The Democratic Party establishment has no leverage over us or over Bernie. Time and time again, we've proven that we are willing to work with them. Unfortunately, it seems they’re more willing to work with Trump than work with us.

You won’t win 2018 if you don’t win 2017. The divisive attitude of the Democratic Party establishment elites, many of whom have spent the past 9 months blaming instead of building movements, risks both the short term goals and the long term goals of the party. They’re the ones creating division. We encourage them to show up to the next canvass and talk to actual activists instead of talking to their donor list.

We don’t need unity around party, we need unity around issues. On issue after issue, the American people have already decided they’re on our side. Many traditional Democratic Party establishment elites are coming to realize the error in their ways the past decade, and we encourage them to speak, publicly if necessary, to their colleagues.

As a group and as a movement we spend far more time attacking Republicans than Democrats. If certain Democrats can only see the attacks on them, they need to act less like Republicans and more like Democratic Socialists.

Ultimately, articles such as the Politico piece exist not because the Democratic Party establishment is worried about the 2018 or 2020 general elections, but because they want to diminish us in the primaries. No amount of press can accomplish that goal, because we have built large networks and we have great candidates who resonate with the American people. As in 2016, if Democrats want to win, they should assist us in building a political revolution instead of using billionaire cash to set up road blocks.

We don’t get to decide the litmus tests. Bernie Sanders doesn't get to decide the litmus tests. The American people do, and the American people are sick of the corrupt political system that the Democratic Party establishment, along with the Republican party, has created. If they want to increase voter turnout, they have to be willing to take on that system.

Possibly most important, there’s great work being done across the Democratic Party coalition spectrum, from socialists to centrists (who are fast moving to the left on issue after issue) leading up to the 2018 election. We feel centering us in this debate, and centering Bernie, erases that work, which is predominantly being led by women. Journalists should go to the local level and amplify voices from the grassroots. We challenge you.