Calls for reduced U.S. engagement abroad, particularly regarding Israel, have grown louder on the hard left and in pockets of the right. While fiscal restraint and avoiding unnecessary wars are valid conservative concerns, the broader push toward isolationism or alliances with radicals risks weakening America’s security and betraying our principles.
The DSA and the Hard Left’s Agenda
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a far-left organization explicitly committed to “democratic socialism.” Their motives are transformative: replace capitalism with government-controlled economies, implement massive wealth redistribution, defund police, enact open borders, and pursue radical cultural change. In elections, they run candidates to infiltrate and radicalize the Democratic Party from within, using anti-Israel stances (including BDS) as a key litmus test.
DSA Infiltration Tactics: The DSA operates through a deliberate strategy of entryism — joining and influencing the Democratic Party rather than building a third party. They endorse and fund candidates in Democratic primaries, mobilize young activists and campus networks, and use social media and local chapters to build grassroots momentum. By focusing on deep-blue districts and down-ballot races, they gradually shift the party leftward. Their recent successes in New York and elsewhere show how they exploit low-turnout primaries and anti-establishment sentiment to install radicals who then push the broader agenda.
Recent wins include Brad Lander (NY-10), Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13), and Claire Valdez (NY-7) in New York — all with strong DSA ties. Avila Chevalier has a history of provocative statements. Similar DSA-backed candidates are targeting races in Michigan (e.g., Abdul El-Sayed for Senate) and Wisconsin. Their ultimate goal if they gain power: fundamentally remake America into a socialist state, prioritizing collectivism over individual liberty and free markets. In places like New York City and California, DSA influence has already pushed aggressive “billionaire tax” proposals and wealth redistribution schemes that punish success and drive businesses and residents away.
Democrats appear to be imitating the radical energy of the DSA in the same way Republicans tried to clone Trump’s appeal in 2022 — nominating extreme candidates and hoping the base enthusiasm transfers. That strategy backfired then, and it risks doing so again. Getting high on ideological supply leads to nominating people who alienate the broader electorate. Moderate Democrats are being eaten alive by their own radical wing, the blood is already in the water — much like the ill-fated characters in Jaws who ignored the shark until it was too late. Barely any will denounce the extremists in their base, leaving the party vulnerable to a catastrophic reckoning.
Why Younger People Are Turning to Socialism
Younger voters show higher openness to socialism. Reasons include economic anxiety (student debt, housing costs, perceived inequality), cultural messaging in schools and social media that portrays capitalism as rigged and oppressive, and a romanticized view of socialism as “compassionate” without understanding its historical failures (economic collapse, authoritarianism, and millions of deaths under regimes like the USSR, Maoist China, and Venezuela).
It is partly backlash to Trump-era policies — some see them as chaotic or insufficiently progressive on social issues — but more broadly reflects poor education on economics and history. Many young people lack lived memory of 20th-century socialism’s disasters and are drawn to promises of “free” services without grasping the costs in liberty and prosperity.
The Rising Hatred of Israel and Jews — A Problem on Both Sides
The surge in antisemitism and hatred of Israel is one of the most disturbing developments in modern politics. On the left, it has become normalized in progressive circles, with “From the river to the sea” chants, campus encampments glorifying Hamas, and DSA candidates making anti-Israel activism central. This is not mere policy critique — it often denies Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state while ignoring or excusing Islamist terrorism. Historical roots trace to Marxist anti-Zionism, Soviet-era propaganda, and the fusion of radical Islamism with left-wing identity politics post-1960s. The result is a moral inversion: the Jewish state defending itself is portrayed as the aggressor, while terrorists are romanticized as “resistance.”
On the right, fringe elements have also gained visibility. Figures like Tucker Carlson, and he is not the only one.. have amplified narratives that veer into conspiracy territory, questioning U.S. support for Israel in ways that sometimes echo isolationist or antisemitic tropes (e.g., dual loyalty claims or “warmonger” accusations). While mainstream conservatism remains strongly pro-Israel, online echo chambers and “groyper”/paleocon remnants have mainstreamed skepticism that crosses into hostility. This is not as pervasive as on the left, but it is real and growing, fueled by frustration with foreign aid, perceptions of neoconservative influence, and conspiracy thinking.
