The non-partisan Digital Politics Podcast with Karen Jagoda explores political and advocacy campaign best practices, new technologies and innovative approaches to voter engagement, fundraising, ground game strategies, cross-media advertising, using social media to promote and persuade, and getting out the vote. Since 2007, this show has spotted trends and interviewed strategists on the campaign trail as well as candidates, elected officials, and solutions providers who are bringing new tools to campaign staffers and volunteers.
Xena Ni, Co-Founder of the Trestle Collaborative joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the world of civic technologists and the need to help progressive organizations and campaigns to use technology safely and effectively. She contrasts the resources and mandates of commercial tech with those of the political and non-profit sectors. The mission of Trestle is to provide resources and support to leverage technology, build a strong campaign infrastructure, and protect against cyberattacks. Deepak and Xena talk about Motivation for entering civic tech from Silicon Valley success Using free and low-cost digital technology as an amplifier Overcoming the severe underfunding of technology by campaigns and advocacy groups Security and campaign tech #TrestleCollaborative #TheDemLabs #CivicTech #CampaignTechnology #VoterEngagement #GrassrootsActivism #ProgressiveActivism #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #VoterOutreach #DemocracyMatters #ElectionSecurity #ElectionIntegrity #ProgressivePolitics #CampaignManagement Trestle.us TheDemocracyLabs.org
4/16/26 • 27:41
Josh Justice, CEO of Peerly, focuses on the evolving role of text messaging in political campaigns, particularly the shift from mobile optimization to a mobile-first communication strategy. The dominance of texting and reliance on small screens have driven the shift from simple SMS to text messaging with full HD and 4K video, and campaigns are thinking about content and advertising in new ways. Using AI responsibly builds in efficiency and scalability to target and engage more voters. Josh and I talk about: How text messages using video in motion integrated with AI tools offer a highly targeted, cost-effective way to deliver campaign messages compared to traditional advertising Avoiding text message slop Opportunities for personalized interactive mobile communication to drive engagement and turnout Using AI to process inbound text message responses, enabling sentiment analysis, and simultaneously canvassing large numbers of voters #Peerly #VideoInMotion #CampaignTech #PoliticalInnovation #DigitalOutreach #VoterEngagement #MobileStategy #AI #PoliticalCampaigns #VideoTexting #MobilePolitics #CampaignStrategy #PeerToPeerTexting #DigitalCampaigns #PoliticalTech #CampaignInnovation Peerly.com
4/14/26 • 23:08
Adam Ditch Kurtz, a Democrat, is running for governor of Tennessee in a race with 4 candidates competing in the August Democratic primary. A career musician, Ditch is building a grassroots campaign informed by his live performance experience and long-term use of social media to communicate authentically and respond rapidly to voters. He outlines his strategies for reaching rural and working-class voters and engaging the established political machine. We talk about The current political climate and appeal of an outsider running for public office Using social media to build an authentic personal brand and connect directly with an audience Most effective tools for reaching rural and working-class voters across Tennessee Breaking through voter apathy and distrust of traditional politicians #Ditch4Governor #Ditch4Gov #Ditch26 #ImPeople #DitchDiggers #WhoDoesThisHelp #TennesseePolitics #GrassrootsCampaign #AuthenticLeadership #MusicianInPolitics #TennesseeGovernor #DemocraticPrimary #PoliticalInnovation #VoterEngagement #SocialMediaPolitics #TennesseeVoters Ditch4Governor.com
4/7/26 • 20:34
Tomas Garduno, organizer and activist, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the power of the working class and what tools are necessary to organize and mobilize this diverse cohort. After 25 years of political experience, Tomas has written the Fundamentals of Electoral Organizing to support this community and encourage more people to get involved. He points out that the electoral arena offers a unique opportunity for the working class to leverage its numerical strength against those with extreme wealth. Deepak and Tomas talk about Need to overcome the artificial divisions of party and identify politics to unite people around shared material interests like housing, food access, and healthcare Primary obstacles to working-class power Who can be an organizer Practical skills for organizing communities for action #FundamentalsofElectoralOrganizing #TheDemLabs #ProtectingDemocracy #VoterEngagement #Democracy #WorkingClass #GrassrootsActivism #GrassrootsOrganizing #Organizing #Activism #VoterTurnout #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #DemocracyMatters #ProtecttheVote #ElectionSecurity #CommunityOrganizing #PoliticalEducation #SocialChange FundamentalsofElectoralOrganizing.org TheDemocracyLabs.org
3/23/26 • 24:02
