sanders after he had the gall to say something true about his “own” party. In a statement following the 2024 election results, Bernie nailed it: “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.” He called out the establishment’s obsessive defense of the status quo, and you know what happened next? The Democratic Party establishment—shockingly—got defensive.
Cue the social media and network news firestorm.
“Bernie Sanders has not won. With all due respect, and I have a great deal of respect for him, for what he stands for, but I don’t respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working-class families.”
— Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Ouch. A backhanded compliment, if I’ve ever seen one. But, of course, Sanders wasn’t having it. The Vermont Independent took it personally, as he should’ve. He went on Meet the Press and called out the party for its failures—most notably, their inability to push through even the most basic legislation, like a much-needed minimum wage increase.
“If you’re an average working person out there, do you really think the Democratic Party is going to the mats, taking on powerful special interests and fighting for you?” he asked.
And that’s when it hit me again—just like in 2016, just like in 2020—Bernie should have been the one. But, alas, the Democratic establishment has spent years painting Bernie and his "Bernie Bros" as the enemy of the people, but instead it’s them.
And, honestly, moments like this make me so proud to be a so-called Bernie Bro—a badge I wear with honor. Because here’s the thing: Bernie has always put the needs of the American people before his own, and he’s consistently called out the deep-pocketed special interests that are driving this country to ruin. So while the mainstream media and the Democratic elites continue to ignore or vilify the populist left, it’s time for them to wake the hell up and bring these voices back to the table—and not just when they think a leftist is about to win office.
With Trump heading back into the White House, America is staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, aimed squarely at democracy. And let’s be clear—Democrats, you can’t beat fascism with civility politics and endless empty gestures of “bipartisanship.” That’s just not going to cut it. The only way to fight fascism and curtail the rise of far-right radicalism is by giving the people what they actually want: better politics. They need a party that will fight for them, not with their backs turned to the working class. They need a party that’s willing to go after the real enemy (spoiler: it’s the rich and the powerful).
But instead, we’re stuck with an irresponsible, self-serving party. Kamala Harris didn’t “live up to our dreams,” as Joy Reid would have you believe. And don’t even get me started on how our so-called leaders have allowed the continued slaughter of innocent Palestinian lives while cozying up to the very forces oppressing them. Great job, Democrats. You’ve managed to ignore the pleas of the left on immigration, too, while making it harder for immigrants to seek refuge, just like the Republicans you claim to despise.
There’s a reason that politicians like Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (someone who has called the Democratic Party a “center-conservative party”) beat out Kamala Harris on their home turfs. But instead we listen to political strategists like Philippe Reines, a man who has worked on four losing campaigns now.
Reines and other political strategists like him are the reason for the Democrats’ brilliant pivot to the center. Oh, what a masterstroke. This is what happens when you lose touch with the very people who got you there. You get into a political pissing match about who's more "moderate" while literally losing ground to fascists and authoritarians. The Democrats have spent so much time chasing this mythical "center"—a vague, meaningless term that's become synonymous with appeasing donors, corporate interests, and that pesky group of voters who won’t ever vote for them anyway—that they’ve completely missed the boat on what people actually need: real policies that address real issues. I mean, seriously, what did we think would happen when we started pandering to Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and the military-industrial complex? That those billionaires were going to throw us a parade? Guess what, Democrats: the rich don't care if you're "reasonable" or "bipartisan,” and they’ll always vote for the real thing. And they're laughing all the way to the bank while doing it.
The Democratic Party thinkers will blame the left, when in actuality it was their shift to the center that didn’t work. The “moderate” policies aren’t bringing in more voters—if anything, they’ve managed to alienate progressives and push away the young, diverse base that actually gives a damn about things like climate change, healthcare, and economic inequality. The Democratic Party now looks like a pitiful, watered-down version of its former self—like a diet Republican Party—trying to appease both sides while accomplishing nothing of substance. And let’s not kid ourselves—when the "center" of your party is more concerned with political optics and party-line discipline than the needs of the people, you’re doing it wrong.
