Could the US elect its first female president in 2028? Podcast examines AOC and the left’s moment
In a Guardian podcast, Jonathan Freedland and Bhaskar Sunkara discuss the rise of left-wing Democrats, calls for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run in 2028, and whether democratic socialism has entered the political mainstream.
In the latest Guardian podcast, Jonathan Freedland speaks with Bhaskar Sunkara, president of The Nation magazine and founding editor of Jacobin, about a surge in left-wing Democratic politics. The conversation highlights figures such as Zohran Mamdani in New York and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, as well as growing calls for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to launch a presidential bid in 2028.
The episode explores a central question: has democratic socialism in the United States shifted from the political fringe to the mainstream? Freedland and Sunkara consider whether this movement can win back swing voters, a group often seen as crucial in tight elections. They also discuss the possibility that the 2028 race could produce the country’s first female president, with Ocasio-Cortez mentioned as a potential candidate.
Sunkara, author of "The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequalities," brings a perspective shaped by years of analyzing left-wing movements. The podcast looks at whether the current attention on left-wing Democrats is a lasting trend or a transient moment, and what it might mean for the party’s internal dynamics as the next presidential election approaches.
