This is frustrating but not surprising. Progressives and Democratic Socialists have been the red-haired stepchildren of the Democratic Party since Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Right after AOC won her primary, the DCCC changed its rules to deny support to other Democratic Socialist candidates. They were later pressured to revert the policy change.)

But we've already seen in the last decade evidence of active capture of the Democratic party and its institutions. Corporate lobbyists really prefer officials who are soulless and obedient and would rather get super wealthy than serve the public.

Sadly, it's the same neoliberal disease that infects all of the industrialized world, which factors into why authoritarianism and even fascism are gaining traction in those nations as well.

The Democrats may not be effective in taking back power, but if they do, we have to remake the entire system to address corruption, the influence of money, and to create social safety nets stronger than before. If we appease the capitalists and neoliberals even a little bit, then we'll be right back here again with some Trump-like figure in power and the Heritage Foundation wrecking the country's institutions all over again.