(NewsNation) — Brian Tyler Cohen, a popular progressive YouTuber, argues that Republican fears of socialism are merely scare tactics used to discredit Democratic policies, despite their benefits to Americans.

Cohen defended Democratic initiatives, citing infrastructure improvements, veterans’ health care and economic recovery measures as examples of policies that have strengthened the country.

“Look at the actual policies that were passed,” Cohen said Tuesday on NewsNation’s “CUOMO.” “The infrastructure law, most of which benefits rural America. Rural broadband overwhelmingly benefits red America.”

Cohen, whose new book “Shameless” addresses Republican strategies, suggested that GOP politicians deliberately create dysfunction in government to justify shrinking it.

“What they’re trying to do is break government so they can then point to the government that they just broke as proof that it can’t work,” Cohen explained.

The YouTuber, whose content has garnered more than 2 billion views on social media, also challenged the effectiveness of labeling Democrats as socialists.

He pointed out that despite such rhetoric during previous administrations, the United States remains “the strongest capitalist country in the entire world.”

Cohen’s comments came in response to Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s statement that “one person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness,” which host Chris Cuomo described as potentially controversial.