A candid moment on CNN’s late-night coverage of the Michigan Democrat Senate primary led to an unfavorable mention of the nation’s worst election system. California caught a stray due to its inability to count votes in a timely manner.Watch as CNN’s Elex Michaelson and Harry Enten yuk it up at California’s expense: WATCH: California's election system is such a national punchline that CNN on-air talents openly joke about itELEX MICHAELSON: I just want to say, Harry, as a Californian, it's amazing that people count overnight. This idea… HARRY ENTEN: Who knew? Who knew? We don't…… pic.twitter.com/PN0CHccxB5— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 5, 2026 ELEX MICHAELSON: I just want to say, Harry, as a Californian, it's amazing that people count overnight. This idea… HARRY ENTEN: Who knew? Who knew? We don't…MICHAELSON: Yeah, that we could be getting more numbers because that doesn't happen very much out here. So we appreciate…yeah.ENTEN: I would just end by saying this. Imagine if the election were this close out in California, we might not find out who wins until Hanukkah. That's all I would say.MICHAELSON: Happy Hannukah to you and to everybody that’s watching. Harry Enten. Thank you so much for all of that.ENTEN: Thank you, my friend. To be clear: Michigan is no Florida, where absentee (mail) and early votes are counted as they come in, and no mail ballot is counted if it isn’t in on the morning of Election Day. This leaves only Election Day votes to be counted on Election Day, which means you know statewide results well before midnight.In Not Florida, or Michigan, this is clearly not the case. 91% of the vote in the Democrat Senate primary was counted as of this writing, with much of the outstanding votes remaining in Wayne County (Detroit). This isn’t great, but is certainly miles better than in California, where it took 40-plus days to count votes in the recent primary election. I’m tempted to call that a sub-Third-World system but don’t want to insult the Third World.How embarrassing for the Golden State to have its election system be the subject of mockery on national television. And how awful for democracy.

CNN’s Abby Phillip interviewed Vermont socialist Senator Bernie Sanders as part of CNN’s primary night coverage, which was headlined by Michigan’s Senate Democrat primary between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed. The soft interview gave Sanders the opening to confirm what many of us have suspected all along.Watch as Sanders simultaneously disavows then welcomes streamer Hasan Piker into his “big tent” Democrat Party, while offering longtime strategist James Carville a suggestion if the “big tent” isn’t to his liking:embedABBY PHILLIP: Let me ask you about one of those campaign events, because just last night, um, the popular but very controversial streamer Hasan Piker was at one of El-Sayed's final events. The two did a stream together, a fairly lengthy stream. I know that you've spoken to Hasan Piker in the past, but are you comfortable with El-Sayed having a close association with him, given some of his past statements? To give you an example, one of the more controversial ones is that Piker has said America deserved 9/11. Are you comfortable with that association?BERNIE SANDERS: No, I am not. I think that's a dumb statement. On the other hand, he has a whole lot of followers and there's a lot of things that he's saying that are making sense to a lot of people. I think, you know, we have to get above cancel culture. You know, when you're doing radio, whatever they do- podcasts three hours a day, you say dumb things. I suspect if you go back over your career, there may be 1 or 2 things that you said that you may have regretted. But I think what we have got to do is look at the totality of where people are coming from. Uh, and go forward.PHILLIP: So when someone like James Carville says he doesn't want to be in the same political party as Hasan Piker, which one are you going to take?SANDERS: Well, that's not much of a choice. If Mr. Carville doesn't want to be in my party, the party that I belong to, that Piker, that El-Sayed belongs to, he can start his own party. But, uh, you know, look. What we are doing now is, you know, you can turn the tables around and say, do you really want to be in a party where your leadership is taking huge amounts of money from AIPAC, which is supporting an extremist Netanyahu government that many of us believe have committed genocide? Do you want to be in a party with people who do that? Do you want to be in a party which has not stood up to the AI industry, because they got a lot of money from AI or from crypto? So you could pick, you know, you could pick whatever you want to pick. But I think we need a big tent and I think people like Piker should be welcomed into that, certainly.You will note that Phillip didn’t cut Sanders off mid-response or inject her own talking points into the discussion, or sneer at Sanders’ policy proposals. That behavior is reserved for Republican panelists on NewsNight, chiefly Scott Jennings. Subsequent to the exchange on Piker and El-Sayed, Phillip closed out the interview by asking if Sanders would support Haley Stevens if she wins the primary, to which he responds in the affirmative.Phillip offered no followup to Sanders’ selection of Piker and El-Sayed over Carville. Neither did Phillip display the journalistic curiosity needed to explore that Sanders meant by “my party.” He identifies as an independent, after all. What did Sanders mean by “my party?” Is he registering as a Democrat or is he referring to his greater influence over a party slowly being hollowed out by the DSA? We won’t know because Phillip didn’t feel pressed to follow up. Yet another reminder that were it not for double standards, there'd be none at all.Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned interview as aired on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026:ABBY PHILLIP: But, first, I want to introduce Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. He has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, and he endorsed Cori Bush for Missouri's First Congressional District tonight. Senator, thanks for joining us tonight.BERNIE SANDERS: My pleasure.PHILLIP: So, El-Sayed has said publicly he's not a Democratic socialist. He's been lumped in with them, though, because he has embraced a lot of their core positions. So, when we're talking about a state like Michigan, a key battleground state, a purple state, are you confident that he can win in the general election?SANDERS: Yes, I am. Abby, it's important to understand what's going on tonight in Michigan, which is kind of historical. I cannot recall anything like it. Abdul El-Sayed is taking on the entire Michigan Democratic establishment. He is taking on the entire national Democratic establishment, and in an unprecedented way.I've not heard about this ever. He is being outspent 10-1 by super PACs, AIPAC and other special interest organizations funded by billionaires, outspent 10-1. And as of this moment at least, he is in the lead. So, what that tells me is that people in Michigan -- and we have seen this, Abby, all across this country. We've seen it in New York City.We've seen it in Colorado, New Jersey. I think ordinary people understand that the economy is rigged, the very rich are getting richer, working families are struggling, that we have a corrupt campaign finance system, which we are seeing operating right now in Michigan, where billionaires are trying to buy elections.So, the fact that he's doing as well as he is right now tells me that in a general election, he is going to appeal to independents, he's going to appeal to some Republicans and, by the way, a whole lot of young people who previously have not been participating in the political process.PHILLIP: On the other hand, over in Missouri, Cori Bush, who you also endorsed, did lose her primary tonight. That was a race where AIPAC played a big role both the first time and the second time. What do you think happened there? Why did she lose?SANDERS: I don't know. I endorse Cori. I like Cori very, very much, and I'm disappointed that she lost. But I will tell you, Abby, and this is an issue as Americans we have got to deal with, I believe in democracy. I believe that elections are about a clash of ideas. You disagree with me, fine. Go to the voters. Tell the voters why you think I'm a terrible senator. That's what politics is about. But when you have millions and millions of dollars, often with dishonest 30- second ads, that is undermining democracy, it bothers me very, very much. We got to get rid of these super PACs. We got to overturn Citizens United. And, by the way, that is something that Abdul has been stressing in his Senate campaign.PHILLIP: What about Leader Schumer? He's been on the other side of you in a number of these primaries, including in Michigan here tonight. If El-Sayed does win tonight, what do you want Leader Schumer to take away? Do you think it is time for him to change his strategy around these primaries?SANDERS: I think what we are seeing, no matter what happens tonight in Michigan and I hope very much that El-Sayed wins, is you're seeing the transformation of the Democratic Party.And what the debate within the Democratic Party is about, it's not only about ideology. I want to see billionaires start paying their fair share of taxes. I believe as progressives do that healthcare is a human right. We need Medicare for all. I believe that we should cease all funding to Netanyahu's extremist government, et cetera.But it's not only ideology that we disagree with the Democratic leadership about. It's how you do politics. It is no great secret that what the Democratic leadership does, and the Republicans do it even more, is you go to wealthy billionaires, you say, give us campaign contributions. You start super PACs, you hire all these consultants, you put 30-second ads on, you do opposition research. That's your campaign. We do it differently.And in Michigan right now, you know what Abdul has done? He has done 500 public events. He has thousands of volunteers knocking on doors. He's doing what Mamdani did in New York City, 100,000 volunteers. We are growing the voter universe, bringing people in who have been disenchanted and not participating. That is the difference in ideology. That's the difference in how we do politics.ABBY