The rest of us and MAGA can fix what Bernie Sanders calls our pseudo-democracy if …

Bernie Sanders recently called America a pseudo-democracy. It will be solved not by Democrats but by all of us, including MAGA, and we must start by doing this.

Are we a pseudo-democracy?

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Summary

In this heartfelt radio soliloquy, the host reflects on the state of American democracy, criticizing its transformation into a “pseudo-democracy,” as Bernie Sanders recently pointed out. It is dominated by corporate money and political manipulation. Using the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race as an example, the host emphasizes the power of community, personal connection, and grassroots organizing over billionaire interference. He recalls the erosion of neighborly bonds and calls for a revival of human-centered engagement to reclaim democratic values.

5 Key Bullet Points:

• Bernie Sanders describes the U.S. as a “pseudo-democracy” weakened by corporate influence.
• The Wisconsin Supreme Court race was a hopeful turning point, showing people can still overcome moneyed interests.
• Citizens United is cited as a foundational problem allowing billionaires to corrupt elections.
• The speaker stresses relational politics—friends and neighbors influencing each other—more powerful than ads or money.
• Community cohesion has eroded but can be rebuilt through kindness, dialogue, and grassroots involvement.

This soliloquy underscores that the battle for American democracy won’t be won with billionaires’ dollars but through solidarity, love, and human connection. The speaker powerfully contrasts the corrupting influence of Citizens United and Elon Musk’s election interference with the grassroots triumph in Wisconsin, reminding us that organizing from the ground up—not from boardrooms—is how we reclaim our future.

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Premium Content (Complimentary)

MAGA and the rest of us can fix what Bernie Sanders calls our pseudo-democracy if we choose people over power. This morning on my radio show, I shared a soliloquy from a place of profound observation and cautious expectation. I spoke from the heart, not just to progressives, independents, or even moderates, but to my MAGA brothers and sisters. Because despite our ideological divides, there’s one truth that’s increasingly clear to me: the only way we will salvage what little is left of our democracy—and turn it into something real, something just—is if we reconnect as people. As neighbors. As humans who care for each other.

The Pseudo-Democracy That Bernie Sanders Warns About

Bernie Sanders didn’t mince words when he called America a pseudo-democracy. And honestly, I think he was being generous. For years now, I’ve watched the corporate elite capture our institutions, manipulate our elections, and use their billions to drown out the voices of everyday people. From the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision—which equated money with free speech—to billionaires like Elon Musk trying to bribe voters with gimmicks, essentially, we see the effects of oligarchy masquerading as democracy.

Clearly, Citizens United v. FEC wasn’t just a bad ruling. It was a deliberate legal coup. It gave corporations and the ultra-wealthy carte blanche to spend unlimited amounts of money to sway elections. As the Brennan Center for Justice reports, super PACs and dark money groups now dominate the electoral landscape, pushing policies that favor the few at the expense of the many.

A Beacon of Resistance in Wisconsin

But then, something happened in Wisconsin. A progressive Supreme Court justice won in a landslide—even after last-minute interference from Musk and other billionaire operatives. That victory didn’t happen by accident. It happened because nearly 60% of the people refused to be bought. They understood what was at stake: voting rights, fair maps, reproductive justice, and the rule of law.

This wasn’t just a win on the scoreboard. It was a flex point—a moment when ordinary people exercised extraordinary power. It proved that no matter how much money floods our political system, it’s still possible to beat it with real organizing and authentic connection.

Human Connection Is Our Secret Weapon

You see, all the billionaires in the world can’t replicate what we have: trust—genuine human relationships. If you sit down with a friend—someone who may not vote like you, who maybe flies a MAGA flag—you can sometimes cut through the noise because they trust you. Not MSNBC. Not Fox News. Not TikTok. You. That’s why grassroots organizing still works. That’s why community still matters.

When I moved into my neighborhood years ago, we welcomed each other with food, laughter, and open arms. We didn’t ask who you voted for before saying hello back then. But slowly, that warmth began to erode. Right-wing media, the Tea Party, and now MAGA nationalism have chipped away at our social cohesion, replacing trust with fear and empathy with suspicion. And the people pulling the strings? They love it that way. The Kochs. The Mercers. The Musks. As long as we’re fighting each other, we’re not fighting them.

Rebuilding Democracy From the Bottom Up

So what’s the answer? It’s not a single election or candidate. It’s a cultural shift. It’s potlucks instead of platforms. Conversations instead of cable news. It’s choosing to see your neighbor not as your enemy but as your partner in reclaiming this country.

Democracy isn’t something we inherit—it’s something we build. And the foundation isn’t campaign contributions or political slogans. It’s people. It’s us. If we want universal healthcare, living wages, voting rights, climate justice, and racial equity, we must organize—online and in our communities. We need to be the antidote to the disconnection that feeds fascism.

Let’s Populate the Internet—and the Streets—with a Progressive Message

As I said this morning, we have to flood the internet with truth, hope, and solidarity. We must counter right-wing disinformation with a progressive message rooted in compassion and justice. That message already resonates with most Americans, whether they know it or not.

So yes, MAGA and the rest of us can fix what Bernie calls our pseudo-democracy. But only if we choose each other over the billionaires. Hug more and hate less. Remember that this country belongs to all of us—not just the powerful.