For the Flounder Democrats, the summer of 2025 has been quite eventful. Between the mixed messages emerging from the Democratic National Committee’s summer gathering and the radical leftist leanings of Zoran Mamdani, who’s vying to be New York City’s next mayor, it’s likely that President Trump and the GOP will continue to lead the conversation in a more sensible direction.
The obvious takeaway from the DNC’s meeting is this: Democrats seem to have gained little insight from the blunders of the Biden-Harris administration during the 2024 campaign. In Minneapolis, party leaders appeared willing to stick with many of the contentious issues that helped propel Trump back into office.
Throughout the discussions, we heard Democrats labeling America as a fundamentally flawed place. There were rants from some about a lawsuit supporting gender reassignment surgeries, and prominent speakers downplayed crime issues, declaring that concerns over immigration crime and carjackings aren’t priorities for many Americans. A unanimous vote amongst members favored a divisive DEI policy. Even after last year’s assassination attempts on Trump, some party chairs drew unsettling comparisons to violent confrontations.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin stated, “We are no longer the only party playing by the rules.” Such remarks reflect the hubris of a diminishing party that struggles to correct its course. After all, accusations of Russian conspiracies weren’t really based on any rule set, nor were the actions taken by the DOJ or the invasion of Trump’s homes. Allowing border crossings unchecked and forgiving massive student loan debts certainly don’t fit any standard of rules either. The denial of their situation isn’t a path likely to lead Democrats forward, especially given their poor donor and voter registration numbers.
Meanwhile, Trump has focused on revitalizing America with straightforward policies concerning crime, border security, and tax relief. In stark contrast, Mamdani’s vision for New York City seems directed at transforming it into something akin to an oppressive regime. The difference between Trump’s practical approach and the direction Democrats are heading couldn’t be starker. For Trump, a proactive economic stance that lets people keep more of their income is key. On the other hand, Mamdani advocates for higher taxes and greater government control, all while mislabeling these moves as “freedom.” If Mamdani secures a win in November, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Democrats broaden this economic message across the country by 2026.
To address rampant crime, Trump champions law and order, while Mamdani leans toward movements that defund the police, making it tough for law enforcement to do their jobs effectively.
Additionally, it’s clear that Mamdani will align with national Democrats to limit ICE, effectively turning New York City into a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, consistently prioritizing their needs over those of citizens. In essence, Trump sees New York as a remarkable metropolis, while Mamdani’s vision could strip it of its essence and prosperity. This is a troubling notion—Mamdani’s ideas could undermine the free-market principles that have long characterized New York.
Historically, New York has been synonymous with global capitalism, attracting legal immigrants seeking their piece of the American dream. However, under Mamdani’s leadership, the American Dream seems at risk. When Ronald Reagan warned, “As the government expands, free agency contracts,” he might as well have been speaking directly about figures like Mamdani. Label him as a democratic socialist or communist; it ultimately points to a dismal future fueled by failed ideologies.
Mamdani’s proposed policies won’t actually make New York more affordable—instead, he advocates for a reallocation of wealth that would see the government seizing control over personal finances. Let’s break that down: when a past mayor suggested that Democrats should adopt a more affordability-focused message like Mamdani’s, it underscored the desperate state of the party. Out of viable ideas, politicians are resorting to recycling the left-wing agendas that have historically faced rejection.
What’s on the table to genuinely improve affordability in New York? As with many left-leaning plans, it starts with significant tax increases on businesses and those deemed “wealthy.” This isn’t complex: the financial burden will invariably be passed onto working individuals. Mamdani’s vision is filled with promises of “free” services like childcare and transportation. But history teaches that such initiatives often lead to long lines for basic needs and unreliable services. The notion of socialized parenting, for example, could create quite a nightmare. Furthermore, if he follows through with proposals like decriminalizing prostitution and imposing a $30 minimum wage, the consequences could devastate small businesses and tourism in the city.
Many people are aware of or have encountered the downsides of Marxist-Leninist ideology before. Yet tragically, today’s youth often aren’t informed about the historical warnings concerning socialism’s failures. This, it seems, is the agenda behind figures like Mamdani. Historical evidence shows that socialist experiments in places like the Soviet Union, Venezuela, and Cuba have all collapsed, simply because people resist oppression. There aren’t any successful narratives centered around communism or socialism leading to prosperity.
Mamdani and the radical factions within the Democratic National Committee seem intent on reviving their misguided ideologies, likely to lead to another disastrous outcome. But with Trump’s common-sense policies, there’s hope for a comeback after 2026.
