Major Party Realignment

Major Party Realignment

July 18, 2026 · Episode 185

About this episode

Mark Thornton explores the rise of democratic socialism in the Democratic Party and its implications for party realignment in the U.S.

Mark Thornton looks at the growing strength of democratic socialism inside the Democratic Party and asks whether the United States may be entering another era of major party realignment. Drawing on Rothbard’s analysis of long-term ideological change, Mark explains how younger voters, burdened by debt, unaffordable housing, healthcare, and education, are understandably angry—but are turning toward policies that helped create the crisis. Mark also examines how war, inflation, government intervention, and broken political promises are reshaping both major parties. On Side B, Thornton joins the Liberty and Finance podcast to discuss monetary disorder, central bank digital currencies, programmable money, AI-driven surveillance, the war on cash, and the need for education and resistance against the next monetary reset. Additional Resources "Keith Knight’s Top Ten Problems with Democratic Socialism" (Human Action Podcast) with Bob Murphy: https://mises.org/MI_186_A "How Democratic Socialists of America Has Developed Into a Movement Party" by David Duhalde: https://mises.org/MI_186_B "The Myth of Democratic Socialism" by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/MI_186_C "How Democratic…

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Host: Mark Thornton

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Organizations: Democratic Party, Liberty and Finance, Democratic Socialists of America

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