PBS's Firing Line on SnapStream Socialism really appeals mostly to one kind of person: wealthy, virtue-signaling elites. And, as it so happens, that’s who makes up the liberal media class. The media has been falling into step with the radical Democratic Socialists of America, who are slowly taking over the mainstream Democratic Party and have over 120,000 dues-paying (ironic, right?) members. PBS’s Margaret Hoover on Friday’s Firing Line was the latest to join the trend of inviting socialist politicians on-air and then not pushing back on any of her ridiculous answers.Hoover was joined by Melat Kiros, a DSA member running for a Colorado Congressional seat. Hoover started off by crediting the DSA for “making history” before tossing Kiros a softball: "To what do you credit the surge in interest and support for socialism?" Kiros served up a word salad answer that would give Kamala Harris a run for her money:I credit the reality that working people are facing right now and the agency that voters have taken back in choosing a different path. You know, there are incredible wins that are happening all across the country and, of course, here in our own district, where voters are saying it's no longer enough for the establishment or leadership to say 'things are going to get better.'Just like, hold on. Voters are taking back that power and saying 'this isn't working for us anymore. We want something different.' And I think democratic socialists have presented a kind of vision that's actually in line with the values of the voters.  Melat Kiros, radical DSA Congressional nominee, answers soft-ball questions with word salads that would make Kamala Harris run for her money (or her tequila, whichever's closer)Source: Firing Line on PBS, 7/31/26 pic.twitter.com/Vbdl90coWS— Cici Marie (@Cici_Marie_1776) August 3, 2026 Despite that answer making exactly zero sense, Hoover didn’t ask for clarification or push back. She simply moved on to praising the DSA’s poster child, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani:Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, despite constant criticism from the right, and fearmongering from the right about socialism, has a 58 percent favorability rating. Is that kind of success something that you think is achievable here in Colorado? Mamdani just announced plans to open government-run grocery stores in New York. He ran on that promise. There was no “fearmongering from the right” necessary; you only had to look at Mamdani’s platform to know he’s aspiring to dismantle capitalism.“I think it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people in the same way that capitalism means a lot of different things to different people,” Kiros blabbed. “And I think the kind of socialism that Mamdani is practicing, that, you know, a lot of us that identify as democratic socialists are also hoping to practice, is one where we actually deliver for working families.” Mamdani is destroying NYC, and the libtard media kisses the ground he walks onAnd now the Dems can't define the word 'socialist' just like they couldn't define 'woman' pic.twitter.com/A18TVJF62g— Cici Marie (@Cici_Marie_1776) August 3, 2026 The word ‘socialism’ is now getting the same treatment as ‘woman’: Democrats can’t define it, because once they do, their ideology falls apart.But, of course, Hoover didn’t offer the slightest shred of opposition. Her questions just continued to prop up Kiros’s radical left stances:If Democrats take back the House of Representatives in November, as many project they will, how would you ideally hold President Trump accountable?Why are moderates wrong when they warn that the [DSA] movement undermines the party's chances of winning in November? So, it sounds to me like your indictment of the modern Democratic Party or the mainstream Democratic Party is that they have failed to represent workers.But since when have we had unfettered capitalism in this country? . . . We've also never had unfettered socialism. But Kiros’s most outrageous claim, which Hoover accepted at face value, was that socialism “is the only [economic philosophy] that's actually capable of delivering things like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Socialism is the only economic philosophy that can deliver Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?Even spineless Hoover couldn't believe it. pic.twitter.com/R3u59iBjdN— Cici Marie (@Cici_Marie_1776) August 3, 2026 The Founding Fathers, some of the richest men of their time, were socialists and wanted to build a socialist country? Hoover just took in all these insane answers....like a vacuum.The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: PBS's Firing Line with Margaret Hoover7/31/268:31:47 p.m. EasternMARGARET HOOVER: Melat Kiros, welcome to Firing Line. MELAT KIROS: Thanks for having me. HOOVER: You have just won a tight or contested Democratic primary--KIROS: yeah.HOOVER: --in Denver, Colorado, that ended up not being quite so tight.You defeated a 15-term incumbent who was elected when I was in high school. This is my hometown. And you've joined a slate of democratic socialists who have won upset primaries across the country as we lead into the midterm elections. There are now 120,000 members of the DSA, the Democratic Socialists of America. And the organization is - it's frankly - it's making history. To what do you credit the surge in interest and support for socialism? KIROS: I credit the reality that working people are facing right now and the agency that voters have taken back in choosing a different path. You know, there are incredible wins that are happening all across the country and, of course, here in our own district, where voters are saying it's no longer enough for the establishment or leadership to say 'things are going to get better.'Just like, hold on. Voters are taking back that power and saying 'this isn't working for us anymore. We want something different.' And I think democratic socialists have presented a kind of vision that's actually in line with the values of the voters. HOOVER: Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, despite constant criticism from the right, and fearmongering