Do the Dems actually believe that their issue with young men is anything other than a policy issue?

Yes, its why they constantly rally against guys like Joe Rogan. They truly think that if he didn't say wrongthink, then people wouldn't think it either. A huge undercurrent of Leftist thought is that humans are mostly blank slates and are products of their environment (until its a positive thing, then its all natural to blacks/women/gays), so if they can control the world they can make everyone agree with them.