Political Betrayal or Strategic Maneuver?

Why I Hate Politics is a podcast hosted by a self-described “progressive, democratic-socialist political commentator” dedicated to “breaking down the chaos of modern politics, exposing corruption, calling out bad-faith elites, highlighting real working-class issues, and reacting to trending political moments with honesty and clarity."

“If you’re tired of the spin and want people-powered commentary,” notes the podcast's unnamed creator and host (right), “you’re in the right place.”

Why I Hate Politics’ latest video looks at the “rising anger, confusion and talk of betrayal” among progressives concerning recent statements by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani on not supporting Chi Ossé’s plan to primary Hakeem Jeffries. It’s a video that serves as a timely follow-up to Wednesday’s Wild Reed post, “Elected Democrats Have No Real Interest in Doing What the Base Wants,” in which I shared Mike Figueredo’s take on these same concerns.

Of course, not everyone views AOC and Mamdani’s statements as a "betrayal." Some see them as a strategic maneuver. Take for instance the following online comment:

People need to chill out. People don’t know what’s going on in New York City and the Democratic Socialists of America will vote to use their resources to support Ossé or not. You’re not going to hear internal politics. There are several races in NYC that they need on the City Council to get Zohran’s policies passed. Taking on Jefferies is a big undertaking that will use an extreme amount of resources like $$ and volunteers vs supporting local races in NYC to get those seats! Jefferies’ is a federal position and he has an approval rating of 73% in his district. Y’all don’t know the first thing about Ossé, but everyone is so desperate and sick of the DNC that people aren’t being strategic. Jefferies will be up in two years. We need to rebuild the game plan and not run half-cocked with no $ and volunteer infrastructure.

Related Off-site Links:
AOC and Zohran Bend Knee on Hakeem Jeffries Primary Challenger – Breaking Points (November 19, 2025).
AOC Rejects Hakeem Jeffries Challenge – Sabrina Salvati (Sabby Sabs, November 19, 2025).
AOC Says a Primary Challenger Against Hakeem Jeffries Is Not a Good Idea Right Now – I Am Blakeley (November 18, 2025).
AOC and Mamdani Break with DSA Candidate, Refuse to Endorse Jeffries’ Primary Challenger – Rising (November 19, 2025).
AOC Just Said the Most Disappointing Thing Ever – Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian (The Young Turks, November 19, 2025).
Trump’s Greatest Ally is the Democratic Party – Chris Hedges (The Chris Hedges Report, November 3, 2025). The Corporate Democrats Delivered Donald Trump – Norman Solomon (Common Dreams, October 21, 2025).
How Elites Destroyed the Democratic Party in the U.S. and Fuelled Populism: An Interview with Joan Williams – Al Jazeera (August 31, 2025).
The Democratic Party Can’t Be Reformed – Black Green Red (August 20, 2025).
The Left Can Only Win If There is a Left – Richard Moser (CounterPunch, August 2, 2024).
The Democrats Actively Expedited Class Dealignment: An Interview with Neal Meyer – Vivek Chibber (Jacobin, May 12, 2025).
Why the Democratic Party Is Not Going to Save Us From Fascism – The Humanist Report (March 6, 2025).
Dems Reportedly Angry That Progressives Are Pushing Them to Act Like an Opposition Party – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, February 12, 2025).


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ
• Eric Fernández: Quote of the Day – May 14, 2025
• When Democrats Undermine Democracy
• AOC Falls Into Line
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Quote of the Day – March 10, 2019
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Quote of the Day – February 6, 2019
• Ross Barkan: Quote of the Day – June 27, 2018


THE FAILURES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
• Tony Pentimalli on the Fallacy of the “Safe Political Center”
• Kshama Sawant on the Democrats’ Shutdown Cave
• David Norton: “The Democratic Party Serves Capital, Not You”
• Robert Reich on the “Big Ugly Cave” by Senate Democrats
• Mike Figueredo on the “Political Malpractice” of the Democratic Party
• Ted Rall: Democrats Are Not “the Left”
• Exposing the Dark Money Network Secretly Funding Establishment Democratic Influencers
• Why the Democratic Party Is Not Going to Save Us From Fascism
• Howie Hawkins: “The Democrats Are Not the Answer to the Trump/Fascism Problem”
• The Longstanding Fault Lines Within the Democratic Party Have Surfaced Again in Minnesota
• Jeff Cohen on How Obama’s “Corporate Liberalism” Led to the Rise of Trump
• Progressive Perspectives on Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour
• Eric Fernández: Quote of the Day – May 14, 2025
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – July 26, 2025
• When Democrats Undermine Democracy


SIGNS OF HOPE
• “The Answer, Actually, Is Hope”
• Eddie Glaude: A “Radical Refusal” Is Happening
• Butch Ware on “Red & Blue vs Green Politics”
• Progressive Perspectives on Zohran Mamdani’s Win in New York City
• “No Kings”? Absolutely. But Also “No Oligarchy”
• Chris Smalls: We Need to Escape the “Two-Party Plantation”
• Kshama Sawant: Independent Working-class Campaigns Can Succeed
• The Rational National’s Take on Zohran Mamdani
• Omar Fateh: “We Need to Meet the Needs of Working People”
• Something to Think About – July 25, 2025
• In His Efforts to “Build a City That Works for All,” Omar Fateh Secures a Key Endorsement
• Butch Ware on His Run for California Governor and the Wider Goal of Disrupting the Duopoly
• Marianne Williamson on the Need for “Radical Love” in Responding to Trump’s Dismantling of Democracy
• “Protesting Is What Patriotism Looks Like in Public”