Stephen Schear, activist and billboard expert, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss a strategy to penetrate the right-wing propaganda machine by placing billboards with concise, visually powerful, and often negative messages in purple rural areas. Stephen details the logistics of creating, funding, and placing these kinds of billboards, emphasizing their cost-effectiveness. Deepak and Stephen talk about Why billboards are persuasive in rural communities Media habits of voters who believe false claims Collaborating with local county Democratic parties to target persuadable voters The value of negative advertising and ridicule in exposing political lies #PoliticalBillboards #TheDemLabs #VoterEngagement #GrassrootsActivism #ProgressiveActivism #VoterTurnout #PoliticalAdvertising #RuralOutreach #PoliticalMessaging #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #VoterSuppression #VoterOutreach #DemocracyMatters steveschear@gmail.com TheDemocracyLabs.org
3/18/26 • 23:03
Michael McNulty, Policy Director at Issue One, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss fixing democracy through campaign finance reform, election protection, big tech accountability, and defending the constitutional powers of Congress from executive overreach. The SAVE Act and Save America Act are identified as partisan attempts to create significant barriers to voting based on a false narrative of widespread voter fraud. Deepak and Michael talk about Lessons learned from international work observing authoritarian tactics to undermine elections Coordinated efforts underway to rewrite election laws and install loyalists in key government positions Details of the SAVE Act and Save America Act and how they are being presented Action that can be taken to protect democracy and combat voter suppression and disinformation #IssueOne #TheDemLabs #ProtectingDemocracy #VoterEngagement #Democracy #GrassrootsActivism #VoterTurnout #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #SAVEAct #SaveAmericaAct #ElectionIntegrity #VoterSuppression #DemocracyMatters #ProtecttheVote #ElectionSecurity IssueOne.org TheDemocracyLabs.org
3/16/26 • 30:17
Chris Nolan, Founder of Spot-On, points out that political consultants often overlook local news sites in favor of national sites with large audiences and programmatic advertising capabilities. Local news sites offer highly effective geographic targeting and audiences engaged in current events and their communities. With shifting loyalties to political parties and a move towards issue-based decisions, local news publishers have an opportunity to play a larger role in down-ballot races. We talk about: Why direct ad buys on local news sites can be more effective and financially smart for reaching voters in specific districts than complex targeting campaigns based on broad data analytics Engagement level on local news sites and their newsletters History of news organizations moving to a digital environment The Spot-On Pinpoint Persuasion Platform #PinpointPersuasionPlatform #PoliticalAdvertising #LocalMedia #LocalNews #CivicEngagement #VoterOutreach #MediaBuyers #PoliticalTech #CampaignStrategy #TargetingVoters #HyperLocalMarketing spot-on.com Pinpoint Persuasion Platform
3/11/26 • 21:42
Erin Miller, Founder of Cartoons for Democracy, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss using postcards to enable people who can't canvass due to age, location, or time constraints to support campaigns. A political cartoon on one side of a postcard with a handwritten note is an eye-catching way to communicate a message quickly and humorously to a broad audience, and it is proving effective at getting attention from voters. Deepak and Erin talk about Why postcarding is a crucial tool for activism and complementary to other tactics Finding ways to overcome digital disinformation Role of the Campaign Postcard Captain How cartoons and humor can bypass literacy and attention span barriers to plant a seed about an idea #CartoonsForDemocracy #TheDemLabs #PostcardCampaign #VoterEngagement #Democracy #PoliticalCartoons #GrassrootsActivism #VoterTurnout #Postcarding #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction CartoonsforDemocracy.org TheDemocracyLabs.org
3/5/26 • 21:57
Caroline Sanchez-Avakian, Strategic Communications Director at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, BISC, offers advice to nonprofits on effectively managing their communications and earned media strategies. The media environment continues to change, requiring nonprofits to tell authentic, clear, and concise stories about complex topics that fit into a larger narrative. We talk about: The need to move beyond episodic campaign-based thinking to building a comprehensive ongoing narrative Connecting policy to real-world community impact is essential to getting the attention of reporters Creating succinct and visually engaging videos, infographics, and bullet points Focusing on reaching an engaged, invested community rather than attempting to go viral with a message #BallotInitiativeStrategyCenter #BISC #BallotInitiatives #Nonprofits #EarnedMedia #MediaStrategy #CommunityEngagement #DigitalStrategy #PoliticalCommunications Ballot.org
3/4/26 • 21:24
