Dave Portnoy, founder and owner of Barstool Sports, voiced his concerns regarding the increasing presence of socialism in the United States during an appearance on Fox & Friends. He noted that many left-wing candidates winning primary elections express views he perceives as anti-American. Portnoy stated, "It’s not only just socialism and communism in the tense, like I want an affordable America and I want people to live happily, it’s just the things they are saying on top of it," referring to candidates' criticisms of Western society and calls for changes to law enforcement and immigration policies.
Portnoy highlighted the election of candidates who he believes blame the United States for events such as 9/11, expressing surprise at their electoral success. He cited examples from New York and Colorado, where socialist and progressive candidates have recently defeated more moderate opponents, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders backing these candidates. Portnoy concluded with a warning about the potential implications of these trends, suggesting that history should inform current perspectives on socialism.