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Rethinking Democracy

Zohran Mamdani standing and smiling at a podium with a microphone, against a backdrop featuring the name "Zohran." The podium and background both display the text "Zohran for New York City." Several flags are visible in the background.
Yuki Iwamura
/
AP
Zohran Mamdani speaks during a victory speech at a mayoral election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York.

The health of American Democracy is in decline.

According to the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, only 27% of Gen Z strongly agree that democracy is the best form of government.

Democracy can be found in many forms and political ideologies. Most recently, we’re witnessing the rise of Democratic Socialism. Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are just some of the politicians who identify as socialists.

Combined with the public’s growing anti-capitalist sentiments, these new political ideologies are stirring quite the controversy. President Trump and JD Vance have spent the past year comparing them to communism.

But are these new approaches to government really a threat to our democracy, or arethey tryingto revive the health of our democracy?

We’ll learn more about how Americans are rethinking democracy.

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