Words by Oliver Schoening PZ ’27, Graphic by Ben Connolly PZ ’26

The word “dirtbag” typically conjures images of vulgarity and sloppiness — not a political identity. Yet for an American left wing increasingly under attack in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, the label may be a much-needed lifeline. 

In a recent opinion piece titled  “America’s New Segregation,” New York Times columnist David Brooks investigates the divided state of American society and potential solutions in the Trump era. Brooks writes, “In sector after sector, Democrats are in danger of becoming the party of the status quo … Trump goes after some institution, like D.E.I., the federal bureaucracy or universities. The resistance folks rise up to defend those institutions without acknowledging that there’s usually a kernel of truth behind Trump’s critiques.

Brooks’ words, though insightful, fail to recognize that this has already happened. Nearly a decade removed from the 2016 election, the Democrats are rudderless and actively being undercut by the Republican Party on nearly every major issue — from immigration to housing to the economy.

The so-called “dirtbag left” has been kicking since 2016. During the Democratic presidential primaries, podcasts like “Red Scare,” “Chapo Trap House,” and “Cum Town” began to make a name for themselves with irreverent and often inflammatory political commentary. The dirtbag left encompassed a range of progressive millennials alienated from the Democratic establishment, eschewing civility in favor of harsh and often vulgar criticism of American politics. 

The much-maligned “Bernie Bros” of 2016 are a good example of the ideology commonly associated with the dirtbag left. The aptly named “Bernie Bros” became infamous for their willingness to attack candidates like Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail, rapidly growing a reputation for misogyny, racism, and even threats against Sanders’ detractors. To be clear, this portion of Bernie’s voter base represented a particularly ugly subset of leftists, but pinning the failure of 2016 on them misses the point entirely.

“Bernie Bro” quickly became shorthand for any Sanders supporters who criticized Clinton, regardless of their own identity. What was before a little-known subset of Americans largely confined to Twitter discourse was thrust into the spotlight and assigned blame for the failure of the party. There were undoubtedly many who turned to misogyny and racism as the tide turned against Sanders in 2016, but it is nevertheless important to recognize that this ugliness stemmed from real political angst over the inability of politicians to connect with voters on important issues like housing prices and the healthcare system.

The right wing has already attempted to turn Kirk into a martyr, and for many on the right, no amount of condemnation is enough to absolve the Democrats of their perceived role in the decay of the country. With rumors and accusations already coming from politicians and voters alike, it is clear that there is even more fallout yet to come. Ultimately, the left has to come up with an organic solution to this increasingly hostile media sphere — and sticking to a failing playbook isn’t going to cut it.

In late August, journalist Taylor Lorenz released a WIRED article about Chorus, an incubator program for Democratic influencers funded by a dark money group called the Sixteen Thirty Fund. A dark money group is a political action committee whose sources of funding are hidden from the public, raising questions about who is exerting control over Democratic policy. According to a leaked pitch to investors obtained by Lorenz, Chorus’ goal is to “build new infrastructure to fund independent progressive voices online at scale.” Immediately following the release of Lorenz’ article, Chorus founder Brian Tyler Cohen struck back, denying claims that Chorus dictates talking points to partnered influencers and forbids them from disclosing that they are being paid. 

Following the September 11 attacks, pioneer of gonzo journalism Hunter S. Thompson wrote a piece about the future of the United States titled “When War Drums Roll.”

“The poor bastards of what will forever be known as Generation Z are doomed to be the first generation of Americans who will grow up with a lower standard of living than their parents enjoyed,” Thompson wrote. “The party’s over, folks.” Nearly twenty-five years later, Thompson’s words feel nothing short of crushing. 

Kirk’s assassination comes at a crucial juncture for the Democratic Party and the country as a whole. Already facing record-low approval ratings, nothing that the party has done in recent years inspires confidence that there is a grand plan that we simply are not yet privy to. 

The attempts at censorship from the right are vindictive, driven solely by residual bitterness over the left’s perceived role in shaping years of “cancel culture.” The irony of all this could not be more apparent, especially as figures on the right continue to use Kirk’s death to infringe on First Amendment rights. But even with the contradictions laid bare, the left has fallen in line with the wishes of the right. 

The Sanders-obsessed dirtbag left of the 2016 era is long-gone. Red Scare has gone full reactionary and the millennials that comprised the movement have grown up, but some managed to stick around. Perhaps most notably, former “Cum Town” host Adam Friedland has gained traction through his eponymous talk show “The Adam Friedland Show,” featuring an eclectic mix of guests from actress Sarah Jessica Parker to New York Congressman Ritchie Torres. 

Friedland’s success is an indication of something that organizations like Chorus and the Democratic establishment have failed to grasp. While Kirk was immensely successful, his politics were decidedly inflammatory to many. If a man who asserted that “we made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act” can be at the forefront of conservative politics, we don’t need more “clean” voices that, to quote Ezra Klein, “practice politics the right way”. Many on the left often bemoan the lack of a “Joe Rogan of the left”. Although figures like those are few and far in between, the issue is a structural one.

Friedland is interesting not because he is similar to Kirk, but because of his position as a political outsider. Establishment media figures like Jimmy Kimmel have found themselves under attack from the right over their words following Kirk’s assassination, not to mention the scrutiny ABC is facing. Figures like Friedland have the unique ability to engage blithely in political discourse because they are not limited to what is “acceptable” for political commentators. If establishment media is already being watched by the government, independent media is all the more important. The importance of the dirtbag left lies not just in the vulgarity of their political commentary, but in its subversive critique of the Democratic Party’s supposed focus on everyday Americans.

The dirtbag left associated with Bernie Sanders’ ill- fated presidential bids in 2016 and 2020 gained steam for what can only be described as a nihilistic view of American politics. But now is better than ever to bring those who have been alienated from the inaction of the Democrats back into the fold. While it may seem like this decidedly vicious take on politics is incongruous with the views of the mainstream, taking a step back from all the noise and simply calling things as we see them is the only way to steer the ship back on track.

With a right-wing assault on the First Amendment currently underway, it makes little sense to acquiesce to the wishes of conservatives and silence ourselves. The reality is that no matter how heartfelt the condolences, the die has already been cast. If nothing you say or do is going to convince the right wing otherwise, it is time to stop pulling punches. Reconciliation may have been achievable years ago, and it likely will be again in the future, but for the time being, there is no happy medium.

By policing the language of people we should be working with moving forward for fear of further polarization, we risk giving up what little agency we do have in the direction of the Democratic Party and American politics as a whole. Simply cursing out the political system at every turn is not the solution, but there are times when there’s no better way to get your concerns heard. As Chapo Trap House host Amber A’Lee Frost put it, “The depravity of the atrocious acts committed by the powerful far exceed the depravity of any swear words one could use to describe those acts.”