Andrea Miller, Center for Common Ground, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to highlight the strategy behind the effort to get out the vote in the Virginia special election, where voters will decide on a proposal to redraw the state's congressional district maps. Deepak and Andrea talk about: Potential impact of the proposed Virginia congressional map Tactics to reach the 675,000 Black voters in Virginia Importance of postcards to effectively reach older, poorer, and rural voters who may not have reliable access to the internet Building trust and demonstrating that civic engagement can lead to tangible changes @CTR4CMNGround #VASpecialElection #GOTV @TheDemLabs #Redistricting CenterforCommonGround.org TheDemLabs.org
2/26/26 • 25:25
Anne-christine d'Adesky, journalist and Founder of Resisting Project 2025, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the financial and ideological motivations behind the Trump administration's policy to seize Venezuela and Greenland for oil and rare earth minerals. Deepak and Anne-christine talk about: How Project 2025 is the instructional guide for autocratic takeovers Who benefits from actions against Venezuela and Greenland Moves to counter China's dominance over the supply chain of rare earth minerals The pursuit of a Christian fundamentalist agenda #TheDemLabs #ResistingProject2025 #Protests #ResistancetoAutocracy #Autocrats #Resistance #Democracy #CivicEngagement #SocialMovements #PoliticalAction Resisting Project 2025 TheDemLabs.org
2/17/26 • 35:24
Patrice, a political commentator, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to talk about the need to write anonymously to be able to maintain his freedom of expression without jeopardizing his corporate career or putting his family at risk. His aims to show that modern political tactics are not new but part of a well-established historical pattern with predictable results. The use of first-person narratives and fictional characters is proving effective in attracting a growing international audience to his Substack Open Letters by Mersault. Deepak and Patrice talk about: The need for independent writers to counter disinformation The long history of the demonization of opponents Using humor, satire, and an entertaining approach to make sharp political critiques more effective Educating readers to fight disinformation #TheDemLabs #PoliticalWriting #Substack #AnonymousJournalism #PoliticalAnalysis #Democracy #GlobalReaders #HistoricalContext #PoliticalCommentary #DigitalActivism #IndependentMedia #PoliticalEducation #ResistanceWriting Open Letters by Mersault on Substack TheDemLabs.org
2/4/26 • 30:33
Lauren Windsor, political journalist and documentarian, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to talk about gonzo journalism and the need to report on a story with integrity and commitment to the truth. She draws a sharp distinction between her work and that of people who use deceptive tactics to appeal to less media-savvy audiences and create a false narrative. Deepak and Lauren talk about: The value of undercover reporting to hold politicians accountable Rules of the road for activist journalists Advice for victims of deceptive video campaigns Lauren's documentary Gonzo for Democracy #TheDemLabs #Journalism #EconomicJustice #SocialJustice #GonzoforDemocracy#GonzoJournalism #ElectionIntegrity #PoliticalJournalism #MediaLiteracy #Democracy #Accountability #Disinformation #DocumentaryFilm theundercurrent.tv TheDemLabs.org
1/27/26 • 26:15
Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, shines a light on how free and low-cost apps can simplify political intrigue and complex social issues and be used to educate and motivate. Visualization tools for relationship mapping, accountability mapping, and crowdsourcing increase civic engagement, hold elected officials accountable, and counter disinformation and conspiracy theories. Deepak and I talk about: Relationship mapping tools such as Kumu.io which are effective for exposing hidden financial and personal connections between individuals and organizations Accountability maps from Esri that serve to directly connect decisions of elected officials to tangible consequences and outcomes in their districts Crowdsourcing apps like Padlet which is a way to engage individuals in real-time information gathering and mobilization allowing for rapid response and collective documentation of events #TheDemLabs #PoliticalAccountability #DataVisualization #CivicEngagement #PoliticalTransparency #SocialJustice #VotingRights #CitizenJournalism #PoliticalData #CommunityOrganizing #Kumuio #Esri #Padlet TheDemLabs.org
1/23/26 • 24:20
Pat LaMarche, broadcaster, journalist, advocate, and founder of the Homeless Remembrance Blanket project, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Pat uses her journalism skills to address the root causes of mental health disorders, homelessness, and substance abuse, to inform and drive change in public policy. Deepak and Pat talk about: The source of her dedication to writing about poverty and homelessness The lack of empathy for the poor and the need to translate complex information into stories that inform a general audience What can be done to address the underlying issues of homelessness The potential for communities to make a difference #TheDemLabs #MemorialBlanket #Homelessness #Poverty #PovertyAwareness #Journalism #EconomicJustice #Affordability #SocialJustice #OrganizingMatters #FoodInsecurity #MentalHealth #SubstanceAbuse #SocialImpact #VoicefortheVoiceless MemorialBlanket.org TheDemLabs.org