Recent polling underscores the asymmetry. Gallup and Pew data show Republicans remain far more supportive of Israel, with favorable views in the 60%+ range and large majorities backing the alliance — compared to sharp Democratic declines. Yet the fringe right’s noise amplifies the problem.
Antisemitism is a cancer that thrives on ignorance of history: Jewish contributions to the West, Israel’s role as the sole democracy in a sea of authoritarianism, and the Holocaust’s lessons. It is not conspiracy theory to acknowledge rising hatred on both sides — it is observable reality that demands honest confrontation, not denial or false equivalence.
John Fetterman stands out as one of the few remaining normal Democrats willing to call out this hatred and stand with Israel unequivocally. His courage highlights how far the party has strayed.
The Hard Left’s Alignment with Adversaries
This extremism is not abstract. When Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed, several Americans traveled to Tehran for his funeral, praising the regime and calling for revenge against the United States:
Jackson Hinkle: A social media influencer and co-founder of the American Communist Party, known for defending authoritarian regimes. He amplified Iranian propaganda, met regime officials, and led chants against the U.S. and Israel.
Max Blumenthal: Far-left activist and editor of The Grayzone. He participated in Shia rituals at the funeral, interviewed regime figures, and claimed Khamenei’s death strengthened the Islamic Republic.
Christopher Helali: A Vermont elected official (high bailiff) and American Communist Party international secretary. He posted selfies at the funeral, honored Khamenei, and declared “Death to U.S. Imperialism and Zionism!”
Calla Walsh: A young activist who has worked on Democratic campaigns and now contributes to Iranian state media. She called Khamenei a martyr and praised the funeral as a “referendum” on loyalty to the revolution.
These examples reveal active sympathy for America’s enemies, not principled anti-war sentiment.
Western Exceptionalism Under Attack
At the heart of these debates is a deeper civilizational truth. Western societies developed unique traits of individualism, rule of law, scientific inquiry, and personal agency that produced unparalleled prosperity and freedom. The hard left rejects this exceptionalism, viewing the West as inherently oppressive. This self-loathing fuels alignment with illiberal forces abroad and cultural erosion at home.
Legitimate Debate vs. Conspiracy and Isolationism
On the right, America First rightly prioritizes U.S. sovereignty, secure borders, energy independence, and avoiding endless wars. Questions about aid efficiency are fair.
However, much of the loudest “skepticism” from certain commentators is wrapped in conspiracy theories and selective narratives. Tucker Carlson, in particular, has a pattern of making provocative claims only to later deny or walk them back when challenged. He is not a reliable guide for complex foreign policy. Legitimate debate over tactics should not slide into isolationism or moral confusion that weakens our allies and emboldens enemies like Iran.
Israel is a democratic partner sharing intelligence, technology, and values. It confronts existential threats from Iran-backed groups that chant “Death to America.” Abandoning a key ally would not bring peace — it would invite greater conflict, destabilize energy markets, and signal weakness to China, Russia, and jihadists worldwide.
True America First Requires Realism and Strength
America First is not a retreat from the world. It is pursuing policies that strengthen our sovereignty and security. That includes:
Secure borders and energy independence.
Conditional, accountable aid — not blank checks.
Support for democratic allies who fight our shared enemies.
Rejection of both neoconservative overreach and progressive isolationism.
The U.S.-Israel alliance delivers direct benefits in defense, cybersecurity, and medicine. It deters larger wars.
As a former Democrat who walked away, I’ve seen how selective outrage on the left reveals ideology, not principle. Conservatives must not mirror that hypocrisy or ally with it.
We can debate aid and strategy rigorously. But we must not sacrifice moral clarity , common sense or strategic advantage. America’s interests — and the defense of Western civilization — demand strength, reliable partnerships, and unapologetic confidence in who we are.
The energy around these debates is real. Let us channel it toward renewal at home and principled realism abroad — not isolation or moral confusion.
