In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Tristan de Liège recent socialist electoral victories, and analyze critical reactions that fail to identify the philosophical essence of the movement. Allegations of “extremism”What the “extremism” charge hidesAre socialists “democratic”?Socialism and communismSocialist and MAGA populismReligious communism, godless capitalism Resources: Ayn Rand “Extremism’: or the Art of Smearing,” in Capitalism: The Unknown IdealEntry on “socialism” in the Ayn Rand Lexicon Ben Bayer, “Meet the New Socialism, Same as the Old,” New Ideal, Sept 2, 2019Ben Bayer, “ICE Tyranny Is What Democracy Looks Like,” New Ideal, Feb 25, 2026“Why Socialists Fear the Republican Party Platform,” ARI Podcast, Jul 25, 2024“Trump\'s Anti-Capitalist Control Over Businesses,” ARI Podcast, Sept 18, 2025 This episode was recorded on July 23, 2026.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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