What are the other possible vectors for influencing politics in a republic/democracy like the US. Now that I think of it, it seems like both sides are populist.
"According to this religious text, this is how we should be living"
"This will be good for the economy and put more money in your pockets"
"If we don't do this, the terrorists win"
"Think of the children"
While it is easy to get people to support doing what they already want to do, people's opinions can also be swayed.
Further, while populist movements try to present their positions as widely held by the majority, oftentimes that's a bluff. It's usually the case that populists are really just a vocal minority.
A lot of people have lost trust in those experts and people who claim to know what's good for other people. They also don't appreciate being talked down to.
The elites vs the people distinction is usually the key characteristic of populism in most definitions. Populist movements also tend to be very anti-establishment. Many vectors for influencing politics don't involve viewing society as this battle between the people and the elites. For example, while it's true that left-wing populists exist in the US I wouldn't describe the current Democratic party as a populist party. It is more of an institutionalist party and they don't tend to attack elites, because most groups traditionally considered part of the elite support the party. This is in contrast to the current Republican party which very much casts itself as being opposed to the elite. All the rhetoric about battling the deep state and draining the swamp is very much populist.
It's funny how this starts to sound more and more like just Marxism.
Which is exactly what's happening lately.
As Manchin said: "The bottom line is — will the middle speak up? Does the middle have a voice?"
You didn't hear that Sinema left the party? And Manchin is considering leaving it?
That's what I was referring to when I said they were (or at least felt) excluded from the party.
It was more obvious in 2020 (with a less complicated, more policy-driven primary) that tons of Democratic primary voters don't want Medicare For All, and that the story as Bernie had told it didn't match the reality on the ground of differing policy goals even within the party's constituents.