Digital Politics With Karen Jagoda

Sean Duggan, VP of Advertising at SXM Media, is known for his ability to spot trends and work with clients to deploy audio ads to reach voters and constituents effectively. While digital ad budgets have grown for campaigns and advocacy groups, spending on podcast advertising has yet to take off.  This is another example of consumer advertisers embracing new ad formats while the political community hesitates to experiment.  Sean and I talk about: Opportunities for advertising on podcasts Unique targeting available for podcast ads  Advocacy groups that experimented and now expanding their podcast advertising budget Campaign 2024 digital media budgets and ad inventory @SXMMediaGroup #PoliticalAds #PodcastAdvertising #TargetingVoters #Election2024 SXMmedia.com/ad-solutions

Ashley Robinson, Founder and Principal of the BLUE Institute, and Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, agree that politics is the business of change. During the 2018 midterm in Georgia, Ashley was the Political Director for Stacy Abrams' gubernatorial campaign and, throughout her career, has driven registration efforts and GOTV with key constituents of color.  Ashley and Deepak talk about: The need to try new things in campaigns and think outside the box to address complex problems The market needs that BLUE Institute is addressing Why testing is essential to find the right words to get people involved Diversity in a campaign staff means better communication with voters Georgia politics, redistricting, and gerrymandering @theBLUEInstitute @TheDemLabs #GOTV #GeorgiaPolitics #StacyAbrams #VoterTurnout #VotersofColor The BLUE Institute TheDemLabs.org  

Dave Barbush, Founder and CEO of Once A Soldier, and Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, discuss the need to address the scope and significant impact of death by suicide by veterans and ways to prevent it.  Dave has a background in online outreach and has used these skills to start this virtual non-profit to raise money and awareness and provide resources to help limit the emotional and financial scars for families and friends. Dave and Deepak talk about: The difference between the prevention of veteran suicides and the postvention needed to help family and loved ones recover when a veteran has committed suicide What suicide victims leave behind for the veteran family members Crisis funding to cover bills Caring out final wishes Steps the VA can take to make sure families of veteran suicides get all the benefits they deserve #OnceASoldier @TheDemLabs #Veterans #VeteranSuicide #MemorialDay #VA #Suicide OnceASoldier.org TheDemLabs.org  

Allen Carroll, Program Manager for Storytelling at Esri, talks with Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, about using mapping and visualization to tell compelling stories and drive change. Allen moved to Esri after 27 years at the National Geographic Society, where he gained a deep appreciation of the power of GIS data and maps. Allen and Deepak talk about:  Developing the Esri storytelling app StoryMaps to generate interactive maps with multimedia content to tell place-based stories  Sources of data to develop visualization of neighborhoods and communities to identify opportunities and problems Bringing GIS tools to a broader audience to engage constituents and enable real-time tracking of activities @ArcGISStoryMaps @Esri @TheDemLabs #GIS #Visualization #Maps #Mapping #StoryMaps Esri.com Storymaps.arcgis.com TheDemLabs.org

Mira Weinstein, Organizer in Chief at Organizing to Win, and Deepak Puri, The Democracy Labs, discuss the challenging topic of power. They agree that strategic campaigns must go beyond winning to develop the power that can bring about real change.  Mira and Deepak talk about: The relational dynamic of power What motivates organizers and activists to gain power Impact of extending power to a broader population Tools for organizing and mobilizing #OrganizingToWin @TheDemLabs #Organizing #BuildPower #StrategicOrganizingCampaigns #OrganizingEducation #DisruptingWhiteSupremacyCulture OrganizingtoWin.net TheDemLab.org

Clinton Johnson is the Social Justice/Racial Equity Lead at Esri and an advocate for using GIS and visualization tools to highlight social challenges and opportunities for improvement. Clinton and Deepak Puri, The Democracy Labs, explore the kinds of data that can make a difference in understanding a problem and put it in a form that can lead to action. Clinton and Deepak share a deep appreciation for geospatial technology and the power of GIS to drill down to a neighborhood level to help organizations better allocate resources. Clinton and Deepak talk about: Driving community engagement with a data-driven approach GIS tools to determine the best use of limited resources  Need for extensive data points that can be used to achieve the granularity needed to identify problems Role of visualization to identify hidden gaps in services and opportunities  @Esri @TheDemLabs #GIS #Visualization #SocialJustice #RacialEquity Esri.com TheDemLabs.org