from the right about socialism, has a 58 percent favorability rating. Is that kind of success something that you think is achievable here in Colorado? KIROS: Absolutely. I think it's achievable anywhere. HOOVER: Tell me how. KIROS: You know, I think what's happening right now is folks are actually starting to learn what socialism really means. I think it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people in the same way that capitalism means a lot of different things to different people. And I think the kind of socialism that Mamdani is practicing, that, you know, a lot of us that identify as democratic socialists are also hoping to practice, is one where we actually deliver for working families. At the end of the day, government is supposed to be of, for, and by the people, and it's supposed to be actively making our lives better.And if you have a government that is not operating efficiently or effectively to the means that the voters have asked for in their elections, then that's a failure. And it's our responsibility to fix that. And I think Mayor Mamdani has done an incredible job of showing that government can work for people and specifically work for working people. (...)8:35:00 p.m. HOOVER:  If Democrats take back the House of Representatives in November, as many project they will, how would you ideally hold President Trump accountable? KIROS: Well, when we take back the House, we'll also be able to haul in every single administration official for questioning.We'll be able to submit document subpoenas, and not just for the sake of theater, right? There are real harms that are taking place right now as a result of this administration. The fact of the matter is, we have Donald Trump as president for a second time because we didn't hold him accountable the first time thoroughly enough. And I really hope that this is an opportunity that Democrats see to show that we've learned our lesson and that we are going to be holding folks accountable. HOOVER: To what extent does that trigger or escalate a cycle of investigations to every new administration when they come into power? KIROS: It's going to be our responsibility as a party to set the standard for that - whatever we hold the Trump administration accountable for, that we're not tolerating within our own ranks. I think you make a really great point in that it can't just be about, you know, vindication for the Trump administration. I think the point of holding the Trump administration accountable has to also be in line with presenting our vision for how government should be operating.There has to be a certain level of accountability, because if we just let the accountability go because we're afraid of the retaliation of investigations that are going to get done-- HOOVER: There's a fine line, isn't there? KIROS: Exactly. HOOVER: It's hard to draw that line. KIROS: Yeah. HOOVER: There's a Pew poll, a Pew Research Center poll earlier this year found that twice as many Americans dislike Democratic Socialists as like them, or Democratic Socialist leaders as like them. Why are moderates wrong when they warn that the movement undermines the party's chances of winning in November? KIROS: Well, I think first and foremost, I think the framing sometimes when we're talking about democratic socialism and moderate stances takes away, you know, the agency of the voters who voted for a candidate, for their values or their platform and the issues that they're talking about. And I think, when we talk about democratic socialism, we are up against decades of misinformation, of, you know, mischaracterizing what democratic socialism even is.And, you know, frankly, a lot of Red Scare tactics that are reigniting right now as a result of a lot of the ones that we're seeing from DSA.And I think the best way we can show what we actually mean is to just do the job that we are setting out to do. And, you know, the way that I always describe it for folks is that democratic socialism is first and foremost about democracy, right? You know, a truly functioning democracy requires an active electorate that's actually participating. And we can't expect single moms that are working two jobs to take care of their kids to be as active in their elections when they have to worry about paying their rent the next month or paying down medical debt, right? And so part of the socialism piece is about making sure that people's most basic needs are met so that they have the room and the space to be active participants in their democracy. SHOOVER: So, it sounds to me like your indictment of the modern Democratic Party or the mainstream Democratic Party is that they have failed to represent workers.KIROS: Absolutely. Yeah. I'm a proud Democrat because of the things we've accomplished in the past that are very much in line with Democratic socialist values, right? The Civil Rights Act, the New Deal, Social Security, fair labor laws. Every single one of those achievements was about bringing power back to the people and making sure that they have ownership and agency over how certain decisions are made, especially when their labor is actually responsible for a lot of the growth that we're seeing in our country and our economy. HOOVER: You know, you've just said you're a Democratic Socialist, but you're a proud Democrat. New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer recently said - I know you're smiling because you know the quote - said, "The DSA are not Democrats. They're socialists who want to hijack the Democratic Party. The Democrats have a big tent. That's our strength. We embrace a range of ideas -- but there is no room for anti-American bomb-throwers who oppose our ideas, values, and leaders."What's your response? KIROS: I don't think there's anything more American than subscribing to an economic philosophy that, as the evidence shows, is the only one that's actually capable of delivering things like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I really can't think of anything else. HOOVER: Socialism has proven to deliver on the values of the Declaration of Independence more than capitalism has.KIROS: Yeah. You know, when we talk about capitalism, you