(Daily Signal)—A new form of socialism has escaped from the lab of “Woke 1.0,” and it seems intent on taking over the Left.
The strain of socialism driving movements like the Democratic Socialists of America goes far beyond the traditional definition of government ownership of the means of production—it marries economic socialism to identity politics.
This isn’t your grandfather’s socialism, featuring factory workers waving red flags and professors droning on about dialectical materialism. The new socialists are young, college-educated, and racially diverse. They talk about intersectionality, pronouns, and microaggressions. They may not think the USSR was on the right side of history, but they’re sure America’s on the wrong side of it.
When socialism surpassed 40% favorability in the latest Gallup poll last month, it wasn’t because young Americans are overwhelmingly burying their heads in the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Instead, they’re breathing a noxious cocktail of envy, social alienation, distrust of institutions, and an ideological framework teaching them to interpret inequality as evidence of oppression.
Socialism is still fundamentally about government control over the means of producing wealth, but Marx’s class struggle has expanded into the social realm. The Frankfurt School applied critical theory to culture, while later scholars developed theories centered on race, sex, and sexuality.
Marxist critical theory teaches people to view the world through the lens of oppressor and oppressed. Critical race theory teaches that America is institutionally racist, and it justifies radical change to root this alleged racism out of our systems. Queer theory teaches that an oppressive gender binary keeps us all down, so we have to throw out the old vision of human beings as male and female, to liberate society.
Other theorists developed intersectionality, the idea that overlapping identities can compound oppression. Membership in more oppressed groups therefore confers greater moral authority to demand change—and ultimately, power—or so the reasoning goes.
That logic proved remarkably malleable. Marxism supplied the class struggle, other critical theories applied it to race and sex, and intersectionality combined them into a new ideological strain. Modern democratic socialism gathers all these grievances under a single political banner.
The socialists have worked to build power through institutions Americans don’t necessarily think of as socialist. DSA members have sought influence in organized labor, while socialist organizers aim to form tenant unions to organize renters around a class-struggle model of tenants versus landlords. Electoral politics is only one front in their broader effort to build power.
The same intellectual framework spread to other American institutions after George Floyd’s death in police custody in 2020. Corporations embraced racial preferences, schools told white kids they were oppressors, and government ramped up diversity, equity, and inclusion.
These trends inspired a backlash, and President Donald Trump has used the federal bureaucracy to root out DEI, but the underlying ideas remain resonant on the Left and in many American institutions.
Critical theory acts as an accelerant for the flames of natural human envy, and our current environment represents a dry tinderbox.
Social media allows us to highlight the best parts of our lives publicly, while hiding the work that we did to achieve that success. This creates a hall of mirrors, where everyone around you seems wealthier, happier, and more prosperous than you, but you know you’re not as happy as they seem.
As a student of history, I can’t escape the contrast. For most of human existence, people lacked electricity, running water, safe transportation, and effective medicine. Famine was an ever-present threat. Today Americans complain, often with justification, about rising grocery bills and health care costs while enjoying material conditions our ancestors could scarcely have imagined.
We enjoy a gobsmacking level of absolute prosperity, while increasingly measuring our lives by relative deprivation. It matters less that I live better than a king did centuries ago if the man on my smartphone appears to live better than I do.
Socialism feeds on the gap between those two ways of seeing the world.
The ultimate danger of socialism isn’t the pronouns or the microaggressions. Those ideas matter, but socialism’s final answer to economic and cultural grievances remains what it has always been: political power.
America’s free economy, protected by the rule of law, has produced an astonishing degree of prosperity precisely because no central authority gets to decide everything Americans should produce, buy, sell, or become. Socialism asks us to distrust that messy freedom and entrust ever more decisions to top-down politics instead.
“Woke 1.0” didn’t replace the old class struggle. It multiplied it, creating new categories of “oppression” and broadening the socialist cause.
Call it gain-of-function Marxism, but whatever you do, don’t spread it.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.