D.C. politicians like to go on mainstream media for softball interviews. Some at Fox News don’t play those games.
And Brett Baier shut up and shut down a top U.S. Senator with this unanswerable question.
Bernie Sanders Tries To Defend Champagne Socialism In Fox News Interview
Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-proclaimed champion of the working class, has once again revealed the chasm between his rhetoric and reality. On Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, the independent Vermont senator defended his lavish use of private jets for campaign travel, shrugging off accusations of hypocrisy with the nonchalance of a man who’s grown comfortable in the elite circles he claims to despise. His campaign’s reported $221,723 splurge on private jets in early 2025, as uncovered by The Washington Free Beacon, conveniently coincided with the launch of his anti-oligarchy tour—a delicious irony for a man who rails against wealth and privilege.
Sanders’ justification for his high-flying lifestyle is as predictable as it is unconvincing. Campaigning, he argues, demands logistical feats that commercial airlines simply can’t accommodate. “When’s the last time you saw Donald Trump during a campaign mode at National Airport? You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. The only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people. [Do you] think I’m going to be sitting in a waiting line at United, waiting, you know, what, 30,000 people are waiting?” Sanders asked Baier. The senator’s disdain for the idea of mingling with ordinary travelers at an airport betrays a sense of entitlement that sits uneasily with his populist persona.
Unapologetic, Sanders doubled down on his choice of luxury travel. “That’s the only way you can get around. No apologies for that. That’s what campaign travel is about. We’ve done it in the past. We’re going to do it in the future,” he declared. The audacity of his stance is striking. While Sanders preaches about the struggles of the working class, his campaign burns through hundreds of thousands of dollars on private jets, a mode of transport most Americans will never experience. This is the same man who has spent decades decrying the excesses of the “1%,” yet seems perfectly content to emulate their lifestyle when it suits his needs.
Sanders’ defenders might argue that modern campaigning requires such extravagances to reach voters efficiently. But this excuse falls flat when you consider the optics. As he jets from rally to rally, Sanders is touring the country to deliver his anti-elite message, railing against the wealthy and powerful who control America’s economy. The Democratic National Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the Association of State Democratic Committees have even joined the effort, launching “People’s Town Halls” across all 50 states, including Republican strongholds, starting in March. These events are meant to amplify Sanders’ call for economic justice, but the irony of preaching equality from the comfort of a private jet is impossible to ignore.
The senator’s rhetoric remains as fiery as ever, insisting that his cause resonates with voters. “I think at a time when the people on top are doing phenomenally well, when seniors, working class people are struggling, people want to hear action to stand up to the people who have the wealth and the power and create an economy that works for all of us, not just the people on top,” Sanders said. Yet, his actions tell a different story. The working-class voters he claims to represent are unlikely to sympathize with a politician who spends exorbitantly on campaign luxuries while they struggle to make ends meet. Sanders’ private jet habit is a glaring contradiction to his message of economic fairness.
Even more troubling is Sanders’ admission that Democrats have failed the very people he claims to champion. He acknowledges that his party has long neglected working-class concerns, yet he continues to indulge in the trappings of privilege. The senator’s call for a populist agenda rings hollow when his own campaign prioritizes convenience and comfort over principle. If Sanders truly believed in the sacrifices required to dismantle the power of wealthy elites, he might consider trading his private jet for a coach seat—or at least acknowledging the dissonance between his lifestyle and his ideals.
The “People’s Town Halls” initiative, while ambitious, only amplifies the contradictions in Sanders’ approach. These events are designed to bring his message to the heart of America, including areas where his party has struggled to gain traction. But the spectacle of a socialist icon crisscrossing the country in a private jet undermines the authenticity of his campaign. Voters, particularly those in struggling communities, are likely to see through the façade of a politician who preaches solidarity while indulging in the perks of the elite.
Sanders’ refusal to apologize for his choices is perhaps the most telling aspect of this saga. His unwavering commitment to private jet travel suggests a man who has grown accustomed to the privileges of power, even as he positions himself as an outsider fighting for the downtrodden. The senator’s hypocrisy is not just a personal failing; it’s a symptom of a deeper disconnect within the socialist movement he represents. While Sanders and his ilk demand systemic change, they seem all too willing to enjoy the spoils of the system they critique, leaving voters to question whether their rhetoric is anything more than a well-rehearsed performance.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & Bernie Sanders Leading 2028 Democrat Nomination?
The Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential ticket is already stirring speculation, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, has tossed a grenade into the mix. On HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, McCarthy claimed that progressive firebrands Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are “in the lead right now” for the Democratic nomination.
“Right now? Bernie and AOC,” McCarthy said, pointing to their massive rally crowds on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, even in Trump-won states. But this vision of a Sanders-AOC ticket feels more like a fever dream than a plausible future, a radical left-wing mirage that ignores the Democratic Party’s recent electoral drubbing and the nation’s clear rejection of extreme progressivism.
Sanders, at 83, is an unlikely contender, his age a glaring liability for a grueling presidential campaign. Yet he’s unapologetic, telling Newsweek, “From one end of our country to the other—in red states, blue states, purple states—working families, the younger generation, seniors, and the poor are desperately looking for a new and bold vision for America’s future.” Bold, sure, but is it viable? The Democratic Party is still licking its wounds from last year’s loss to Donald Trump, mired in infighting and lacking a clear leader.
McCarthy, a Trump ally who left Congress in 2023, argued that Sanders and AOC’s crowd sizes show they’re “going to lead right now” and will “drive the money for a while.” But as Maher countered, big crowds don’t equal broad support—a lesson Democrats should have learned from past overzealous campaigns.
Ocasio-Cortez, at 35, is a more credible contender, with some polls placing her second to Kamala Harris. A Quantus Insights survey from April 21-23 showed Harris at 30 percent and AOC at 14 percent, with Sanders trailing at 6 percent. Her youth and charisma draw attention, but her far-left policies—Medicare for All, Green New Deal—alienate moderates and independents, who proved decisive in 2024. The “Fighting Oligarchy” tour may energize the base, but it risks preaching to the choir while the party needs a unifying figure. McCarthy admitted, “It won’t sustain itself,” suggesting even he sees this as a fleeting moment, not a movement with legs.
The Democratic field is crowded with alternatives: Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, Wes Moore, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro. These governors and former officials lean pragmatic, not ideological, offering a contrast to AOC’s and Sanders’ radicalism. McCarthy’s focus on crowd sizes might signal short-term buzz, but as he noted, “I don’t think that’s how it ends up.” The party’s path to 2028 lies in rebuilding trust with voters, not doubling down on divisive rhetoric. A Sanders-AOC ticket would be a gift to Republicans, handing them an easy target to paint Democrats as out-of-touch extremists.
