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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 is a producer for The Wheelhouse and Where We Live at Connecticut Public. She's also the host and a producer of the narrative podcast 'Generation Gilmore Girls.' Before that, she produced and reported for VPM and Story Mechanics on the investigative podcast 'Admissible: Shreds of Evidence.' She earned her master's degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2021. Reach her at cwynne@ctpublic.org.