Do you remember when socialist was kind of a bad word?

Even if it wasn't bad, it was a word that demanded an explanation.

Like, it was only a decade ago that Bernie Sanders, who was running for president,

was compelled to deliver a speech at Georgetown University

and explain what socialism meant to him, as if it was shameful.

Well, we've come a long way.

Tonight, a political earthquake in New York sending a national message about voters eager for

change and focused on the rising cost of living.

Last week, New York City's socialist mayor, Zoran Mandani, helped carry three hardcore progressives, two of them described as socialists, through bruising primaries.

They will probably go on to Congress.

And these aren't the only socialists in the mix this year.

D.C.'s likely next mayor calls herself a socialist.

So does one of the two candidates vying to lead Los Angeles.

And David, the big question tonight is, will these results have a ripple effect come November?

And if so, who will benefit President Trump already trying to put his stamp on all of this branding

the Democratic winners as communists.

Perry Bacon, over at the New Republic, did not anticipate last week's sweep,

but he did see it as a kind of test.

Because my whole thing throughout this socialist, progressive revolution in the last 10 years has been, can the left candidates win

working class voters? Can they win African American voters? Can they win people without college

degrees? That's always been the big question. It looks like they did. Describe the reaction from

what we might call establishment Democrats to this win?

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