The Democrat Party has been moving sharply left for nearly 20 years, accelerating under President Barack Obama and intensifying during Joe Biden’s term.
But now, the party’s voters are electing members who are embracing a form of government completely at odds with our founding, and Republicans are sounding the alarm.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., delivered a forceful warning on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, arguing that the United States is confronting what he described as a growing Marxist movement that threatens the nation’s values and institutions.
“The barbarians are in the gate,” Johnson declared during a tense press conference.
“There’s a small number of times in the history of America where the actual experiment in self-governance was on the ballot,” he said.
“The idea that we would preserve a constitutional republic: One nation under God, a government of, by, and for the people. All that is in question right now,” Johnson continued.
“For the first time, really in my lifetime, this is a real question the American people have to decide in November, in a midterm election for Congress and Senate,” he said.
“It’s not something that we would have projected. I hoped and prayed it would never come to this, but here we are. The barbarians are in the gate,” Johnson went on.
The Louisiana Republican and constitutional attorney argued that the upcoming November midterm elections represent far more than a typical political fight over taxes or government regulation.
Instead, Johnson said the country is engaged in what he called a “philosophical war” over America’s future and its founding principles.
Invoking former President Ronald Reagan, Johnson recalled Reagan’s warning that freedom is only “one generation away from extinction.”
While Reagan confronted the Soviet Union during the Cold War, Johnson argued that socialist ideology has now taken root within the United States.
Pointing to the “In God We Trust” motto displayed in the House chamber—installed in 1962 during the Cold War—Johnson criticized the Democratic Socialists of America, accusing the organization of seeking to undermine the nation’s foundational values.
According to the DSA’s own platform, the party seeks to:
- Pack the Supreme Court and abolish the Senate to create a Marxist-run legislature.
- Abolishing all borders and granting mass amnesty to everyone, including dangerous criminals and terrorists.
- Emptying the prisons and completely defunding the police.
“This is not a game,” he warned. “Everybody needs to understand: These crazy little mini-Mamdanis, who are popping up all around the country, they are a danger to you and your family.
“This is not a game.”
“We are here as the Republican Party to stand on the founding principles of the greatest nation in the history of the world. It is our duty to do that,” the GOP leader continued.
“And we’re doing it on behalf of all of you, even the journalists who don’t agree with our policies all the time. You’d better agree on these principles because that’s what keeps you free,” he said.
“This is essential for your well-being, and your family. This is not a game,” Johnson said.
“This is not our father’s Democrat Party. We’re not arguing over marginal tax rates anymore,” he noted.
“We’re arguing over whether or not freedom is going to survive. And that’s why we’re so serious about this.”
He described himself as a “happy warrior,” but he added that the time for pleasantries is past.
“Our rights come from our creator, God. They do not come from the government,” he said.
“The communists believe the opposite. They believe that the government, the state, is God. The state is the one that gives you all your rights. And you know what? The state can also take those rights away,” Johnson correctly pointed out.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
