Bret Baier flags Democrats’ comfort with “socialism” as his Teddy Roosevelt biography hits shelves

Bret Baier stepped back into the political crossfire this week, warning that Democratic voters’ growing comfort with “socialism” is a serious development as key 2025 races near the finish line. The commentary arrived alongside the launch of his new presidential biography, To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower, positioning the longtime evening anchor at the center of both the day’s policy debate and a fresh round of history-minded book tour events.

Bret Baier’s on-air remarks: why “this is really serious” landed now

In a Wednesday morning segment dissecting fresh polling on voter ideology, Baier argued that favorable views of “socialism” among Democrats shouldn’t be shrugged off as a messaging quirk. He framed the trend as an electoral and governing question, suggesting that Republicans will try to hang the label on opponents in purple states while moderates in big cities weigh what it would mean for public safety, schools, and business climates.

The conversation zeroed in on New York City’s mayoral contest, where a self-described democratic socialist has vaulted into the national spotlight. Baier predicted that the race will reverberate beyond city limits—both as a test of how far left urban voters are willing to go and as fodder for statewide campaigns in places like New Jersey and Virginia. He also pressed the practical angle: what a hard-left platform would entail for policing and day-to-day governance.

A Roosevelt reframing: Baier’s new book arrives with election-year subtext

The timing of Baier’s latest history volume invites comparison. Theodore Roosevelt’s arc—energetic nationalism, trust-busting, and a rallying call to civic duty—offers Baier a lens for judging today’s arguments over the role of government. The book’s core claim is that Roosevelt’s toughness and moral clarity helped propel the United States into a new era of global leadership, and that rekindling that “American spirit” remains essential when voters flirt with grand ideological experiments.

Expect the book tour to double as a rolling civics seminar: chapters on labor battles, great-power diplomacy, and the “man in the arena” ethos are tailor-made for interviews that bounce between historical anecdote and modern policy fights.

How the “socialism” debate intersects with 2025 contests

• Purple-state leverage: Baier’s read is that GOP strategists will make the ideological label a character test for Democrats in swing terrain—less about abstract economics, more about crime, taxes, and schools.

• Urban governance test case: If a democratic socialist prevails in New York City, rivals will track hiring, budget choices, and police relations as real-world metrics rather than slogans.

• Donor and union dynamics: The farther the ideological center of gravity drifts left in cities, the more tension party leaders may face balancing progressive priorities with business backing and public-sector unions’ demands.

Earlier in the week: shutdown politics and governor races

In a separate appearance, Baier tied the ongoing federal shutdown standoff to intraparty pressures, arguing that a small but influential bloc on the left has outsized sway over budget red lines. He linked that theme to this fall’s gubernatorial races, where candidates are trying to turn national unease—on immigration, inflation, and public safety—into local mandates. The through-line is tactical: define your opponent by the company they keep, then force a choice between ideology and deliverables.

What to watch next from Bret Baier

• Evening broadcast at 6 p.m. ET: Expect a tighter focus on New York City’s mayoral race, with crime data and policing plans under the microscope.

• Book-tour interviews: Watch for side-by-sides between Roosevelt’s era and today—trust-busting vs. tech regulation, big-stick diplomacy vs. modern deterrence, national service vs. civic disengagement.

• Polling deep dives: As fresh surveys drop, look for clarifying questions that separate “brand” appeal from policy literacy on terms like “socialism,” “capitalism,” and “populism.”

Why Baier’s posture matters

Baier’s brand has long been the straight-news half of a highly opinionated ecosystem. When he labels the “socialism” trend as “serious,” it signals to campaign professionals and persuadable voters alike that the word won’t be dismissed as mere name-calling this cycle. Paired with a Roosevelt biography that elevates duty, restraint, and national purpose, his week sends a clear message: ideological labels are only the opening bid—what counts is how they translate into governing choices voters can feel in their neighborhoods and paychecks.