In this inaugural episode of Between the Left and a Hard Place, host Dean Charles confronts the one topic he says no Democrat wants to touch: Capitalism vs. Socialism.

Dean, a lifelong center-left Democrat and former Vegas talk radio host, shares a hard truth he learned from four years of open phone lines: nearly every Republican caller saw every Democrat as a socialist. That perception, he argues, is why Democrats got crushed in the last election, and no one in the party wants to admit it.

He breaks down the Democratic Socialists of America platform, warning that policies like defunding the police, abolishing prisons, open borders, and aligning with countries like China and Iran are not just extreme—they’re political suicide. Dean pulls in commentary from Stephen A. Smith, dives into the rise of AOC, and sounds the alarm on Democrats losing touch with “80/20 issues” that most Americans agree on.

With swing districts and Senate seats on the line, Dean argues it’s time for moderates to take the lead—or risk losing it all. The stakes? The future of the party—and the country.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction and podcast background

• [01:07] Republican perceptions of Democrats

• [02:05] Democratic election losses and misdiagnosis

• [02:55] Stephen A. Smith’s commentary on Trump and Democrats

• [03:21] AOC, the DSA, and the party’s direction

• [04:01] DSA platform overview

• [05:51] Open borders and Medicare for All critique

• [06:51] DSA’s stance on international alliances and U.S. aid

• [08:45] Oppression, equality, and the problem with extremes

• [09:49] Opportunity, safety, and the case for capitalism

• [10:09] Senator Catherine Cortez: Moderate Democrats and party unity

• [11:39] Congress electoral math: Purple districts and candidate viability

• [14:03] The 80/20 issues and Trump’s electoral strategy

• [14:16] A 99/1 issue: transgender athletes in sports

• [15:54] Abortion, due process, and Democrat-favored 80/20 issues

• [17:46] Preview of future episodes and final thoughts

Notable Quotes

• [03:22] "Democrats, do you understand that what you were offering was so pathetic that Donald Trump was more normal?" — Dean Charles

• [04:43] "Nobody I know wants to defund the police. Not even any Democrats I know want to defund the police." — Dean Charles

• [09:05] "There's two things that, to me, are extremely American and are the hallmark of capitalism over socialism. One is opportunity... The other is safety." — Dean Charles

• [12:08] "If a socialist were winning the nomination in a purple district, they'd have no shot. No shot." — Dean Charles

• [14:03] “The reason why we lost is that Donald Trump harnessed the 80/20 issues — and he did it to perfection.”— Dean Charles

• [14:36] "I don't know anyone in my world that thinks that biological men should be able to participate in women's sports." — Dean Charles

• [15:22] "You don't just get what you want in this country. You have to earn it." — Dean Charles

• [18:13] "I want the Democrats to win. I want things brought back to more normal, civilized thought." — Dean Charles

Mentioned

• Democratic Socialists of America Political Platform

• Stephen A. Smith Podcast

Between the Left and a Hard Place is hosted by Dean Charles and made for the 80% of Democrats who identify as center-left—but feel invisible while the fringe drives the narrative.

Each episode takes a blunt, honest look at the Democratic Party: what’s working, what’s broken, and how to move forward without burning it all down.

If you believe in pragmatism, common sense, and real solutions—this is your show.

It’s time to take the duct tape off the center—and put it where it belongs: on the noise.