1/15/26 • 22:39
Bradley Tusk is a political strategist, venture capitalist, philanthropist, podcaster, and author with a mission to promote and implement mobile voting in US elections. He points out that the most effective way to combat low voter turnout is to make it easier for people to vote and find out information about candidates and ballot initiatives. The Tusk Foundation has developed an open-source mobile voting platform that addresses security, authentication, and auditability, and it is being rolled out in 2026 in the US, starting with a local election in Anchorage, Alaska. We talk about: Increasing voter turnout to address political extremism by making politicians accountable to a more representative electorate Who benefits from low voter turnout, and why they might not support mobile voting How mobile voting drives cost savings, timeliness of results, and accessibility The need to give voters choices about how and when they can vote, including in-person and by mail, but also using the convenience of their mobile device #BradleyTusk #TuskFoundation #MobileVoting #Democracy #VoterEngagement #CivicTech #DigitalDemocracy #VotingRights #ElectionSecurity #PoliticalInnovation #TechForGood #DemocracyMatters BradleyTusk.com Author of Vote with Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting is Our Final Shot at Saving
1/13/26 • 20:02
Saru Jayaraman, long-time activist and leader of One Fair Wage, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the historical origins of the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers in the US and the power of that community to drive higher wages. The movement has now expanded beyond tipped workers to a broader coalition fighting for a living wage for all. Saru emphasizes that any political platform that focuses on affordability must also include raising wages to be effective. Deepak and Saru talk about: Organizing restaurant workers dating back to the response to 9/11 How COVID empowered restaurant workers to demand higher wages The composition of the workforce most impacted by low minimum wages Why addressing affordability requires policies that drive living wages in more states #TheDemLabs #OneFairWage #FairWage #LivingWage #RestaurantWorkers #LaborRights #EconomicJustice #Affordability #WorkersRights #TippingCulture #SocialJustice #OrganizingMatters #DigitalPolitics OneFairWage.org TheDemLabs.org
12/18/25 • 17:45
Javan Van Gronigen, Founder of Donately considers 2025 as a year of testing the water for peer-to-peer and crowdfunding for political and advocacy campaigns. AI is enabling organizations to create and deploy fundraising content more quickly and target specific audiences. Increasingly, digital tools are showing effectiveness for all donor levels, whether turning a small-dollar donor into a recurring one or engaging a major supporter. We talk about Digital outreach to mobile-first donors Common mistakes on donation pages, including overly complicated forms Value of fundraising appeals tied to rapid response to current events Need to create compelling stories about real people to motivate donors #Donately #DigitalStrategy #OnlineGiving #NonprofitMarketing #DataDrivenNonprofits #DigitalFundraising #NonprofitTech #DonorEngagement #AIForGood #MobileFirstFundraising #AdvocacyTech #SocialImpactTech #StorytellingForChange Donately.com
12/18/25 • 20:54
John Fitch, The Fitch Law Firm, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the importance of victims reporting sexual abuse not only for their own justice but to break the cycle and prevent perpetrators from harming others. John warns that delayed reporting can lead to the loss of essential physical evidence, making the case harder to pursue. Deepak and John talk about: The staggering widespread prevalence of sexual abuse in small towns to big metropolitan cities Behavior of sexual predators Lifelong trauma victims endure Challenges victims face in seeking justice #TheDemLabs #FitchLawFirm #SexAbuse #Lawyer #Ohio #NewYork #SexualAbuseSurvivors #Justice #LegalAdvocacy #BreakTheSilence #ChildProtection #LegalRights #SexualAbuseAwareness #LegalSupport #EpsteinFiles JohnFitch.com TheDemLabs.org
12/11/25 • 13:22
Behdad Jamshidi is the Founder of CJAM The Marketing Connector, which has vetted over 1,000 marketing agencies to identify those most qualified to deliver on their promises. The idea of a single agency handling all political and advocacy campaign needs is no longer realistic, as there are an increasing number of channels to reach voters and supporters. We talk about: The vast majority of agencies are execution focused while clients often expect high-level strategic thinking Red flags of agencies noted during the vetting process and from their work with clients The need for constant testing and adjustment to messages in this rapid response environment If a marketing firm is not using AI, it is falling behind the competition #CJAMMarketing #PolitcalCampaigns #Advocacy #MarketingAgencies #DigitalPolitics #CampaignStrategy #PoliticalMarketing #MarketingROI #DigitalStrategy #CampaignManagement #PoliticalConsulting #MarketingPartners #ElectionMarketing CJAMMarketing.com
