‘These ain’t your daddy’s donkeys’: Joe Concha talks Democrats
Joe Concha, a *Washington Examiner* columnist, criticized Democrats for embracing socialism and highlighted figures he argues reflect that shift-such as new York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and maine Senate nominee Graham Platner. On Fox Business’s *Kudlow*, Concha said Democrats have become hypocritical, contrasting their condemnation of Trump-era rhetoric with their willingness to back candidates he views skeptically.
Concha noted that Platner entered the race after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out, and said Platner faced backlash in 2025 over photos showing a Totenkopf (a Nazi symbol) tattoo. Concha argued Democrats are effectively “bear-hugging” such candidates in hopes of regaining power in the Senate.
He also attacked Mamdani’s record and messaging about affordability, claiming Mamdani would raise property taxes, and suggested voters shouldn’t trust him to manage a complex city. Concha further agreed with Larry Kudlow that there is a distinction between Democrats and Democratic Socialists, arguing that Socialist Democrats are currently shaping the party.
Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha criticized Democrats’ embrace of socialism and figures like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) and Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner.
“These ain’t your daddy’s donkeys,” Concha said on Fox Business’s Kudlow on Wednesday.
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Platner is running for the Maine Senate seat against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) dropped out of the race on April 30, which allowed Platner to come forward as the Democratic nominee.
Platner came under fire in 2025 after photos surfaced of him with a tattoo of a famous Nazi symbol, the Totenkopf. Platner said he got the tattoo in 2007 while intoxicated, claiming ignorance of its neo-Nazi associations, and has since covered it.
“The last 10 years, since Trump came down that golden escalator, where you’ve been calling him ‘a Nazi.’ Now you are literally bear-hugging one because maybe he could win a seat and give you back the majority of the Senate,” Concha said.
He called out Democrats for being hypocritical in supporting more progressive candidates like Platner.
“Everybody who has been offended by Trump and using that sort of reckless hyperbole when it comes to this president — obviously they look pretty phony right now,” Concha said.
Concha also slammed Mamdani over his actions as mayor.
“Mamdani runs on affordability, and what’s he gonna do? He’s gonna raise property taxes higher than they already are,” Concha said.
“You wouldn’t trust him to run a bath, let alone the most complex city in the world.”
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Concha agreed with host Larry Kudlow that there is a difference between Democrats and Democratic Socialists, and right now, Socialist Democrats are running the party.
“Common sense versus chaos,” Concha said.
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