Democrats are what we have for now, but it is going to take a new kind of politics and political animal to stitch our country back together. May they will rise from the Democrat ranks, but I am skeptical.
Will is right about the danger of Democratic complacency and the reality that Republicans are operating inside a permanent communication ecosystem.
But I think there’s another piece of this conversation we are still avoiding.
How exactly do we build this “always-on” communication infrastructure?
Because campaigns come and go. Consultants come and go.
What Republicans have built over decades is not just a political operation. It is a social and cultural messaging network made up of trusted messengers communicating every single day through churches, podcasts, Facebook groups, local influencers, community organizations, sports culture, parent groups, veterans groups, and everyday relationships.
We, on the other hand, still rely too heavily on institutional communication and reactive messaging. Republicans say something outrageous and Democrats respond: “That’s bad.” But defense is not a messaging strategy.
If Democrats want to compete in an always-on attention environment, then we need to seriously think about how to build a network of grassroots messengers who are trusted inside their own communities year-round, not just during campaign season. Not polished surrogates. Not talking points factories. Actual people who can communicate values, consequences, and lived experience in ways that feel human and real.
After the redistricting nightmare of the past week? I'd say Dems are in the hole for November. Any chance of a blue wave is gone and I'd say dems are sinking in a muddy pond.
Will is right that organization beats conditions, and Unmute Alabama is right that the missing piece is trusted messengers communicating human, real arguments year-round — not polished surrogates with talking points.
But there's a piece neither addresses: infrastructure without message is just noise. Republicans have built a communication ecosystem that works because it runs on grievance — a permanent, renewable fuel source. Democrats keep trying to counter grievance with process. "Vote for us and we'll restore the norms." That's not a fuel source. That's a maintenance manual.
The message that sustains a year-round communication infrastructure has to be something concrete enough to organize around — something people can explain to their neighbor in thirty seconds and mean it. Not "we'll restore ACA subsidies." Not "we'll fight for democracy." Something that hits the kitchen table directly.
Zero federal income tax on the first $150K per filer. Universal coverage replacing premiums entirely. Both ends of the squeeze moving simultaneously. That's thirty seconds. That's something a trusted local messenger can say at church, at the diner, at the VFW hall, and have it land.
National Polls have Dems unfavorability at record highs - 55%. the same as Republicans who are 55% unfav. We have lost the money war (Citizens United opened the floodgates with billionaires now spending multiple times the pro-Dem dark money spending), lost the gerrymandering war (only to get worse with some Southern states still to redistrict), and as Will says we are losing the communication war every day with right wing consolidation of the Fox empire, CBS, Sinclair takeover of local affiliates, social media takeover of Tik Tok, X, Facebook and Instagram, Paramount and now Discovery with CNN about to be obliterated once the Ellison takeover is complete. We are losing the war everyday. The only thing keeping us in the game is the complete collapse being led by Trump. Wake up people. We are losing big time.
A clear eyed analysis. One of the most bitter aspects of elections is that in order to win, you have to convince someone to vote for you that didn’t vote for you last time.
If people think I am over reacting: The Cook Political Report just moved 12 House races — in Virginia, Tennessee and Florida — due to redistricting developments. Eleven of those changes are in the direction of Republicans. View their CPR House Race Ratings here: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings
Democrats are what we have for now, but it is going to take a new kind of politics and political animal to stitch our country back together. May they will rise from the Democrat ranks, but I am skeptical.
I was taught “ We are the leaders we are looking for.” so let’s get to work!
Will is right about the danger of Democratic complacency and the reality that Republicans are operating inside a permanent communication ecosystem.
But I think there’s another piece of this conversation we are still avoiding.
How exactly do we build this “always-on” communication infrastructure?
Because campaigns come and go. Consultants come and go.
What Republicans have built over decades is not just a political operation. It is a social and cultural messaging network made up of trusted messengers communicating every single day through churches, podcasts, Facebook groups, local influencers, community organizations, sports culture, parent groups, veterans groups, and everyday relationships.
We, on the other hand, still rely too heavily on institutional communication and reactive messaging. Republicans say something outrageous and Democrats respond: “That’s bad.” But defense is not a messaging strategy.
If Democrats want to compete in an always-on attention environment, then we need to seriously think about how to build a network of grassroots messengers who are trusted inside their own communities year-round, not just during campaign season. Not polished surrogates. Not talking points factories. Actual people who can communicate values, consequences, and lived experience in ways that feel human and real.
After the redistricting nightmare of the past week? I'd say Dems are in the hole for November. Any chance of a blue wave is gone and I'd say dems are sinking in a muddy pond.
You and I have been warning people about this before the last two court decisions!
Will is right that organization beats conditions, and Unmute Alabama is right that the missing piece is trusted messengers communicating human, real arguments year-round — not polished surrogates with talking points.
But there's a piece neither addresses: infrastructure without message is just noise. Republicans have built a communication ecosystem that works because it runs on grievance — a permanent, renewable fuel source. Democrats keep trying to counter grievance with process. "Vote for us and we'll restore the norms." That's not a fuel source. That's a maintenance manual.
The message that sustains a year-round communication infrastructure has to be something concrete enough to organize around — something people can explain to their neighbor in thirty seconds and mean it. Not "we'll restore ACA subsidies." Not "we'll fight for democracy." Something that hits the kitchen table directly.
Zero federal income tax on the first $150K per filer. Universal coverage replacing premiums entirely. Both ends of the squeeze moving simultaneously. That's thirty seconds. That's something a trusted local messenger can say at church, at the diner, at the VFW hall, and have it land.
I wrote about exactly this today — the arithmetic that crosses every political fault line if Democrats are brave enough to use it: https://lakesidegrammy.substack.com/p/trump-won-with-a-hint-democrats-need?r=4psz66
The infrastructure Will is calling for needs something worth carrying. This is what I think that something looks like.
National Polls have Dems unfavorability at record highs - 55%. the same as Republicans who are 55% unfav. We have lost the money war (Citizens United opened the floodgates with billionaires now spending multiple times the pro-Dem dark money spending), lost the gerrymandering war (only to get worse with some Southern states still to redistrict), and as Will says we are losing the communication war every day with right wing consolidation of the Fox empire, CBS, Sinclair takeover of local affiliates, social media takeover of Tik Tok, X, Facebook and Instagram, Paramount and now Discovery with CNN about to be obliterated once the Ellison takeover is complete. We are losing the war everyday. The only thing keeping us in the game is the complete collapse being led by Trump. Wake up people. We are losing big time.
A clear eyed analysis. One of the most bitter aspects of elections is that in order to win, you have to convince someone to vote for you that didn’t vote for you last time.
Will is absolutely correct. We need to be organizing NOW. Two groups that are doing active organizing for the midterms are the DNC (yes, the DNC) https://democrats.org/take-action-2/ and Swing Left https://ourgroundtruth.org/
Time to Make Good Trouble https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKfbKzFHWe/?img_index=1
Totally agree
If people think I am over reacting: The Cook Political Report just moved 12 House races — in Virginia, Tennessee and Florida — due to redistricting developments. Eleven of those changes are in the direction of Republicans. View their CPR House Race Ratings here: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings