Julian Epstein urges Democrats to reject cultural leftism and shift to the center amid voter distrust and election losses.

Democratic Strategist Criticizes Party's Progressive Direction

Julian Epstein, a former chief counsel for the House Judiciary Committee and veteran Democratic legal adviser, has called on the Democratic Party to abandon its progressive agenda and return to centrist policies. In an appearance on Fox News Radio’s “Brian Kilmeade Show,” Epstein warned that the party’s current ideological stance is leading to political decline and eroding public trust.

“[They] cannot divorce themselves from a discredited ideology which is progressive ideology, which has been a failure economically,” Epstein said. “Look at the states, look at the state of California. And it’s a failure culturally. People just don’t believe in cultural leftism.”

Epstein asserted that Democrats lack a coherent message and are failing to effectively address divisions within their own ranks. He cited Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as emblematic of this confusion, saying that party leaders do not have the courage to oppose the more radical elements within the party.

“The Democrats just seem to be wandering in the wilderness without any real answer,” he added. “They don’t have the guts to stand up to the groups and say, ‘We have to moderate and do what Bill Clinton did in the 1990s and go to the political center.’”

Online Activism, Internal Conflict, and Public Fallout

According to Epstein, the influence of online activists has further stifled moderate voices in the party. “The internet has been weaponized,” he said. “They are scared of the flying monkeys of the internet who will call them bad names if they don’t do certain things or if they do certain things like cooperate with Trump.”

This internal tension was highlighted earlier this year when Schumer supported a Republican-led stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, despite some disagreements with the bill’s content. The move was intended to prevent what Schumer described as a political “gift” to President Donald Trump but drew swift criticism from progressives.

Former Rep. Donna Edwards, now an MSNBC analyst, was blunt in her assessment. “The reality here is there was no message, no strategy, and, at the end of the day, no leadership,” she said, calling the decision a “black mark” on Schumer’s leadership.

The backlash has fueled speculation about a potential Senate challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Some Democratic lawmakers have reportedly encouraged her to consider a future bid for Schumer’s seat. When asked about these rumors, Schumer responded dismissively, telling The New York Times, “That’s a long time away.”

Meanwhile, Schumer’s popularity in his home state has slipped. An April Siena College poll showed only 39% of New York voters view him favorably, compared to a 47% favorable rating for Ocasio-Cortez. The poll underscores a broader trend of dissatisfaction with establishment Democratic leadership, particularly among younger and more progressive voters.

Epstein’s comments highlight a deepening identity crisis within the Democratic Party, as it grapples with how to reconcile its progressive wing with a more moderate electorate. Whether party leaders will heed calls to shift course remains to be seen, but the pressure from within is clearly mounting.