How do large coalitions survive when their most energized factions hold views completely at odds with their traditional core values?

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Large coalitions survive by turning ideological conflict into managed competition rather than existential war. They hold when leaders define a small set of nonnegotiable principles, allow broad debate outside those lines, and keep members focused on shared electoral or governing goals. The dispute highlighted by Rep. Josh Gottheimer reflects a common problem in big-tent politics: a highly organized minority can exert influence beyond its size, especially in primaries, activist networks, and online media. The Democratic Socialists of America, while far smaller than the broader Democratic electorate, has built outsized leverage through local organizing, endorsements, and victories in safe seats. That does not automatically mean it represents the party’s center, but it does force party leaders to decide what is tolerable dissent and what is a brand risk. History suggests coalitions break not simply because factions disagree, but because they lose the ability to separate shared interests from irreconcilable demands. The Whigs collapsed when internal contradictions over slavery became unmanageable. The New Deal coalition endured for decades because factions accepted coexistence long enough to pursue common aims, before civil rights realigned the parties. Research also shows that the loudest ideological blocs are usually a minority of the public. Pew’s recent typology found the most ideological groups on both left and right are influential but numerically limited, while most voter…

Gottheimer Says 150,000 DSA Members Are Hijacking Democrats as He Calls Them Anti-American

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Gottheimer Says 150,000 DSA Members Are Hijacking Democrats as He Calls Them Anti-American

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