Sen. Bernie Sanders responded on "Fox News Sunday" to attacks from Joe Biden and others over his decision to label himself a "democratic socialist" and whether that can appeal to a broad electorate in November.
What he's saying: "In many respects, we are a socialist society today. ... Donald Trump, before he was president, as a private businessperson, he received $800 million in tax breaks and subsidies to build luxury housing in New York. ... The difference between my socialism and Trump's socialism is I believe the government should help working families, not billionaires."
- He continued: "I believe that health care is a human right. I believe we should raise the minimum wage to a living wage of $15 an hour. I believe, in fact, that the rich must start paying their fair share of taxes when you have massive levels of income and wealth inequality."
Why it matters: Regardless of who the Democratic nominee is, President Trump will seek to brand them as a "socialist" — a term that has historically had a stigma in the United States due to its association with the Soviet Union, but which is increasingly growing in popularity among young people and women.
Between the lines: As Sanders points out, there are different definitions of socialism. According to a Harris poll for "Axios on HBO," even the public has varying levels of agreement on what exactly constitutes a socialist political system:
- Universal health care: 76%
- Tuition-free education: 72%
- Living wage: 68%
- State-controlled economy: 66%
- State control and regulation of private property: 61%
Go deeper: Trump's political advisers are seeking to boost Bernie Sanders in the polls