If anyone wondered whether the Democratic Party has settled its identity crisis, Wednesday’s episode of The View answered that question in about five minutes.
Joy Behar enthusiastically embraced the rise of democratic socialism, arguing Americans have nothing to fear from the label.
“Obviously, New Yorkers aren’t watching Fox constantly and so they’re not afraid of the term democratic socialism. If I fall down, I want an ambulance. If my house is on fire, bring your hose… I’m not scared of the term. I think they’re scared of the term in this country! But Social Security is a democratic socialism… The people who pick up your garbage, the people who take the fire out of your house. All of these are democratic socialism.”
It’s an argument conservatives have heard for decades. Wrap an entire political philosophy inside universally popular public services and hope nobody notices the distinction. Nobody is campaigning against firefighters or ambulances. The debate has always been about how much government should control, regulate and spend—not whether someone answers 911.
Behar then predicted Republicans are supposedly turning on President Trump and declared Americans have “had it with this right-wing nasty politics.” But before anyone could celebrate that prediction, the conversation took an unexpected turn. It stopped being Republicans versus Democrats and quickly became Democrats versus Democrats.
Alyssa Farah Griffin pointed to several Democratic Socialist-backed candidates who had just won primaries and suggested the movement extends far beyond promises about affordable housing.
“One of your new candidates… wants to abolish the police and all prisons. She was asked four times, ‘How would you deal with someone who committed murder then? What is your plan?’ And she dodged and didn’t answer.”
She also cited controversial social media posts from the candidate and argued these weren’t simply economic progressives but “left-wing extremists that were elected… at the expense of moderate Democrats.”
That prompted one of the more revealing moments of the entire discussion. Behar didn’t defend those positions at all.
“I don’t like the way she sounds at all.”
Exactly. It’s easy to applaud “democratic socialism” when the examples are firefighters and garbage collection. It becomes considerably harder when the conversation shifts to abolishing police departments and prisons. Suddenly the slogans don’t sound quite as comforting.
Sunny Hostin saw things very differently.
“The Democratic Socialists of America is a force to be reckoned with at this point.”
She argued the movement’s growth resembles the Tea Party’s rise years ago and suggested Democrats searching for a new identity are naturally gravitating toward Democratic Socialists. She also praised candidates campaigning on affordable housing, Medicare for All, abortion rights and LGBTQ protections.
Farah Griffin wasn’t convinced.
“He beat Dan Goldman… who led the impeachment against Donald Trump… because he believes in Israel’s right to exist he lost his seat.”
That observation shifted the discussion into another fault line dividing today’s Democratic Party: Israel. Sara Haines referenced reports involving one of the victorious candidates appearing at a rally immediately after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
“On October 8th, I don’t think there needed to be rallies cheering on Hamas.”
Hostin pushed back, questioning whether criticism of Israel should automatically be labeled anti-Semitism. Haines responded by drawing a distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and openly embracing extremists.
“Some people criticizing Israel are not anti-Semites. All anti-Semites criticize Israel and use it as cover.”
Ironically, Joy Behar may have delivered the most politically insightful line of the morning.
“All of that does not bring down the cost of bread.”
She’s right.
The segment ended with Farah Griffin noting that some Democratic Socialist supporters were reportedly chanting “You’re next” at House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries after the primary victories.
The loudest warning Democrats heard on The View wasn’t coming from Republicans. It was coming from people sitting at the same political table.
Joy Behar says she loves democratic socialism and falsely claims first responder services and garbage collection are democratic socialist policies in action, and praises the Ponzi scheme that is Social Security:
Obviously, New Yorkers aren’t watching Fox constantly and so… pic.twitter.com/jBWoposZlv
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) June 24, 2026