Meanwhile, Bernie’s out there, still being one of the only ones with the guts to say the quiet part out loud: The system is rigged and it’s the Dems are no longer for you. But Democrats? Nah. They’re too busy pretending that "compromise" with the Republicans is a winning strategy. As if they didn’t lose the White House, the Senate, and now even the House is being called in favor of the Republicans.
So, let’s be real: 2024, Bernie was right. 2020, Bernie was right. 2016, Bernie was right. And it’s a damn shame the Democrats have spent all this time trying to prove him wrong.
Introducing Democracy Deciphered—Your New Political Survival Guide
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The Biggest Grammy Snubs of the Year: Tinashe and Megan Thee Stallion
As the country—still reeling from election results—tried to regroup, the Grammy nominations dropped, and once again, the Academy managed to miss the mark. And who did they overlook this time? Two of the biggest women in music: Tinashe and Megan Thee Stallion.
Both had breakout years. Tinashe’s Nasty became the song of the summer. From the viral TikTok dance to the "Who are 2 people that actually did match each other's freak?" meme flooding timelines, it was impossible to escape. The song was everywhere. But despite this undeniable cultural moment, the Grammys shrugged it off. Nasty deserved at least a nomination—yet it was ignored. Why? It’s as if they’re allergic to acknowledging female artists who bring both creativity and cultural relevance.
Then there’s Megan Thee Stallion, who not only dropped Megan, one of the biggest rap albums of the year, but also made history by securing the largest debut for a female rapper in 2024. Her album charted in the top 10, and she’s been out here dominating arenas on tour. Yet somehow, somehow, Megan didn’t receive a single nomination. It’s mind-boggling. The Academy somehow found space for Chris Brown (whose history is... problematic at best), but Megan and Tinashe—who are changing the game—are snubbed.
Look, I’m not here to drag anyone, but how is Chris Brown nominated and Megan and Tinashe aren’t? It’s not just about sales or chart positions—Megan has been an undeniable cultural force, and she deserves to be recognized. Same goes for Tinashe, whose viral success should’ve earned her a nomination, especially after delivering one of the most memorable songs of the year.
The Grammys have long been criticized for overlooking Black artists, especially women. And this year, the snub to Tinashe and Megan is a glaring reminder that the Academy still has a major blind spot when it comes to giving credit where it’s due.
So, while the Grammy voters stick to their usual safe picks, I’ll be over here, still bumping Nasty and Megan. Because even if the Academy doesn’t recognize them, I sure as hell do.
👺 Behind the Mask
Reading: Drop Site News
In a world where facts seem to be in short supply, Drop Site News is your antidote. It’s like your brain’s daily vitamin—full of real information to cut through the noise. If you’re tired of the political circus and just want some truth for once, this is where you’ll find it. Welcome to your reality check.
Listening: Balloon x Tyler, The Creator (feat. Doechii)
Tyler’s back with another album that’ll make you question why you haven’t been listening to him on repeat for the last decade. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Doechii shows up to remind us that we’re all lucky she’s in the game. This collab? Peak. Don’t sleep on it.
Watching: Hasan Piker (Hasanabi on Twitch)
Hasan's post-election coverage has been the reality check we all needed—especially after watching the liberal meltdown that tried to blame everyone but themselves for Harris's failure. If you're tired of the echo chamber, tune in to Hasan to get a sharp, no-bullshit take on what went down.
Drinking: Liquid I.V.
As a lifelong Pedialyte loyalist, I thought nothing could top that sweet, electrolytic elixir—until Liquid IV came into my life. It’s like Pedialyte’s cool older sibling who knows how to throw a hydration party. My body has thanked me thoroughly.
Eating: Risotto
I’ve been in a full-on risotto phase lately. There’s something about that creamy, buttery texture that makes everything else feel inferior. Whether you’re going classic or getting experimental, risotto is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to something fancy that’s actually easy to make.