Well, that didn’t go the way Jon Karl had planned, did it?
What was billed as a triumphant return to the national spotlight for Senator Bernie Sanders quickly morphed into an awkward, combative moment that reminded everyone why this “movement” of his tends to sputter when faced with actual political decisions. Sanders, now 83, is still doing what he’s done for decades: barnstorming with a bullhorn against billionaires, railing against “oligarchy,” and dragging his party leftward whether they like it or not.
And while ABC’s This Week tried hard—very hard—to paint this “Fighting Oligarchy” tour as a resurgence, the cracks showed the moment Karl did his job and asked an actual question.
Specifically: Would Bernie support a primary challenge to Chuck Schumer, perhaps from fellow democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
“Bernie is back!” @JonKarl champions @SenSanders: “83-year-old independent Senator Bernie Sanders is drawing crowds, even bigger than he did as a presidential candidate.” Denver rally attendee: “Feeling the burn.” Karl: “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/RVlcFYR5wm
— Brent Baker 🇺🇲🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) March 23, 2025
Boom. That was the fuse. Sanders visibly bristled, took offense, and nearly ended the interview right there. Not exactly the confident response of a movement unafraid to lead.
And let’s be clear: the question wasn’t unfair. Sanders has never been shy about challenging establishment Democrats. AOC has long been floated as a possible challenger to Schumer, and Sanders’ grassroots brand thrives on these insurgent narratives. But now that he’s embedded in Schumer’s own leadership team? That kind of revolution gets… complicated.
So what happened here wasn’t just an awkward TV moment. It was a live demonstration of the central problem facing Bernie Sanders and the far-left wing of the Democratic Party: they talk like outsiders, but increasingly operate like insiders. Sanders wants to torch the system, but he also wants to keep his seat at the leadership table. He’s “fighting oligarchy,” but unwilling to back the kind of primary challenges that would actually threaten the party’s establishment.
WATCH: Bernie Sanders cuts his ABC interview short when (implicitly) asked about AOC challenging Chuck Schumer for the Senate
JON KARL: Would you like to see her join you in the Senate?
BERNIE SANDERS: I – right now we have, as I said, just a whole lot of people in the… pic.twitter.com/uueRfKwYAj
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) March 23, 2025
The media, for their part, are clearly desperate for any sign of vitality on the left. Karl’s “BERNIE IS BACK” intro sounded more like a hype video than a news report. The giddy “Feel the Bern” rally coverage—cut with soundbites of disappointed Democrats venting about weakness—was an attempt to reframe stagnation as spark. But the moment Sanders was asked to confront that weakness directly, the whole vibe changed.
Rachel Bade of Politico rightly pointed out that Sanders was put in a “weird spot.” But the truth is, that spot is exactly where the progressive wing finds itself right now. Vocal, frustrated, eager to lead—but unsure how to wield power without burning their own house down.
