Lever Time MONEYBOMB, Part 5: Why Populism Is Now Centrism (With Adam Bonica)
Nov 6, 2025
Adam Bonica, a Stanford political scientist and expert on political dynamics, joins to discuss the shifting landscape of American politics. He highlights how recent electoral victories signal a move towards populism as the new centrism. Bonica critiques mainstream media narratives on moderation and analyzes the impact of billionaire money in politics. He also emphasizes the role of public financing in empowering anti-oligarchy candidates and explores how nationalized elections affect political outcomes. Their conversation invites a fresh perspective on political labels and campaign strategies.
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Populism Rising Over Corporatist Centrism
- Recent elections show Democrats winning by running anti-oligarchy, populist campaigns against big-money interests.
- This suggests a possible realignment where populism beats old corporatist 'centrism.'
Mamdani's Underdog Win Against Machine
- David Sirota recounts Zoran Mamdani's campaign framing a battle between finance and working-class values.
- Mamdani's message later helped him win New York City's mayoralty as an underdog.
Public Financing Enabled Populist Victory
- Clean public financing in New York allowed Mamdani to compete without oligarch funding.
- Public money amplified grassroots reach and beat billionaire-backed opposition.
