NPR reported that historian and The New Yorker writer Jill Lepore said the Democratic Socialists of America, the DSA, once maligned, is no longer "beyond the political pale." The interview was conducted by Terry Gross and published by NPR in its report on the group's recent electoral performance.

NPR's headline asks what is behind Democratic Socialists' historic victories in the midterms. The published summary does not identify which victories are meant, which candidates or races were involved, or the margins by which any were won.

According to NPR's summary, Lepore discusses the history of socialism in America and what the summary describes as the group's current resurgence. The summary does not set out the specific arguments Lepore makes about the causes of that resurgence, and this report does not characterize them.

NPR identifies Lepore as a historian and a writer for The New Yorker. The summary gives no further biographical detail and does not say what role she held in the interview beyond offering her views on the subject.

NPR's listing credits Terry Gross as the author of the piece and shows that it was published on November 11, 2026.

This report relies only on NPR's headline, summary, and listing details. The full interview, any specific claims about the midterm results, and any response from the Democratic Socialists of America are not reflected here, and none of them can be confirmed from the material available for this story.

Sources: NPR: What's behind Democratic Socialists' historic victories in the midterms?.