The Democrat Party spent decades telling you Joe Manchin was the problem.
Now Manchin is gone – and the party just handed its future to the people he was warning about.
What Manchin said to her face on live television is something no Democrat has said in years.
Margaret Brennan Defended Socialism on Live Television
CBS host Margaret Brennan asked former West Virginia senator Joe Manchin on Face the Nation Sunday if he could ever support a self-described socialist candidate.
"No way," Manchin said. "My God, no."
Brennan pushed back – asking whether socialists might have "some good ideas."
"Are you crazy?" he said.
He wasn't finished.
"Have you seen their platform?" he asked. "They're for dismantling everything that we know, whether it be the structure of government, Congress itself, or the Senate they want to get rid of – and then they start talking about all the crazy things: no police, no this, no this, no that."
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He spelled out what the socialist agenda actually means: no police, no energy, no border.
"If Democrats can't say that," Manchin warned, "and they start lining up with the socialist demands – energy will be gone."
The Party That Pushed Him Out Is Now Living With the Consequences
Manchin's daughter Heather appeared alongside him on the broadcast.
She put the problem in one sentence.
"Control has now completely outweighed character," she said. "If you're more interested in control, and that's all that matters, your vote count, versus the character of the person and the platform they're running on – I think we're living with the consequences of that."
She's right.
The Democrat establishment had a choice years ago: hold the line on socialism or chase the votes.
They chased the votes.
Now they're watching the results in real time.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – a card-carrying Democratic Socialists of America member – just swept three congressional candidates to victory in the June primaries.
DSA-backed candidates have now won more than 30 primaries in the 2026 midterm cycle.
https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/2083951153268576289?s=20
Colorado's Diana DeGette – in Congress since 1997 – just got knocked off by a 29-year-old DSA socialist.
The DSA is openly targeting Michigan and Wisconsin next.
Their leaders are already talking about the White House in 2028.
The Number That Should Alarm Every American
A July Fox News poll found that 52% of Democrats now hold a favorable view of socialism.
Only 41% favor capitalism.
Gallup's numbers are worse: 66% of Democrats view socialism positively.
Among all registered voters, 30% hold a favorable view of socialism – up from 27% just last year.
One in three Democrats now identifies as a democratic socialist, according to a CNN poll.
That's not a fringe.
That's the base.
When Adam Schiff was asked whether he was on board with the socialist takeover of his party, his answer told you everything about where Democrats are heading.
"I would rather be in that big tent in the majority," Schiff said, "than be a smaller party that is stuck forever in the minority."
Translation: the ideology doesn't matter.
Winning matters.
Character – Heather Manchin's word – doesn't enter into it.
This Is What the End of a Party Looks Like
Joe Manchin was no hero – he helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act and gave Democrats cover for years.
But he spent over a decade as the last Democrat standing between the socialist wing and total control.
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He blocked Build Back Better.
He killed the assault on the filibuster.
He watched his own party call him a traitor for it.
They pushed him out in 2024 and he left as an independent.
Now he's watching the people he spent years holding back take over completely – and going on national television to warn America about it.
Trump has been calling them socialists and communists for months.
Joe Manchin just confirmed Trump was right.
Sources:
- Lindsay Kornick, "Joe Manchin says he would never support a socialist candidate, warns against 'crazy' positions," Fox News, August 2, 2026.
- "Over 30 socialists have won primaries this year," Washington Examiner, June 25, 2026.
- "Mamdani-backed socialists look to take New York playbook nationwide after primary victories," Fox News, June 29, 2026.
- "New Poll Shows That More Than Half of Democrats Support Socialism," Townhall, July 26, 2026.
- "Concerning Poll About Socialists in Democrat Party – Adam Schiff's Response Explains the Problem," RedState, July 30, 2026.