PHILLIP: Let me ask you about one of those campaign events, because just last night, um, the popular but very controversial streamer Hasan Piker was at one of El-Sayed's final events. The two did a stream together, a fairly lengthy stream. I know that you've spoken to Hasan Piker in the past, but are you comfortable with El-Sayed having a close association with him, given some of his past statements? To give you an example, one of the more controversial ones is that Piker has said America deserved 9/11. Are you comfortable with that association?BERNIE SANDERS: No, I am not. I think that's a dumb statement. On the other hand, he has a whole lot of followers and there's a lot of things that he's saying that are making sense to a lot of people. I think, you know, we have to get above cancel culture. You know, when you're doing radio, whatever they do- podcasts three hours a day, you say dumb things. I suspect if you go back over your career, there may be 1 or 2 things that you said that you may have regretted. But I think what we have got to do is look at the totality of where people are coming from. Uh, and go forward.PHILLIP: So when someone like James Carville says he doesn't want to be in the same political party as Hasan Piker, which one are you going to take?SANDERS: Well, that's not much of a choice. If Mr. Carville doesn't want to be in my party, the party that I belong to, that Piker, that El-Sayed belongs to, he can start his own party. But, uh, you know, look. What we are doing now is, you know, you can turn the tables around and say, do you really want to be in a party where your leadership is taking huge amounts of money from AIPAC, which is supporting an extremist Netanyahu government that many of us believe have committed genocide? Do you want to be in a party with people who do that? Do you want to be in a party which has not stood up to the AI industry, because they got a lot of money from AI or from crypto? So you could pick, you know, you could pick whatever you want to pick. But I think we need a big tent and I think people like Piker should be welcomed into that, certainly.PHILLIP: Just a quick final question for you, Senator. If voters do choose to nominate Congresswoman Stevens tonight, would you support her in the general election if it meant winning that seat?SANDERS: I want to do everything I can to put a brake on Trump's disastrous policies. We need to have Democrats control the House and the Senate, and I will do my best to elect all Democrats to the United States Senate.PHILLIP: Senator Bernie Sanders, we appreciate your time. Thank you very much for joining us.SANDERS: Thank you.

Amid the Elitist Media’s runup to tonight’s primary election, with a focus on the Michigan Democrat Senate race, viewers were exposed to a rare moment of clarity. NBC Nightly News actually aired poll data showing the unpopularity of socialism among independent voters.Watch as NBC News Chief Data analyst Steve Kornacki runs down the numbers, with 77% of independents holding a negative view of socialism: WATCH: A rare exposition of the unpopularity of socialism among the American electorate on @NBCNightlyNews TOM LLAMAS: I want to bring Steve Kornacki now on the big test for Democrats over what direction it will take for the midterms. On this issue of socialism, very different… pic.twitter.com/PKwKmkW2cs— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 5, 2026 TOM LLAMAS: I want to bring Steve Kornacki now on the big test for Democrats over what direction it will take for the midterms. On this issue of socialism, very different views by Americans on how they view it.STEVE KORNACKI: Yeah, Tom. A number of Democratic candidates we have seen embraced this labeling. Within the democratic party, it’s actually more popular, 52% favorable, than not. Take one step outside the Democratic party, and things change quickly. Look at this. Among independents more than three out of four, 77%, with a negative view of socialism.LLAMAS: And we should point this out. Both parties go into the midterms with their own set of challenges.KORNACKI: Yeah. For Republicans all across the country running this year, the baggage is the president, a Republican with a low approval rating. This is an average of the recent polls. Lower, still, specifically on the issue voters say they care most about, the economy. 36% approval and the ongoing war in Iran. For Democrats, meanwhile, it may have something to do with that label “socialism” we just talked about. The image of the party among Americans here, look at this- less than one in three, 30% of voters say they have a positive view of the Democratic Party, a very low number, Tom.LLAMAS: Midterms could be tough for both parties. All right Steve, we thank you for that.The data report comes on the back end of NBC’s primary preview, wherein correspondent Shaquille Brewster deployed to Michigan to cover the election between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed.The report is balanced yet flawed. The race is framed as “establishment versus progressive”, as opposed to what it is: the hollowing out of the Democrat Party by the DSA and its allies. You’ll recall that DSA co-chair Megan Romer recently told Fox