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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Democratic Party leadership for ostracizing those with differing viewpoints, particularly podcast host Joe Rogan, during a Sunday appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“Look, you can have an argument with Rogan, agree with him, disagree with him, but what’s the problem [with] going on those shows?” Sanders (I-Vt.) told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
đź‘€ Bernie Sanders on How the Democratic 'Establishment' Took Him Out of the Presidential Race
"That's what happens when you take on the establishments. What happened is we won the first three primaries, and then the establishment got very, very nervous…and they said, 'Hey, it… pic.twitter.com/d9Z2OGAuuH
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) August 14, 2024
“Clearly you have an alternative media out there, a lot of podcasts, that have millions and millions of viewers. I got vilified by some of the Democratic establishment because I went on Rogan’s show,” said Sanders, 83.
The popular podcaster, who previously endorsed Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primary, recently conducted extensive interviews with President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, subsequently endorsing both candidates.
A potential interview with Vice President Kamala Harris never materialized, with her team citing scheduling conflicts. According to Rogan, the proposed one-hour time limit and travel requirements led him to decline the opportunity.
During the CNN interview, Sanders also doubled down on his recent criticism of the Democratic Party’s disconnect from working-class Americans.
“Here is the reality: The working class of this country is angry, and they have reason to be angry,” he told CNN. “We are living in an economy today where people on top are doing phenomenally well, while 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck.”
Sanders endorsed the Washington Post’s assessment that Democrats prioritize college-educated elite activists over working-class concerns. He advocated for popular bipartisan policies like minimum wage increases and expanded healthcare access.
Bernie Sanders: “If you're an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democrat Party is going to the mats, taking on powerful special interests, and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no.” pic.twitter.com/kvWne7rmUi
— America (@america) November 10, 2024
When asked about Harris’s campaign performance, Sanders remained diplomatic, saying, “I don’t want to get involved in that. We’ve got to look forward and not in the back. Kamala did her very best. She came in, she won the debate with Trump. She worked as hard as she possibly could.”
