The characterization of the Democratic Party as a party sitting on its hands, like a modern day Nero, is neither accurate nor helpful. Implicit in the characterization is that the Democrats are of one mind and in the pockets of corporate America. There are, to be sure, corporate and conservative democrats. But to leave matters here makes opaque a range of political tendencies and brands operating within the Democratic Party and opposing Trump and MAGA.

Bernie and AOC are admirably and tirelessly resisting the authoritarian designs of the new administration, but they aren’t the only ones in Congress. Sometimes, in our zeal to heap praise on them, we forget that the Progressive Caucus can count roughly 100 members. Nor should we assume moderate Democrats in Congress are sitting on their hands in present circumstances. My own Congressman, for example, who sees himself as a moderate spoke powerfully at a rally this past weekend and is hosting a town hall meeting next week. Nor should the actions of Democratic governors and other elected Democrats at the state and local level go unmentioned.

To this we should add that the Democratic Party provides a roof over the head of the main progressive organizations in the country, not least the labor movement, people of color, and women.

Thus it would be a serious mistake to collapse the Democratic Party into a singular corporate, do nothing shell. Indeed, I would argue that the center of gravity in today’s Democratic Party is trending in a liberal-progressive direction. And at this moment when the future of U.S. democracy hangs in balance that is of crucial importance to repelling the push towards a U.S. variety of authoritarianism whose precise morphology and future are a story still to be written.