know, one of the things that folks talk about with capitalism as a theory is that it's responsible for, you know, delivering people out of poverty here in the U.S. HOOVER: More people out of poverty around the world than any other economic system. KIROS: Yes. Which isn't the entire story. At the same time that a lot of folks were getting delivered out of poverty, there were a lot of social safety programs that were also being created at the same time. A lot of fair labor laws that were being enacted. You know, rights that workers were taking back to make sure that they were not working in unsafe conditions, to make sure that they were earning fair wages.That is not capitalism, right? Unfettered capitalism is where the capitalists, the owners of the means of production, are the only ones that are calling the shots. And you are lucky to have the job and you just have to deal with the conditions. Socialism is about delivering democracy in the workplace and making sure that workers have a say about the conditions that they're working in, about negotiating for the kind of wage that would be fair for the labor that they're contributing to whatever industry it is that they're working in. And I also think that, you know, when folks think of capitalism, I think they think of free markets and competition and, you know, innovation. And...HOOVER: What do you think of? KIROS: I think of monopolies. I think of--HOOVER: But that's not capitalism if it's a monopoly. KIROS: Well, and that's the question, right? Because in--HOOVER: I think that-- that's the--KIROS: -- an unfettered capitalism, it does end up leading to monopolies. So if there's no government intervention? HOOVER: Right. But since when have we had unfettered capitalism in this country? KIROS: Never. But we've also never had - we have always had a mixed economy.HOOVER: Right. KIROS: And that's a part of the--HOOVER: We've also never had unfettered socialism. KIROS: Exactly. (...)8:43:11 p.,.HOOVER: So, the Democratic Socialists of America have just released a new platform. I'm sure you're familiar with it, I'm sure you've been asked a lot about it. KIROS: Yeah. I mean, you know, our platform is, we really put the democracy into democratic socialism. And our platform is one that is voted on in a democratic way through our members. And it's one where it is almost certain that not every single member actually agrees with the entirety of the platform. HOOVER: Sure. You've been really clear that the parts of the platform you agree with are Medicare for all, universal child care, reducing corporate influence in elections.You've also rejected this notion that you would abolish the Senate. And you've been really, really clear that you are not for leaving NATO or getting rid of NATO. You also don't support defunding the police. Is there anything I left out? KIROS: No. No, I think that's pretty much it. HOOVER: Okay. Then, because you've had outside groups pay for attack ads linking you to the platform and aspects of the platform that had not previously been clear that were your position, I want to tick through several of the items and just tell me like, yes, no, yes, no, if possible. And if there's something that we need to come back to, we can come back to it. KIROS: Yeah. Okay.HOOVER: Expanding the size of the House. KIROS: Oh, I've seen some really interesting proposals that I'm open to. HOOVER: So have I. Ranked choice voting in all elections. KIROS: Yes. HOOVER: Me too. And I'm not a Democratic Socialist. Giving voting rights to non-citizens. KIROS: I haven't seen a proposal that's convinced me.HOOVER: Okay. Statehood for D.C. KIROS: Yes. HOOVER: So are most Democrats. 32-hour work week. KIROS: Yes. HOOVER: Defund the Department of War. KIROS: Let's go back to it, with calling it the Department of Defense--HOOVER: With nuance. We'll go back. Let's go back to that. Let's go back to it. KIROS: Yeah.HOOVER: End all foreign wars and close overseas military bases. KIROS: End all foreign wars for sure. I want to hear more about ending or closing military bases. HOOVER: Establish public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries to ensure democratic control and accountability to the people. KIROS: The only ownership that I've -- for proposals that I've seen that I'm interested in are related to utilities, like water and energy. I think there's a really compelling case there. HOOVER: But you don't think the government should take over Apple? KIROS: No.HOOVER: Ok, got it.(...)8:54:28 p.m. HOOVER: Ok, let's move on. Republicans have seized on the label of democratic socialists. In June, President Trump said, "These are hardcore, godless communists. . . This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence." So, first, are you a communist? KIROS: No, I'm not a communist. HOOVER: How do you tackle the criticism that some members of the DSA, including half of the DSA leadership, seem to call themselves communist? KIROS: Yeah. Well, some members of the Democratic Party are proudly proclaiming themselves as capitalists, And it's a big tent, right? But again, at the end of the day, it's up to the voters, right? Until a self-proclaimed communist actually wins an election, then it's just noise from the Republican Party. There's no one who's actually winning with that. HOOVER: Why are they using that rhetoric? KIROS: Because I think the Republican Party, and frankly, the oligarchy that largely stands behind the Republican Party can see that our message of, in its most basic form, economic populism, is actually resonating with voters.Bernie and AOC came to Denver and got 35,000 people to show up to talk about fighting the oligarchy and fighting for economic populism. Republicans know that this is the message that is going to not only root out Trump, but root out the conditions that led to him rising in the first place. And I think if Democrats are actually interested in winning again, then they would heed those words and follow the voters where they're at, meet them where they're at, and start taking on some of these policies for our own platform. HOOVER: Melat Kiros, thank you for joining me on Firing Line.KIROS: Thank you for having me.