Dan Gerstein, CEO of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares his reflections about how and why elected officials, candidates, and advocates use ghostwriting services to create impactful speeches, books, op-eds, and other projects. We talk about: Working with Governor Hochul on her State of the State book Sweet spot for the length of a live and video speech Use of humor in political communication How the language of politics has changed Mistakes speechwriters make when coming up with the right words to reach voters @GothamGhosts #Ghostwriters #PoliticalSpeeches #Voters GothamGhostWriters.com

Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, talks with Colin Delany, Epolitics.com, about how internet use has changed over the years and the mistakes that campaigns make when using this tool. Colin reflects on best practices and tactical actions in his newly revised e-book How to use the Internet to change the world and win elections. Deepak and Colin talk about: Fundraising best practices Content that compels people to take action Value of listening and gossip Smart digital media buying strategies Impact of AI on political campaigns #ColinDelany #Epolitics @TheDemLabs #Fundraising #Voters #DigitalAds #AI #Mobilization  epolitics.com TheDemLabs.org

 Nick Knudsen Co-Founder of DemCast talks with Deepak Puri, The Democracy Labs, about organizing tools for campaigns and advocates that empower volunteers. Their social media toolkits help campaigns gain momentum, provide a method for rapid response and build relationships with a broader universe of voters.  Nick and Deepak talk about: Driving social media actions Need for speed to get attention for a topic Volume of people who share a message essential to see change The power of amplification through grassroots messengers   #DemCast @TheDemLabs #Organizing #SocialMedia #Voters #Grassroots  DemCast.com TheDemLabs.org

Sandra Radoff, Co-Director of Students for Justice, talks with Deepak Puri, The Democracy Labs, about a grassroots effort that grew out of the challenges and opportunities created by COVID. The Students for Justice started with an idea about overcoming restrictions in the earliest days of the pandemic.  It is now an organization that provides paid internships to college students to introduce them to career opportunities in politics and advocacy. Deepak and Sandra talk about: The under-utilized power of students for political campaigns and to strengthen democracy College students targeted by the organization to participate in paid internships Role of adult mentors to help students find their place in the political process Opportunities for organizing, campaigning, and direct field exposure for students Recruiting students and virtual house parties Growth of voter outreach on social media Value of a virtual and hybrid approach to engage student interns @VoteSFJ #StudentsforJustice #VoteSFJ @TheDemLabs #Grassr

David Lytel, Founder of Majority Messaging, has extensive experience using digital tools to persuade and motivate voters, starting with serving in the Clinton White House and being responsible for the first websites.  Investing in quality e-mail lists is the starting point of an effective campaign to reach those most likely to contribute, volunteer, and turn out to vote. Strategies include buying lists of names of voters and testing to determine the value of those names.   We talk about: Targeting e-mail lists to reach voters and the nationalization of campaigns Ecology of online fundraising Value of e-mails sent to previous donors Why the Subject line is crucial Strategies for building e-mail lists Challenges of moving from e-mail to text #MajorityMessaging #Email #Fundraising #OnlineFundraising #Voters #GOTV MajorityMessaging.com

Sara Schreiber is the Executive Director at America Votes coordinating the activities of progressive groups. Strategies for engaging voters have widened as the options for voting have expanded. America Votes educates people of all ages about the need to vote, finding them where they are throughout the day. Sara emphasizes that connecting with voters on issues is one way to persuade Independent voters, a growing segment of the electorate. We talk about: The Blue Surge Electorate in 2020 and 2022 and the potential for 2024 Engaging voters who are digital natives Need for in-person one-to-one conversations Turning voting into a habit Increase in the number of Independent voters, particularly in swing states What will drive voter turnout in 2024  @AmericaVotes #VoterTurnout #GOTV #IndependentVoters #ProgressiveVoters AmericaVotes.org

