There is, however, an available arena where West could still provide useful pressure by laying out the left alternative to Bidenism: the Democratic primaries. On the debate stage, at campaign rallies, and in national media coverage, West, with his prophetic voice and moral clarity—like Sanders in 2016 and 2020—could accomplish a great deal.

D.D. Guttenplan is editor of The Nation.

Bhaskar Sunkara is the president of The Nation.

As if there will be debates, LOL