Let's see: a popular candidate who champions the 99%, who's seen as outside the establishment, who has a passionate following, who thrives in crowd settings and debates, and whose main arsenal is political invective, hyperbole, insults, and populist demagoguery?

Shmoop has discovered the shocking truth: Huey Long is the love-child of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.

Want proof? Let's check out the DNA.

Take away Long's pomposity, self- promotion, and Bible-thumping, and you're left with Democratic Socialist, Vermont senator, and 2016 presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, the champion of the 99% and the ultimate "share the wealth" enthusiast. Sanders has always blasted the wealthy corporations and Wall Street big-shots who seem to be the beneficiaries of tax laws and government financial policies. Like Long, he wants to make the wealthy pay more of their fair share and he's advocated policies that offer free college tuition to needy students, expand social Security benefits, and raise the minimum wage. He's Wall Street's worst nightmare.

In the Democratic primaries, Sanders was seen as the outsider candidate who'd bring radical change and make sure that everyone got the resources they deserved. He claimed that his opponent, Hillary Clinton, was in the pocket of the Wall Street bankers. Young voters were "feeling the Bern," inspired and passionate about joining with Sanders to reform the system. Like Long, Sanders had to convince Americans that he wasn't that kind of socialist, wanting to nationalize everything and make everyone the same.

Add back in the self-promoting showmanship and interesting relationship with the facts and you've got Donald Trump. One major difference between Trump and Long is their backgrounds: Long came from nothing, and Trump inherited a fortune from his wealthy father. And while Trump has sought the support of evangelical Christians, he hasn't been the Bible-quoting, holier-than-thou guy that Long was.

Still, despite being a billionaire businessman with zero political experience, Trump defeated 16 career politicians in the Republican primary battles and managed to become the champion of many working-class folks. He understood that they felt left behind in the new global, tech-driven economy, and believed that the U.S. was rapidly losing its international status and prestige. Like Long, he was able to take advantage of a bad economic situation with populist views and an over-the-top rhetorical style. Also like Long, he's been accused of being a bully because of his aggressive speeches, name-calling, and lots of made-up accusations about his opponents.

In tough economic times, it's easy for a challenger to declare war on the existing system. Just like Long could take on FDR and claim that his New Deal programs weren't working, Trump and Sanders, although as different as two men could possibly be, could point to an economy that was only working for the rich and leaving lots of working Americans behind.

Populism sure comes in different flavors.