FLYING IN CIRCLES
THE DNC EAGLE HAS A CORPORATE PROBLEM
The Democratic National Committee—home to the party of the people, the working class, and, apparently, a bird with a serious case of vertigo. If you’ve been paying attention lately, you might have noticed that the left wing of the Democratic eagle seems to have taken a sabbatical, leaving the right wing flapping furiously. The result? A bird that’s flying in circles so tight it’s starting to resemble a political ouroboros, devouring its own tail. Or maybe it’s just choking on its own centrism.
Let’s start with the headline-grabbing departures of some of the DNC’s most prominent figures: Randi Weingarten, Lee Saunders, and David Hogg. Yes, you read that right—David Hogg, the Gen Z activist who came in hot with a $20 million plan to shake up the party by primarying older Democrats. Apparently, trying to infuse a little youthful energy into the geriatric halls of Democratic leadership is about as welcome as bringing kombucha to a Bud Light party. Weingarten and Saunders, meanwhile, left after clashing with DNC Chair Ken Martin, a man whose leadership style seems to hinge on keeping everyone equally dissatisfied.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The real drama began with the DNC vice-chair elections, which turned into a procedural dumpster fire faster than you can say "gender-parity rules." David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta were elected, only to have their victories vacated due to some technical complaints that smell suspiciously like ideological sabotage. Hogg’s crime? Advocating for reform and daring to suggest that maybe, just maybe, some of those safe-blue incumbents could use a little competition. The horror!
The DNC panel recommended a re-election in August, which is essentially code for “Let’s drag this out long enough for everyone to lose interest.” Of course, Hogg decided not to run again because nothing says “We value young leaders” like making them jump through flaming hoops while dousing them with gasoline. But hey, at least they’re consistent—consistently terrible at handling internal disputes.
Speaking of disputes, let’s talk about Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders. These two union heavyweights didn’t just leave the DNC; they left with a mic drop that echoed across the labor movement. Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, cited concerns about the party’s direction—or lack thereof. Saunders, who heads the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), called for new strategies to address urgent challenges. Translation: “We’re tired of watching you fumble around like a toddler trying to assemble IKEA furniture.”
Both leaders had supported Ben Wikler for DNC chair over Ken Martin, a choice that clearly didn’t sit well with Martin’s camp. In a move that can only be described as petty, Martin removed Weingarten from the Rules and Bylaws Committee, effectively sidelining one of labor’s most prominent voices. Because nothing says “party unity” like alienating your base of working-class voters and their representatives.
And let’s not forget Martin’s grand plan to “democratize” committee appointments by letting caucuses and the Youth Council nominate members. Sure, it sounds nice on paper—until you realize it’s the political equivalent of handing out participation trophies while ignoring the actual game. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking toward the 2026 midterms, and the party is still trying to figure out whether it wants to be progressive or centrist—or just MAGA Lite with better lighting.
Ah yes, MAGA Lite—the specter haunting the Democratic Party like a bad Tinder date you just can’t shake. The Biden-Harris era was supposed to be about rebuilding a more just and fair society after the authoritarian circus of Trump. Instead, we’ve got a party that seems more interested in courting suburban moderates than addressing systemic inequality or climate change. It’s as if they looked at Trump’s playbook and thought, “You know what? Let’s try this whole populism thing but make it corporate-friendly.”
But here’s the rub: you can’t out-MAGA MAGA. Trying to appeal to voters who think Joe Biden is a socialist is like trying to sell vegan hot dogs at a Texas barbecue—it’s not going to work, and you’ll just end up alienating your actual supporters. The Democratic Party needs to stop chasing the mythical center-right voter and start listening to its base: young people, working-class families, and communities of color who are tired of being treated like an afterthought.
David Hogg understood this, which is why his resignation is such a loss for the party. Say what you will about his tactics—yes, primarying incumbents is controversial—but at least he had a vision for generational change. And let’s be real: some of these Democratic incumbents have been in office so long they probably still think TikTok is a brand of clock.
Hogg’s endorsement of Irene Shin for Gerry Connolly’s seat was another bold move that ruffled feathers. Shin represents the kind of generational change the party desperately needs, but instead of embracing her candidacy, the DNC stuck to its usual playbook: favoring establishment candidates and ignoring calls for ranked-choice voting. Because why fix a broken system when you can just blame low voter turnout?
And then there’s foreign policy—because no political essay would be complete without a mention of America’s favorite pastime: endless wars. Hogg criticized Democrats supporting U.S. involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict, warning against another costly foreign war that would divide the party and alienate younger voters. His stance was met with predictable resistance from budget-conscious lawmakers who are apparently only frugal when it comes to social programs.
Meanwhile, President Trump—yes, he’s still lurking in this narrative like an uninvited wedding guest—returned early from the G7 summit for security talks about Iran. For Democrats, the challenge is clear: they can either double down on their principles or risk becoming indistinguishable from their Republican counterparts.
So where does that leave us? The Democratic Party is at a crossroads—or perhaps more accurately, stuck in a roundabout with no exit in sight. The departure of figures like Weingarten, Saunders, and Hogg highlights a deeper identity crisis that can’t be solved with procedural fixes or empty platitudes about unity. The party needs to decide whether it wants to be a vehicle for progressive change or just another cog in the status quo machine.
In the meantime, the DNC eagle will continue its dizzying flight pattern, flapping its right wing furiously while its left wing remains conspicuously underutilized. Here’s hoping it doesn’t crash into something—or worse, spiral so far downward that it forgets how to fly altogether.
Because if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s this: birds aren’t meant to fly in circles. And neither are political parties.
Big Education Ape: THE WOBBLY TIGHTROPE OF THE DNC - A TALE OF DAVID HOGG, PROCEDURAL HICCUPS AND THE QUEST FOR YOUTHFUL REBELLION https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-wobbly-tightrope-of-dnc-tale-of.html