Since 1932, a powerful clique of New York oligarchs has wielded significant influence over the Democratic Party, steering the United States’ political, cultural, and economic direction with a sense of unchallenged authority. These elites, rooted in the financial and intellectual hubs of New York City, have long viewed themselves as the architects of American progress, shaping policies and institutions to align with their vision of a liberal, globally oriented nation. Their control over the Democratic Party has been a cornerstone of their power, allowing them to dominate the highest echelons of government, from the New Deal era to the establishment of the military-industrial complex and national security state post-World War II. However, the recent shift toward an America First republicanism, epitomized by Donald Trump’s political dominance, has disrupted their grip, leaving them enraged and disoriented as their once-smug reign faces an existential threat.

The loss of control over the military-industrial complex and national security apparatus, which they meticulously built to project their influence, has rendered these self-styled “masters of the universe” impotent. Stripped of their ability to dictate national priorities, they are grappling with a crisis of purpose in an America that increasingly rejects their cosmopolitan ideals in favor of traditional, nationalist values. This seismic shift has provoked a visceral reaction, with the oligarchs and their allies in the Democratic Party lashing out in what appears to be a desperate bid to retain relevance. Their frustration manifests in a growing willingness to destabilize the very system they once controlled, as evidenced by the high-profile rally at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, where figures like Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Kathy Hochul rallied supporters. This event signals not just political mobilization but a defiant stand against a changing tide, with the Left signaling they would rather disrupt the nation than relinquish their influence.

In their fit of pique, these liberal elites have begun to openly wield the threat of systemic destruction as a hedge against conservative ascendancy. Historically, the Democratic Party has used its dominance in civic, military, and cultural spheres to marginalize conservative challenges, but Trump’s victory and the broader embrace of America First policies have backed them into a corner. The rally in Queens underscores their resolve to fight back, even if it means tearing at the fabric of the nation they claim to champion. This scorched-earth mentality—where they would rather see the system collapse than lose their grip—exposes a deep-seated resentment and, some argue, a betrayal of the nation’s core principles. As their influence wanes, the oligarchs’ actions are being thrust into the open, revealing what critics call a treasonous disregard for the country’s stability in favor of preserving their own power.