GEOFF BARNETT, PBS NEWSHOUR: Let’s talk about that label, DSA. For a generation, “socialist” was the attack that Republicans hoped Democrats would walk into. And now you have a generation of Democrats — progressive Democrats — who are claiming this title, this democratic socialist title, outright with no apologies. What do you make of the generational split here?
DAVID BROOKS: I think there’s somewhat of a realignment going on. The Democratic Party’s heart and soul used to be the labor movement, the unions. It is not anymore. It is the universities, especially the elite universities.
So the candidate who won in New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier, worked in Columbia and is a sociology Ph.D., or I think she is trying to get her Ph.D., and she grows out of that place.
And if you look at all the candidates, the DSA candidates, where they did well, they did very well in the more affluent, whiter, and better-educated parts of New York City. And traditional candidates did well in the poorer and more multiracial parts of New York City.
The faculty lounge has become a strong part of the Democratic Party, and faculty-lounge politics have become a strong part of the Democratic Party. And I think that extends somewhat beyond New York City: democratic socialist candidates in Washington, DC; the mayoral race; around the country, other DSA candidates.
It will not realign the party. There are just not many people with sociology doctorates and people who respond to faculty-lounge politics. But there are enough.
And I think one of the things that will shift within the Democratic Party as a whole is, I think Israel will become a flashpoint. The Democratic Party is shifting strongly on that one. Some of the economic issues.
I am curious to see if we go back to “defund the police.” She is a prison abolitionist, and she refuses to answer the question. Democrats did very poorly a couple of years ago because of “defund the police.” That seemed out of touch to a lot of people, including a lot of Democrats.
Will the party make that mistake again because of where the energy is in the party and the DSA wing? I hope the long-term elections is the traditional parts of the party somehow getting some mojo and energy to match what they are up against.