12/10/25 • 20:13
Ivan Pardo, Founder of Solidarity Tech used his organizing platform to successfully manage the over 100,000 volunteers for the campaign of Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of New York. This platform was originally designed to be multilingual from its inception to organize non-English-speaking rideshare drivers. While technology was key to the Mamdani success, the authenticity of the candidate and message discipline were key to connecting with volunteers and voters. We talk about: Deep organizing at scale focusing on getting volunteers to commit and show up for shifts, re-engage and recruit their friends Converting social media engagement into volunteer sign-ups Why multilingual capabilities are essential for reaching diverse communities Bridging online enthusiasm with offline action #ZohranMamdani #ZohranforNYC #CRM #LaborOrganizing #CampaignVolunteers #GrassrootsTech #PoliticalInnovation #CommunityOrganizing #CivicTech #Democracy #VolunteerManagement #PoliticalCampaigns #NYC #SocialImpact #TechForGood Solidarity.tech
12/2/25 • 19:48
Nicole Dunger, Vice President of Growth, and Ryan Davis, CEO of People First, highlight the value of integrating influencer content into paid media strategies, a practice becoming more common in the political and advocacy space. The use of micro-influencers is key for state and local races, and the paid amplification can promote authentic voices to hard-to-reach voters. Campaigns are planning their influencer strategies earlier in the campaign cycle and effectively using creator content to inform messaging to a broader audience. We talk about: The common practice of commercial brands to use creator content in paid advertising Why micro-influencers with 5,000-50,000 followers are the sweet spot for congressional races Measuring ROI from influencer campaigns Learning to cede creative control to influencers, trusting them to know how best to communicate to their followers #PeopleFirst #Influencers #InfluencerCampaigns #InfluencerMarketing #PoliticalCampaigns #DigitalCampaigns #VoterOutreach #Election2026 peoplefirst.cc
11/21/25 • 20:50
Josh Justice, CEO of Peerly, highlights the new Video in Motion technology, an evolution of their previous HD video texting service. This next-generation tool allows for sending 4K high-resolution video to voters' phones via text message, bypassing the limitations of MMS protocols. This is a direct-to-voter messaging model that Josh argues is superior to traditional OTT and CTV advertising because it delivers a measurable interactive experience directly to voters. Josh and I talk about: The integration of AI for video captions and thumbnails using AMP AI to handle replies that text campaigns generate The benefits of delivering messages directly to a voter's phone versus paid advertising The value of the robust real-time metrics tracking 64 different points of engagement Need for campaigns to take a mobile-first strategy to meet voters where they are in motion and not just sitting in front of a screen #Peerly #VideoInMotion #CampaignTech #PoliticalInnovation #DigitalOutreach #VoterEngagement #MobileStategy Peerly.com
11/19/25 • 22:39
Aram Fischer, Co-Founder and CEO of Change Agent, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss values-aligned generative AI and how it contrasts with mainstream AI platforms. Aram warns about built-in societal biases and misinformation in tools like ChatGPT that need to be identified to better align data with proper action. Deepak and Aram talk about: Shortcomings in existing gen AI platforms related to data privacy and implicit and explicit biases Practical applications for AI for voter data analysis and fundraising Using AI to support campaign communications and messaging Creating a library of pre-built workflows to improve campaign efficiency and automate time-consuming tasks #TheDemLabs #TheChangeAI #ChangeAgent #Nonprofits #NonProfitTech #AI #GenAIinPolitics #PoliticalAI #EthicalAI #Activists #SocialJustice #Fundraising Change Agent TheDemLabs.org
11/11/25 • 17:59
Ellen Gavin, filmmaker and changemaker, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss her latest project, a short film titled "The People United," a collaboration with legendary activist Dolores Huerta that encourages nonviolent community intervention to protect neighbors from ICE. Ellen drives home the point that effective activism must touch the heart to move the feet and be driven by a message of solidarity, rather than being motivated by fear-based tactics. Deepak and Ellen talk about: The use of films to tell stories that combat political disinformation and inspire action Need for urgency to fight threats to our democracy Parallels between the current political climate in the US and the historical rise of fascism Drawing inspiration from Huerta #TheDemLabs #EllenGavin #DoloresHuerta #Protests #Autocrats #Resistance #Democracy #CivicEngagement #SocialMovements #PoliticalAction EllenGavin.com TheDemLabs.org
