Dana Perino Grills Wisconsin DSA Candidate on Socialist Policies

James Waterman
August 2nd, 2026 1:40 PM

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As the Democratic Party continues to slide into a "big tent" with authoritarians, socialist primary candidates have found victory after victory in far-left cities and states. In the battleground state of Wisconsin, however, a cocky Democratic DSA candidate is shooting to win the governor’s seat.

On this Friday’s FOX America’s Newsroom, co-host Dana Perino interviewed this radical new socialist candidate, Francesca Hong, who is far ahead of her party rivals. The interview began with a clip of Hong and Hasan Piker, a violent extremist on a whole different level. On Piker’s show, Hong agrees to a list of radical leftist political initiatives:

[Video of Hasan Piker and Francesca Hong]

HASAN PIKER: Rapid-fire. Do you support repealing act ten?

FRANCESCA HONG: Yes

PIKER: Universal childcare?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Free school meals?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Guaranteed paid leave?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Abolishing ICE?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: A one year data center moratorium?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Breaking up big Ag[riculture]?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Public grocery stores?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Right to repair?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Legalizing cannabis?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Overturning Citizen’s United?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: A worker’s bill of rights?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: A free Palestine?

HONG: Yes.

[Cuts back to live]

DANA PERINO: Is there anything in that list of what you told Hasan Piker that you disavow now?

HONG: No.

 

 

The list Perino is referring to included support for: a ‘worker’s bill of rights’, breaking up agriculture companies, abolishing ICE, installing a moratorium on datacenter construction, a ‘free Palestine’, and many other radical policies.

After Hong verified her extremist views, Perino began to rip into some of her socialist stances. She began by questioning Hong on her views about the public ownership of corporations:

PERINO: Would you advocate for public ownership of America's largest corporations or those in Wisconsin?

HONG: I have to say, first of all,  we are incredibly proud of our Green Bay Packers, a publicly-owned NFL team. But I believe there are some manufacturing and corporation that is irresponsible to have full public control.

PERINO: Like what?

HONG: You know, I think it depends really on the type of mega-corporation.

 

 

Hong initially responded by deflecting from the question and praising a sports team instead. When she finally did get to the point, her answer implied that by default, all corporations should be under state ownership. In her mind, private ownership should be the exception, not the norm. It makes sense Hong believes this, of course; the entire goal of socialism is to subjugate society under the rule of the state.

Perino continued by pressing Hong on her statements in the past, specifically her support for police abolition. Hong once again deflected from the issue to save face:

PERINO: Why shouldn't people take you at your word when you say that you want to defund the police and go towards abolishing it?

HONG: Dana, first of all, I have to say thank you so much for featuring my home state in your novel. And I believe that as a democratic socialist, what that means is that I would like to put working class people first over mega-corporations for-

PERINO: How does defunding the police put working class people first?

HONG: well, maybe-

PERINO: I mean, I think that- you’re gonna enter- you’re about to enter into a general election, likely with Tom Tiffany, the Republican. That's not going to be an easy race.

Later in the interview, Hong was forced to roll back her statements about abolishing the police, instead pushing her less extremist policies such as free lunches for students.

Dana Perino shines as an example of an excellent host in an interview. While not uncharitable towards Hong by any means, Perino kept her from dodging difficult questions. Whereas the leftist media simply lets their interviewees propagandize on air without pushback, Perino instead digs to find the truth behind the candidate’s campaign.

The transcript is below. Click "expand" to view.

FOX’s America’s Newsroom

July 31, 2026

09:46:18 a.m. Eastern

(...)

[Video of Hasan Piker and Francesca Hong]

HASAN PIKER: Rapid-fire. Do you support repealing act ten?

FRANCESCA HONG: Yes

PIKER: Universal childcare?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Free school meals?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Guaranteed paid leave?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Abolishing ICE?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: A one year data center moratorium?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Breaking up big Ag[riculture]?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Public grocery stores?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Right to repair?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Legalizing cannabis?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: Overturning Citizen’s United?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: A worker’s bill of rights?

HONG: Yes.

PIKER: A free Palestine?

HONG: Yes.

[Cuts back to live]

DANA PERINO: Francesca Hong is a candidate for Wisconsin governor, and even yesterday it looks like you will be the nominee, as another one of your closest competitors, who was even far behind you, has dropped out of the race. Is there anything in that list of what you told Hasan Piker that you disavow now?

HONG: No.

(...)

PERINO: Okay. Would you advocate for public ownership of America's largest corporations or those in Wisconsin?

