Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have ignored the advice of Democratic thought leaders to “roll over and play dead.” Thank God. Their anti-oligarchy mass rallies have brought out record-breaking numbers, testifying to a widespread popular desire to resist Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

Filling the void left by Chuck Schumer and his cowardly ilk, Bernie and AOC are becoming leaders not just of leftist activists but also of the Democratic Party’s mainstream liberal base. The hard question now is how to harness all this energy into a movement capable of actually defeating Musk, then Trump.

Team Bernie has already taken major strides in this direction. It’s not just that the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has energized ordinary Americans and spread a resonant anti-billionaire, pro-democracy message. These events have had a concrete strategic focus, as one of Bernie’s advisers explained online: “For those asking, yes these [rallies] are tied to action. All have been in or near GOP-held swing districts and we are following up with specific actions to pressure their Member to vote NO on any Medicaid cuts or billionaire tax breaks — or else face electoral consequences.”