In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

In 2025, New Yorkers elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani, 34, a self-described “democratic socialist” who ran on rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, and expansive redistribution. Exit polls showed him winning 78% of voters under 30. Five months later, Seattle elected Katie Wilson, 43, a charismatic socialist organizer who had never held or run for public office. Two of America’s largest cities with powerful economic engines, within six months, elected first-time socialist executives on platforms built around rent freezes, price controls, and the promise that outcomes can be guaranteed by will.