HONG: I have to say, first of all,  we are incredibly proud of our Green Bay Packers, a publicly-owned NFL team. But I believe there are some manufacturing and corporation that is irresponsible to have full public control.

PERINO: Like what?

HONG: You know, I think it depends really on the type of mega-corporation. We know here in Wisconsin we would like to bring more middle manufacturing- that when jobs were sent overseas, when there was more desire for profit over the people of Wisconsin, that we can be selective and put working class people first when it comes to jobs and mega-corporations.

PERINO: Would you be able to recruit corporations to come to Wisconsin to be then taken over by the state government?

HONG: No. I don't think that it would be responsible for the state to bring in a mega-corporation that would potentially be run by the state. I think that we want to create good jobs with good benefits and ensure that people have the freedom to pursue the type of life that they would like. 

And I think that when I talk to voters all across the state, it is so much about being able to take care of themselves and their loved ones. There is deep concern about people who get to age with dignity in our state. I care a lot about our seniors and making sure we’re one of the states where there is a great opportunity for great public education.

PERINO: Okay, so you say people want to take care of themselves, and I agree, but the socialist program is for the government to take care of people. I know that you’ve bristled a little bit about anyone pointing out previous things you have said, but I want to show everybody on the board here, this is some of your far-left posts. They are pretty far-left. 

For example, you say abolish the Senate. You want ICE out of Wisconsin. I understand abolishing ICE is something you probably still want, but you also said to defund the police four times. And you want to defund the police as a first step toward abolishing the police. 

Now, President Trump won Wisconsin twice. It is the ultimate purple state. I set my novel there for a reason. It is the place where you have to have the most appeal to both sides, or to independent voters. Why shouldn't people take you at your word when you say that you want to defund the police and go towards abolishing it?

HONG: Dana, first of all, I have to say thank you so much for featuring my home state in your novel. And I believe that as a democratic socialist, what that means is that I would like to put working class people first over mega-corporations for-

PERINO: How does defunding the police put working class people first?

HONG: well, maybe-

PERINO: I mean, I think that- you’re gonna enter- you’re about to enter into a general election, likely with Tom Tiffany, the Republican. That's not going to be an easy race. It will be very easy for people to put up on the board and say, “you said: ‘abolish the Senate, defund the police, abolish the police.’” And why should they not believe that you would want to do that? That you would try to do that if you became governor?

HONG: I believe that people can evolve. We need Trump voters from previous elections who would like to vote for me who have a sign in their yard-

PERINO: So who needs to evolve? The voters, or you?

HONG: -the governor cannot defund the police and I won't defund the police-

PERINO: So you have evolved.

HONG: -but I will invest in the things we know prevent crime, like getting guns off our street, making sure there is justice, places where our kids can go after school and thrive. You know, we can't be tough on causes -- we have to be tough on causes if we would like to be tough on crime. And as governor I cannot defund the police and I’ve reminded folks I won't defund the police.

PERINO: Okay. Well, that will certainly- that will be something that your opponent brings up. A poll from Marquette, always a good poll. This is Tom Tiffany at 43/40 if you put you two up together. He has quite a fundraising advantage, but I would say the DSA candidates have a lot of volunteerism. Do you welcome the DSA endorsement and/or volunteers to help on your campaign?

HONG: Well, I did not pursue the national DSA endorsement. My home chapter in Madison, we were so proud to run the free school meals campaign to make sure that our kids didn't have lunch debt. And I think that when you look at the polling right now, it’s really so much about making sure that we are talking about the issues and I think that in -- when it comes to my opponent, it's wonderful to see that we have more donors and individual donations than he does. 

That we already are upping those numbers because- donations from 72 out of 72 counties, every state in the country. And the fact that our ground game is a multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-faith-

PERINO: And I’ve read some pieces, big long feature pieces that, where they’ve talked to - I just wanna compliment you - I’ve read pieces where the reporters talked to Trump voters and say “she’s very affable.” They like what you have to say. It will be an interesting race. We'll cover it. One last question for you. Are you personally a dues-paying member to the DSA?

HONG: In my home chapter in Madison I have been since 2020; and believe that as a democratic socialist I am less defined by just one organization but clearly our bipartisan coalition means that I am more defined by being a good single mom, that I am a service industry worker, and that I truly believe in legislation that helps everyone, and these are the things that people want to talk about in rural and urban parts of the state.

PERINO: Alright. Francesca, we are bumping up against a break. We appreciate you coming on.

HONG: Dana, thank you so much for having me.

PERINO: Okay, take care, Francesca.

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