Socialism Everywhere — and No One Wants to Know Why

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Tristan de Liège recent socialist electoral victories, and analyze critical reactions that fail to identify the philosophical essence of the movement.

• Allegations of “extremism”
• What the “extremism” charge hides
• Are socialists “democratic”?
• Socialism and communism
• Socialist and MAGA populism
• Religious communism, godless capitalism

Resources:

• Ayn Rand “Extremism’: or the Art of Smearing,” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
• Entry on “socialism” in the Ayn Rand Lexicon
• Ben Bayer, “Meet the New Socialism, Same as the Old,” New Ideal, Sept 2, 2019
• Ben Bayer, “ICE Tyranny Is What Democracy Looks Like,” New Ideal, Feb 25, 2026
• “Why Socialists Fear the Republican Party Platform,” ARI Podcast, Jul 25, 2024
• “Trump's Anti-Capitalist Control Over Businesses,” ARI Podcast, Sept 18, 2025

This episode was recorded on July 23, 2026.