'Shoulda Done Much Better': The Concerning Bernie Sanders Pivot That Needs to Be Discussed

While the Democrat Party is in the midst of a severe identity crisis brought on in part by their 2024 election losses, some national figures are already trying to get a head start on the messaging wars ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

Among them is California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has not only started a podcast but who also made a pivot of sorts on the "T" part of the LGBTQ Alphabet Mafia in an early March exchange with conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, appearing to take a more centrist tone on the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports.

Twice-failed presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has also been getting his name out there alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as they tour the country to fire up the Democrat base and warn about the "dangers" of the so-called "oligarchy."

As RedState reported, Sanders got a little huffy and nearly walked out of a Sunday interview he did with ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl when he was asked about a possible AOC primary challenge to embattled Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in 2028.

But something else that happened during their back and forth is deserving of more attention than it received, and it was a question from Karl on whether Sanders thought President Donald Trump had done anything right.

Surprisingly, Sanders said yes. The issues? Addressing the fentanyl crisis and cracking down on illegal immigration:

SANDERS: Yeah. I mean, I think cracking down on fentanyl, making sure our borders are stronger. Look, nobody thinks illegal immigration is appropriate, and I happen to think we need comprehensive immigration reform, but I don't think it's appropriate for people to be coming across the border illegally. So, we've got to work now on comprehensive immigration reform. The idea that Trump has, I don't know what his latest numbers are.
He wants to deport 20 million people who are in this country who are undocumented. Well, you do that, you destroy the entire country. Because, I got news for you, Trump's billionaire friends are not going to pick the crops in California that feed us. They're not going to work in meat packing houses. That's what undocumented people are doing.
So, we need a variety of programs, guest worker programs, but mostly comprehensive immigration reform.
KARL: But you know illegal immigration, it exploded under Biden. And it had been high for times under Trump as well. But it exploded under Biden. And nothing was really done until his last year in office when he was –
SANDERS: Yes, should have done much better. No argument.

Watch:

Jon Karl: Is there anything that you think Trump has done right?

Bernie Sanders: Yeah. I mean, I think cracking down on fentanyl, making sure our borders are stronger. Look, nobody thinks illegal immigration is appropriate, and I happen to think we need comprehensive immigration… pic.twitter.com/TZFCo0ve0g
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) March 23, 2025

That's... a pretty notable pivot from the stances he took during his 2020 presidential run:

Wow! Where was this guy in 2019? pic.twitter.com/gj4eh9qyJi
— Paul V. Rea (@PaulVRea) March 23, 2025

REMINDER:

Moderator: "Raise your hand if your government plan would provide [healthcare] coverage for undocumented immigrants?"

Self-proclaimed "democratic socialist" Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Harris, and former VP Biden ALL raised their hands. pic.twitter.com/j5uwQkX1nf
— Mark Bednar (@MarkBednar) October 7, 2020

Though Sanders likes to paint himself as a "different" kind of politician, he is on record as endorsing the "say anything to get elected" strategy, something he expressed in September 2024 when he was asked about then-Vice President Kamala Harris flip flopping on some of her previous political stances on issues like fracking and Medicare for All.

"No, I don't think she's abandoning her [progressive] ideals. I think she's trying to be pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election," Sanders told NBC News "Meet the Press" anchor Kristen Welker at the time.

While Sanders will remain an unabashed socialist, and Newsom will always be a far left woketivist, their shift in tones on key issues that motivate middle-of-the-road voters and conservatives should not be ignored.

Though it's nothing to be overly worried about now, conservatives need to be on alert and ready to counter their pivots so their messaging doesn't have time to take root. It's almost like they're trying to say, "hey, we're not as 'out there' on the issues as you may think we are. We actually share some common ground."

Except yes, they are out there, out there enough to get soundly rejected by voters in November based in part on some of the same issues they're trying to shift gears on now, something Republicans need to be on standby to remind people of every chance they get.

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