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The S-word: What does ‘socialism’ mean in modern American politics?

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a protest against the indictment of New York attorney general Letitia James, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in New York.
Yuki Iwamura
/
AP
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a protest against the indictment of New York attorney general Letitia James, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in New York.

Polls show that more Americans are embracing socialism.

At the same time, politicians that call themselves Democratic Socialists are often painted by conservatives as political extremists.

What is a Democratic Socialist? And why is President Donald Trump calling a popular one in the race for New York City’s mayor a communist?

Today on the Wheelhouse, we define socialism. We’ll wade through complicated political waters to examine its history and complex ideology.

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Frankie Graziano is the host of 'The Wheelhouse,' focusing on how local and national politics impact the people of Connecticut.
Chloe Wynne is a producer for 'The Wheelhouse' and 'Where We Live.' She previously worked as a producer and reporter for the investigative podcast series, 'Admissible: Shreds of Evidence,' which was co-produced by VPM and Story Mechanics and distributed by iHeartRadio. She began her journalism career at inewsource, an investigative newsroom in San Diego, Calif., where she covered housing, education and crime. She earned her master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2021, where she focused on audio storytelling.