News that DSA members run as Democrats because it’s an easier pathway to ballot access. There is no mention of the DSA or of champagne socialist podcaster Hasan Piker (who said America deserved 9/11), who has campaigned extensively with El-Sayed. The only inferred potential link between El-Sayed and the DSA is his endorsement by Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.Brewster also downplayed El-Sayed’s position on Israel: “intensely critical” versus demanding a total military embargo of Israel, which would cut off all arms sales. In the spirit of “balance”, Brewster did gather soundbites from voters supporting both candidates.But the real balance came in at the end with the Kornacki segment. I do not recall such a specific mention of voter disgust towards socialism on the evening news. Quite to the contrary, the networks have focused on chronicling the socialist ascendancy- particularly in New York, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani is an apparent kingmaker that can do no wrong.For one night, at least, NBC viewers got to see that there are many, in fact, who reject socialism. And that is refreshing.Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on NBC Nightly News on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026:TOM LLAMAS: Now to the high-stakes primary night across five states with all eyes on Michigan. Will it be part of the recent wave of progressive candidates defeating establishment-backed Democrats? All as we’re seeing that deep divide among Democrats nationwide. Shaquille Brewster is there for us tonight.SHAQUILLE BREWSTER: Tonight, a test for Democrats deeply divided over the direction of their party. A critical Senate primary in Michigan pitting establishment-backed Congresswoman Haley Stevens against the progressive former health director Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed by Bernie Sanders and AOC. What got you out today, then?VOTER: Abdul, specifically. (VIDEO SWIPE) This is the first time that I've actually gotten to vote for a candidate that excites me.BREWSTER: El-Sayed campaigning on Medicare for All and abolishing ICE. In the past, he has expressed support for defunding the police, though he has since backtracked. What do you say to someone who is skeptical that someone as progressive as you can win statewide in a state that’s as purple as Michigan is?(VIDEO SWIPE)ABDUL EL-SAYED: People are so sick and tired of establishments on both sides of the aisle that are bought off by corporate.BREWSTER: He’s also intensely critical of Israel.EL-SAYED: The difference between us is $46 million of AIPAC spending.BREWSTER: Stevens calls herself a proud pro-Israel Democrat with major backing from AIPAC, the American lobbying group focusing on supporting the Jewish state.HALEY STEVENS: I very much believe in a two-state solution. My democratic opponent doesn't.BREWSTER: She spoke with NBC's Julie Tsirkin.STEVENS: I have a record. Michiganders are going to be able to look at it and see I was chief of staff on the U.S. auto rescue, that I’ve stood up to Donald Trump…BREWSTER: This Democrat telling us she’s voting for Stevens.VOTER: I'm worried that Abdul El-Sayed cannot win in the general election.BREWSTER: And that’s your top priority.VOTER: Yes.BREWSTER: And while neither identifies as a Democratic socialist, President Trump blasting both.DONALD TRUMP: You have a communist versus a socialist. That’s the way I look at it.LLAMAS: All right, Shaquille Brewster joins us live from Detroit. And Shaq, any time you have a bruising primary like this one the question is: can Democrats unite?BREWSTER: That’s right Tom and both candidates are insisting that they will support the other if they lose tonight, but some voters telling me it will not be that easy for them, which could be a boost for Republican Mike Rogers. Tom?LLAMAS: Shaq Brewster on the campaign trail. I want to bring Steve Kornacki now on the big test for Democrats over what direction it will take for the midterms. On this issue of socialism, very different views by Americans on how they view it.STEVE KORNACKI: Yeah, Tom. A number of Democratic candidates we have seen embraced this labeling. Within the democratic party, it’s actually more popular, 52% favorable, than not. Take one step outside the Democratic party, and things change quickly. Look at this. Among independents more than three out of four, 77%, with a negative view of socialism.LLAMAS: And we should point this out. Both parties go into the midterms with their own set of challenges.KORNACKI: Yeah. For Republicans all across the country running this year, the baggage is the president, a Republican with a low approval rating. This is an average of the recent polls. Lower, still, specifically on the issue voters say they care most about, the economy. 36% approval and the ongoing war in Iran. For Democrats, meanwhile, it may have something to do with that label “socialism” we just talked about. The image of the party among Americans here, look at this- less than one in three, 30% of voters say they have a positive view of the Democratic Party, a very low number, Tom.LLAMAS: Midterms could be tough for both parties. All right Steve, we thank you for that.

Once again, the PBS News Hour crouched under a benign “Arts” segment to hide a piece of unvarnished left-wing political advocacy, this time from Minneapolis/St. Paul. From Friday's edition:Co-anchor Amna Nawaz: Larger theater companies, music venues, and museums typically get more attention, but across the country, it is smaller arts organizations that are often closest to and addressing the needs of their local communities. Facing tougher economic pressures today, though, many are struggling to do that. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown traveled to the Twin Cities for our series Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy, part of our Canvas coverage.Reporter Jeffrey Brown: For many, coming together has never felt so urgent, so necessary here in the Twin Cities. Waves of trauma from the murder of George Floyd to the COVID-19 pandemic to the recent ICE surge that left Renee Good and Alex Pretti dead have rocked the region over the last six years. Small community groups like TaikoArts Midwest have been on the front lines....After talking to “taiko drum” practitioner Jennifer Weir, Brown found an even more activist group, Mixed Blood Theatre, an anti-ICE brigade cosplaying as an acting troupe, and he basically mimicked founder Mark Valdez in their “interview.”Brown: Another local arts group, Mixed Blood Theatre, in neighboring Minneapolis, has also been in the thick of it. A group of writers was recently commissioned to chronicle events during the ICE surge in a series of monologues.Brown: The performance also raised money for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.(The ILCM’s website has a full section on avoiding ICE custody.)PBS reporter Jeffrey Brown with Mark Valdez, artistic director of Mixed Blood. Valdez: We are foremost a social justice organization, secondarily a theater company.....We use the tools of creativity of artmaking to disrupt injustice, to build community, to advance racial equity." pic.twitter.com/0XMBcxtZWp— Clay Waters

CNN/SnapStream Ahead of the Michigan Democratic Senate primary and the possibility of a victory for far-left Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI), Tuesday’s CNN This Morning focused heavily on the issue of Israel in the campaign, a frequent topic used by El-Sayed. Instead of a large discussion over establishment struggles, host Audie Cornish said El-Sayed was “inevitable” after the “uncommitted” DNC electors saga in 2024.In the lead segment of the show, Cornish went back to the Democratic Party’s recent issues in Michigan, which she called a “canary” over the War in Israel “ever since October 7th” terrorist attacks. She then noted that El-Sayed was “inevitable”:And Michigan was the place where, I remember the DNC, their electors were the most frustrated, right? That's where you really - it felt like that was the place that had this dialogue the most strongly. And it feels almost inevitable that you'd see a candidate like Abdul El-Sayed come forward. On CNN This Morning ahead of the Michigan primaries, Audie Cornish passed over the idea of establishment Democrat struggles in primaries and noted that a candidate like Abdul El-Sayed was “inevitable” in Michigan after the ‘uncommitted’ DNC elector saga in 2024 over Gaza. pic.twitter.com/IBamKRJpZd— Nick (@nspin310) August 4, 2026 After the panel discussed endorsements in the state between El-Sayed and his establishment-backed opponent in Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI), panelist Jesse Arm of the Manhattan Institute noted that “Abdul El-Sayed is winning because he's running a virulently anti-Israel campaign, as you said, Audie.”Cornish and Arm then got into a back-and-forth over what she actually said, after she related El-Sayed’s rise to the anti-Israel Michigan sect of Democratic voters and the ‘uncommitted’ movement. Later, Cornish made sure to note that she did not say El-Sayed was running a “virulently anti-Israel" campaign, as panelist @Jesse_Leg remarked himself.She then turned to CNN’s Aaron Blake and remembered back to a “grumpy” Bernie Sanders at a DNC and said, “It feels like we… pic.twitter.com/4hWvXm3Q20— Nick (@nspin310) August 4, 2026 Conrish started the comment accreditation fight: “Let me underscore. I did not say he was running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.” It continued, as Arm noted, “I don’t think he would dispute that he is running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.” Cornish responded, “I would dispute I said it.”After the credit battle, Cornish turned to say an El-Sayed victory and the rise of the DSA reminded her of a grumpy Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at an old DNC and his socialist movement: “it feels like we are seeing the fruits of a long-running movement that may or may not be coming