Cenk Uygur, the founder and main host of The Young Turks, seems far from the party’s usual rhetoric.
After the defeat of Kamala Harris, Uygur not only despised his own party, but also enjoyed unlikely allies, including Elon Musk and even Donald Trump Jr.
Earlier this year, Uygur stunned his base when he announced he was “considering” voting for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over Joe Biden. In the event, Uygur accused the Democratic establishment of sabotaging democracy to maintain its power.
Uygur said then:
(RFK Jr.) is right to worry about Biden as a threat to democracy itself, maybe not for the reasons he says, but Biden supports the anti-democratic movement on the ground. Democrats cancel election in Florida; they try to get out every candidate in North Carolina, Tennessee, etc.
So they like to rig elections; yes, I used the word rigged, so you can cry about it in the mainstream media. How do you do your job and talk about how to cancel the election in Florida and just declare Biden the winner. So if you’re going to make the argument that you’re a champion of democracy, you should try it in the primary itself.
For the first time today, I now consider RFK Jr.
RFK Jr. later dropped out of the race, urging supporters to vote for Donald Trump.
After Harris’s disastrous defeat, Uygur’s criticism only intensified, focusing on the broader failures of Democratic leadership.
After Kamala Harris’ defeat, Uygur took to X to voice her frustrations with the Democratic establishment. The posts lambasted the party for intolerance and elitism, admitting that it now embodies the corporate culture once scorned in the GOP.
He wrote:
“When I was a Democrat, it was a more tolerant party. The Republicans were run by religious nut projects and corporate robots. Now, the Democratic Party is in many ways the less tolerant party.
The most intolerant part is the establishment wing of the party which says that anyone who opposes the anointed leader is committing heresy. If you try to give constructive criticism to the party to improve it, they kick you out of the party while screaming, “They’re not real Democrats!!”
They hate populists. He has become a corporate robot that I can’t stand. They hate it to the core. They insult our intelligence by pretending that donors are not responsible. They think we need to be controlled and learn how to follow orders. And they don’t know how elitist they sound.
Predictably, the unironic reaction to this post was, “Heresy!!””
Yes
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2024
Uygur’s disappointment did not stop at criticism; it veered into the strange when he pitched himself to Elon Musk as a potential ally in slashing government waste. In response to Musk’s call for budget efficiency, Uygur volunteered:
“Hey Elon Musk, put me in charge of the Pentagon. I’ll drop $400B easily. You’ll get 20% to your $2T goal, right out of the gate. I went to Wharton three years before you. I own a media company, so I know how to run a business. If you really want to cut it, put me in, coach.”
Musk’s response? Surprise reveal: “Special suggestions welcome.”
Uygur doubled down, recommending a ten-year ban on generals taking jobs with defense contractors to prevent wasteful spending. The idea got a rare nod from Donald Trump Jr., who called it “a great idea that has been discussed.”
“As you know, you have to look at the line items in the budget, but I already have a suggestion. The generals are not allowed to work with defense contractors for ten years. They authorize wasteful spending because they will be hired by the same company.
This is a great idea that has been discussed.
– Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 20, 2024
Uygur responded with unexpected praise for Trump Jr., stating, “While the left is yelling at me not to work on MAGA, this is Donald Trump Jr. saying we should restrict generals from working for defense contractors. This is a policy that has done and nothing to do with the Democrats. Who cares if it’s done?”
A little sense never killed a man.
– Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 20, 2024
In another post, Uygur encountered renewed skepticism about the inclusiveness of the Democratic Party. He compared Musk’s openness and the populist right to the rigid orthodoxy of Democratic elites.
“I asked Elon Musk to put me in charge of cutting the Pentagon. And he said – what is your advice? I run the largest left-wing network online and the Democratic leader has never asked that question. The idea that he would take the advice of a populist is disdainful to people – that person.
Now, which side seems more open and inclusive? Which side seems friendlier and which side tries to push you away if you disagree with the orthodoxy? Which side asks for advice and which side asks for compliance and obedience?”
Now, which side seems more open and inclusive? Which side seems friendlier and which side tries to push you away if you disagree with the orthodoxy? Which side asks for advice and which side asks for compliance and obedience?
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) November 19, 2024
