I. The Two Factions: Left‑Wing Progressivism Versus Moderate Pragmatism A. A Historical
Balancing Act Undone For decades, the Democratic Party prided itself on being able to
bridge the gap between lofty progressive ambitions and a practical, incremental approach to governance,
Todd laments that this balancing act has all but collapsed in recent years. In his analysis,
the current leadership is caught in a tug‑of‑war between two divergent groups. One faction
is composed of hard‑line progressives who demand sweeping reforms and are unafraid to use
incendiary rhetoric to push for radical change. The other faction consists of moderates and
traditional Democrats—those who recall the days of bipartisan compromise and believe in nuanced debate and gradual, sustainable change.