to fruition.” In continuation of CNN This Morning’s Michigan primary focus, NOTUS's Dana Milbank downplayed the talk of the Democratic Civil War and admitted "the so-called establishment has gone substantially to the left in recent years." pic.twitter.com/pTog2kwX9J— Nick (@nspin310) August 4, 2026 Later, NOTUS columnist Dana Milbank made an admission in his claim that the Democratic Civil War is “overblown,” as he said the “mainstream” and “establishment.”After being asked by Cornish, “How come you say this is not a civil war?” Milbank remarked, “And for all the talk of divisions within the Democratic Party, the electorate is actually pretty close. You know, it's probably more unified than it's been really in decades. And you see, you know, even the mainstream of the party, the so-called establishment, has gone substantially to the left in recent years.”He continued, “So, yeah, there's this huge divide they have on Israel, but the whole party is moving in El-Sayed’s direction on Israel. They're both looking for universal health care, just different ways of getting there.”Milbank’s comments reflect the new reality of a Democratic Party that has already moved far to the left, exemplified by DSA victories and a possible El-Sayed primary win. As said by former NFL coach Dennis Green, “They are what we thought they were.”The transcirpt is below. Click "expand":CNN This MorningAugust 4, 20266:07:55 AM Eastern(...)AUDIE CORNISH: But also, Michigan has been a canary, right, in it's car factory for like a couple of years now. I mean, ever since October 7th. And I remember the Biden Administration trying to find a way to talk about Gaza and Israel with an electorate. And it had nothing in common with that electorate anymore. And Michigan was the place where, I remember the DNC, their electors were the most frustrated, right? That's where you really - it felt like that was the place that had this dialogue the most strongly. And it feels almost inevitable that you'd see a candidate like Abdul El-Sayed come forward.(...)6:10:00 AM EasternJESSE ARM: I think Abdul El-Sayed is winning because he's running a virulently anti-Israel campaign, as you said, Audie, I don't think it's because he's talking about bringing manufacturing back to Michigan. That's what Haley Stevens has been talking about. In fact, it's kind of the only thing she can talk about.CORNISH: Let me underscore. I did not say he was running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.ARM: [Raises hand] Okay, I did.CORNISH: I want you to own - your comments –ARM: I don’t think he -CORNISH: – just so you can get credit for your comment.ARM: I don’t think he would dispute that he is running a virulently anti-Israel campaign.CORNISH: I would dispute I said it. And, uh, I want to give the last word to Aaron because Bernie Sanders, when I think of him grumpy with his arms crossed at that DNC many years ago, Elizabeth Warren, it feels like we are seeing the fruits of a long-running movement that may or may not be coming to fruition.AARON BLAKE: Yeah. And this is a very big moment for that movement. And I'll tell you why. The reason is that the Democratic primary electorate has proven willing to elect these kinds of candidates, the DSA candidates, in cities like New York City, in cities, you know, heavily urban areas –CORNISH: And only now. Yeah.BLAKE: – Boulder in Colorado. They haven't gotten these candidates necessarily through primaries in marquee races, in swing electorates. So, getting Abdul El-Sayed through this primary and having him tested in a general election that is going to have lots of focus in November is a big moment for this movement. They need to prove that they can win in that kind of environment, not just primaries, but general elections with swing electorates. And that's why I think this race is so important for that movement.CORNISH: So, big test. That's why we're watching it. (...)6:38:21 AM EasternCORNISH: How come you say this is not a civil war? You've been writing about this, and it sounds like you think it's overblown.DANA MILBANK: I mean, what Nick is saying is all true. I think some of it is a little overblown. I mean, one of the main reasons I'll say it is doing so well is he's just extremely charismatic. I mean, he's a very good politician, you know? And for all the talk of divisions within the Democratic Party, the electorate is actually pretty close. You know, it's probably more unified than it's been really in decades. And you see, you know, even the mainstream of the party, the so-called establishment, has gone substantially to the left in recent years. So, yeah, there's this huge divide they have on Israel, but the whole party is moving in El-Sayed’s direction on Israel. They're both looking for universal health care, just different ways of getting there.(...)