The Press Says the DSA Is Bringing Sexy Back, Anything to Avoid Bringing Policies to the Forefront
As the primary season continues to unwind, it has been rather telling to see how the collective media outlets timidly approach the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Sure, there has been a focus on the personalities, the success of their campaigns, and the melodramatic conflicts created within the Democratic Party. It is all so very exciting!
What has been lightly addressed is the radical agenda items pushed by many from that emerging wing of the Democrats. Initially, there was pushback from journalists who argued that you could not accuse them of desiring communism and wanting to dismantle our foundational principles. Small problem: The DSA members would not shut up about how they want those very results.
Let’s harken back for a spell to the days of the 2024 general election campaign, when the media was in full-throated warning mode about Donald Trump wanting to destroy our democracy. That was the mantra from many, for months, right up to the election. Yet somehow today the volume has been cranked down despite calls from these upstarts to eliminate the Constitution, reformat the Senate, eradicate the Electoral College, and more.
As a result, this week we have an entirely new approach to the DSA by the press: They are bringing sexy back!
Audie Cornish had her panel for CNN This Morning discussing not the platform positions and political proposals from the DSA Dems, but their measure on the hotness scale. She introduced how many of the candidates are perceived as being sexy, and then ran clips from a variety of Leftist influencers calling for a “hot president”.
[ VIDEO CLIP ]
On her panel was Sara Fischer from Axios, which was fitting. Her outlet had also jumped in with this boast that many from the left wing of the Democratic Party were notable not for fulfilling promises, but for how well they filled out a tight T-shirt.
.@ajlotz8 reports on Dems latest campaign tactic: thirst traps.
Unbuttoned shirts on CNN.
Exposed bicepson the rally stage.
Made-for-TikTok thirst trap b-roll.
And the return of the tan suit.https://t.co/tPpf4CMdLV— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) August 18, 2026
So, when faced with rather uncomfortable realities from the collective of radicals that have surfaced in the DSA movement, it is obvious why there is a desire to distract. Given that many times these DSA mouthpieces stumble verbally when challenged with questions on just how they will implement their plans, there is a need to appeal viscerally.
Did I just hear them say the Constitution is a problem?! “Who cares? He has his guns out!” Okay, but that whole proposal of eliminating the Senate sounds problematic. “You are missing out on his Big (Crank) Energy!!!”
Considering that what many of these extremist candidates are selling is Socialism, or worse, the realization that this would bring about policies that would ensnare many, talking instead about Thirst Traps is preferred. As Fischer mentioned, appealing to the algorithm is the key, not selling people on their proposals.
Like one of the influencers that Audie highlighted said, “To have someone young and hot, it would be revolutionary,” it is willful ignorance. Watch them, after an election, shred our founding principles and recalibrate our entire democracy if you truly want to see something “revolutionary” take place.
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
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