When we try to compete with Republicans on "centrist" issues like deportation and military strength, we're going to lose every time. The right owns those issues and has for decades. The Dems need to focus on how they fight for the working class. Kitchen table issues like healthcare and wages.

Yea, because he doesn't have a lot of support among the establishment and is a grump that some don't like.

However, progressive policies like his consistently won at the polls this year despite the right winning election, because people don't dislike progressivism, they dislike democrats.

Bernie Sanders is proof that when you boldly run on progressive policy, you not only drive the conversation left, you also get people excited to vote for you instead of just voting because they hate the other candidate. That's why so many people didn't show up this time around.

Very true. One thing the right is good at though is driving the conversation. Dems too often resort to focus testing every talking point, leading to them campaigning on uninspired policies that aren't very bold. Basically, they let the right drive the conversation.

It saying that Dems aren't far better than Republicans on this. Totally agree with you. But I am saying that they're awful at communicating their effort to do these things. Dems are awful at messaging and consistently fail to communicate to less-engaged voters how they're fighting for them

Dems haven't raised the minimum wage, haven't made any progress on universal healthcare, and refuse to put more limits on representatives buying stocks, effectively engaging in insider trading behind the scenes. Why would the average voter trust them? They aren't progressive in the slightest.