{
  "id": 1906522,
  "title": "Why are progressives winning across the United States? It’s not complicated | Bernie Sanders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/why-are-progressives-winning-across-the-united-states-its-not",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T10:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/19/poll-progressive-candidates-election-economy"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Poll after poll demonstrates that the American people understand the current economic system is rigged. Wealthy individuals continue to become wealthier while the common people struggle. In this era of 60% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, the elite class has reached unprecedented prosperity. There exists an alarming level of income and wealth inequality, with the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 93% combined. This disparity is further exemplified by Elon Musk's wealth surpassing that of the bottom 50% of U.S. households.\n\nAs a result, working families are weary of the status quo and yearn for genuine change. They demand real solutions to their daily struggles, such as paying bills, accessing affordable healthcare, and ensuring a brighter future for their children. Despite being portrayed as \"radical,\" \"far left,\" or even \"communist,\" progressive candidates are making significant headway in elections due to their alignment with the American people's needs and desires.\n\nProgressives advocate for a fairer campaign finance system, seeking to end the corrupt influence of billionaires and their SuperPACs on political campaigns. They argue that the current system, exemplified by billionaire Elon Musk's $290 million contribution to Donald Trump's campaign, undermines democracy by allowing the wealthy to dictate outcomes. Progressives urge the elimination of Citizens United, a Supreme Court decision that enabled unlimited political spending by corporations and unions, and the banning of SuperPACs, insisting that elections should be determined by one person, one vote, not by the wealth of contributors.\n\nHealthcare reform is another pressing issue for progressives, who view the current system as broken, costly, and unaffordable. They argue that spending twice as much per capita on healthcare as other developed nations, while leaving 85 million Americans uninsured or underinsured, is both immoral and financially irresponsible. Progressives champion the concept of healthcare as a universal right, aligning with the preferences of 64% of Americans who favor a single-payer, Medicare-for-all system. They also support raising the federal minimum wage to a living wage of at least $20 per hour and opposing employers' attempts to prevent workers from joining unions through illegal means.\n\nIn addressing income and wealth inequality, progressives argue that the wealthiest individuals and corporations must shoulder their fair share of taxation. With the highest child poverty rate among major countries and a third of senior citizens struggling economically, it is incongruous that billionaires enjoy tax rates lower than those of essential workers. Lastly, progressives recognize the transformative potential of AI and robotics, warning that unless the government intervenes, big tech corporations will reap excessive profits at the expense of workers, privacy, the environment, and democracy. Progressives demand that the government play an active role in ensuring these groundbreaking technologies benefit all Americans, rather than consolidating wealth in the hands of a select few.",
  "summary": "Poll after poll shows the same thing. The American people know that the current economic system is rigged The media pundits have written article after article desperately trying to understand why progressive candidates, despite being heavily outspent, keep defeating establishment Democrats in primaries around the country. Well, the answer is not complicated. Whether it is a corrupt campaign…",
  "key_points": [
    "60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, highlighting economic struggles.",
    "Progressive candidates advocate for campaign finance reform and healthcare as a right.",
    "Progressives demand higher taxes on the wealthy to address income inequality."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}