11/3/25 • 26:34
Anne-christine d'Adesky, Founder of Resisting Project 2025, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss strategies to counter the agenda of Project 2025, guiding the Trump administration. She details the growth and significance of the No Kings protests, explaining the goal of reaching 3.5% of the US population — a figure identified as a tipping point for effective nonviolent resistance. Deepak and Anne-christine talk about: How the No Kings mobilization grew and who participated Lessons from international pro-democracy movements Why creative forms of resistance are critical for breaking down autocrats' projection of power Future actions that are being organized to build coalitions and identify community-specific priorities #TheDemLabs #ResistingProject2025 #Protests #ResistancetoAutocracy #Autocrats #Resistance #Democracy #CivicEngagement #SocialMovements #PoliticalAction Resisting Project 2025 TheDemLabs.org
10/29/25 • 29:04
Maresa Strano, Director of the Political Reform Program at New America, discusses the role and mechanics of ballot initiatives in the 23 states that allow for citizen-led statewide initiatives. These Initiatives are a tool for direct democracy and are an effective mechanism for achieving political and good governance reform. Once established in a state's constitution, ballot initiative-driven legislation is difficult to restrict, and typically, changes are unpopular with voters. Current research suggests an opportunity to expand the ballot initiative process to new states as a means to transcend partisan politics and foster meaningful civic engagement and democratic reform. We talk about: The complexity of creating and driving a successful citizen-initiated ballot measure Why initiative topics like raising the minimum wage frequently attract bipartisan support Ballot initiatives as a powerful tool for engaging members of a community especially the younger generation Identifying states ripe for adopting a ballot initiative process #NewAmerica #BallotInitiatives #PoliticalReform #DirectDemocracy #CivicEngagement NewAmerica.org
10/22/25 • 20:52
Eva Posner, Founder of Evinco Strategies, focuses on the immense challenges facing political campaigns in this current environment of political violence, the 25-minute news cycle, and economic uncertainty. This climate has deterred qualified candidates from running and made it more difficult for campaigns to raise money, particularly from larger donors. We talk about: How the threat of political violence is impacting the physical safety and mental health of candidates and their staff While partisan outrage drives small-donor online donations, sustained funding from major donors has become harder to secure Why the nationalization of state and local campaigns sets unrealistic fundraising expectations for candidates The role of social media in amplifying campaign ground efforts and breaking through the noise #EvincoStrategies #PoliticalCampaigns #PolitcalViolence #Fundraising #PoliticalCandidates EvincoStrategies.com
10/3/25 • 22:03
Scott Goodstein, Founder and CEO of Catalyst Campaigns, discusses the evolution and current state of social media strategies in politics in this interview, recorded on September 11 and the day after the murder of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Scott was the social media architect for the 2008 Obama campaign and contrasts the early, diverse social media landscape with today's video-dominated rapid-response environment, which is concentrated on a few major platforms. We talk about: Where and how voters are getting news and information Using social media for two-way engagement rather than broadcasting Need to break out of the partisan echo chambers Strategic differences between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to defining the narrative and storytelling The role of AI in creating sophisticated disinformation CatalystCampaigns.com https://www.thewrap.com/wsj-trans-ideology-charlie-kirk-bullets-false-report/
9/17/25 • 29:24
This is an interview conducted by Deepak Puri of The Democracy Labs, discussing the art of podcasting with me, Karen Jagoda. Being a podcaster since the early days, I have seen my share of great guests, reluctant guests, and unprepared guests. Listening to other podcasters has helped me understand both the great potential and limited value podcasts and podcasters can have. In addition to the Digital Politics Podcast, I am also the producer and host of the Empowered Patient Podcast, which has allowed me to interview scientists and medical professionals who are increasingly interested in discussing politics and advocacy related to healthcare and research. Deepak and I talk about: Preparation of guests about the format and host of the podcast to ensure key messages are expressed effectively Need for flexibility on the part of the host and guests to allow for natural and authentic conversations Keys to good storytelling, especially in an audio format Why commitment and consistency are necessary for a podcast to be effective TheDemLabs.org EmpoweredPatientPodcast.com
8/29/25 • 14:05