December 15, 2025
Populism, now with junk fees
Even in a Populist Moment, Democrats Are Split on the Problem of Corporate Power
Voters rage at Big Business while Dems squabble over Netflix deals and junk fees
TLDR: Voters are furious at corporate power, but Democrats are split, with progressives fighting mergers while moderates hesitate. Commenters demand abolishing the two-party system, blame social-media populism, and roast “weak” leadership as prices climb and profits soar—pressure that could reshape primaries and your monthly bills.
Americans are furious at Big Business — polls at 15-year lows, junk fees everywhere, and Netflix prices soaring — yet Democrats are still fighting among themselves. Stoller’s piece spotlights the split: progressives like Sen. Warren calling the Netflix–Warner–Paramount mash-up a monopoly move, while party moderates tiptoe. The community? Ruthless. One commenter demands scrapping the two-party system, another says policy now gets “hashed out on social media by non‑experts.” People hailed Lina Khan as an antitrust folk hero and joked “cancel your subscription, not your rights.”
Then came the drama: Zohran Mamdani’s shock NYC mayor win on a high-prices platform, data centers getting booted by locals, and a Maine newbie tweeting “these assholes want to kill movies” about the Netflix–Warner deal — the comments turned that into a meme, complete with popcorn emojis. Centrist Dems were roasted as “weak. ineffectual.” Others mocked party sloganeering: “lead beyond three talking points.” Meanwhile, TikTok tales of vet bills and grocery surveillance pricing fed the mood. The vibe: voters want action on corporate power now, but the party is stuck in a group chat. Everyone’s watching profit margins hit records while rent, sports fees, and even vet visits climb, and they’re done being polite.
Key Points
- •Polling indicates U.S. views of big business are at a 15-year low and skepticism of corporate influence is high.
- •Consumer costs have risen in multiple areas (e.g., Netflix, veterinary services, youth sports) amid record corporate profit margins.
- •A report alleges large grocery chains use surveillance-based profiles to charge different prices for identical products.
- •Political outcomes cited include Zohran Mamdani winning NYC mayor and local governments rejecting data centers.
- •Progressive Democrats are portrayed as opposing media consolidation, with Senator Elizabeth Warren criticizing a proposed Netflix–Warner Bros. deal.