Po Murray, Founder and Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance, joins Deepak Puri in an interview about ending gun violence. After the shooting at her local Sandy Hook Elementary School, Po took a fresh look at gun control and the role she could play in keeping weapons of war out of the hands of civilians like her neighbor who shot and murdered 26 people that day. Po and Deepak discuss: Working with survivors of gun violence to create a sea change in the dialogue about guns Role of revenue from the sales of weapons of war in lobbying for relaxed gun laws Marketing of assault weapons to young people Need for individuals to speak up to their elected officials about the need for an assault weapon ban Lunch lobby sessions to urge Congress and other elected officials to act @NewtownAction @NewtownActionAlliance #EndGunViolence #HonorWithAction #BanAssaultWeapons #BanWeaponsOfWar #GunControl @TheDemLabs Monday Lunch and Lobby sessions: Newtown Action Alliance.org/endgunviolence-lunch-lobby-days NewtownActio

Heather Booth, Founder of the Jane Cooperative, talks with Deepak Puri about her current work and experience as an early activist in the civil and women's rights movements.  Organizing abortion services In the pre-Roe years and participating in the Freedom Summer Project taught Heather the importance of community and speaking up. As Founder of the Midwest Academy, Heather has influenced and instructed many of the leading Democratic leaders of our time. Heather and Deepak talk about: The history of protesting for civil rights and women's rights The creation of the Jane Collective and the documentary The Janes, and the feature film Call Jane Basics of organizing: members, message, money, and movement Wisconsin Supreme Court election The upcoming 50th anniversary of The Midwest Academy Advice for those who want to make a difference today @hboothgo @thedemlabs #CivilRights #WomensRights #AbortionRights #RoevWade #Dobbs #Organizing #Grassroots #Volunteers #Protests #Protesting #WisconsinSupremeCourt TheDemLabs

Susan Pfeiffer is an expert at using phone banks to organize and mobilize voters.  As a veteran phone bank volunteer and manager, she explains how her group is working with volunteers to get the vote out for the Wisconsin Supreme Court Election. Deepak Puri interviews Susan and they talk about: Successful phone banking best practices Using phone banking to organize and GOTV The impact from innovations in predictive dialers How volunteers can participate in virtual phone banking  @TheDemLabs #PhoneBanking #GOTV #Organizing #Volunteers #WisconsinSupremeCourt #Canvass TheDemLabs.org

Zach Fang, Head of Sales and Business Development at Vocal Media, is enthusiastic about the opportunities for political and advocacy campaigns to tap into the power of online influencers.  He is also excited about the chances for a diverse community of influencers to have their voices heard and to build stronger communities of interest. We talk about: How influencer marketing is different from other paid media The ways candidates and advocates can work with influencers to produce authentic messages What happens if TikTok is banned What makes someone an influencer The use of filters and lenses to amplify a message across multiple communities @Vocal_Creators #TikTok #Influencers #PoliticalAdvertising #InfluencerMarketing #YouTubeShorts #InstagramReels Vocal.media Vocal-Media.io

Andrea Miller, Center for Common Ground talks with Deepak Puri about grassroots efforts to reach disadvantaged voters and under-represented people to encourage them to vote. With a family background in activism, Andrea is continuing a tradition of providing accurate information about voting and elections. They talk about: Organizing postcarding campaigns by engaging volunteers to send out handwritten postcards to drive registration and GOTV  Using the physical mailing address to bridge the Digital Divide   Turning out the Black and Hispanic vote Voter suppression and removing obstacles to voting The upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court special election @CTR4CmnGround @TheDemLabs #Voters #VoterSuppression #BIPOC #GOTV #Postcarding #CampaignVolunteers #WisconsinSupremeCourt  CenterforCommonGround.org TheDemLabs.org  

Nicole Bateman, Research Manager USAFacts.org, is making government data available to bring facts to conversations about the economy and political policy. USAFacts focuses on improving timely access to government data to provide a more complete picture for Americans to contextualize the data. In 2023, much work must be done at the state and local levels to inform conversations about political issues with accurate facts from a trusted resource. We talk about: Findings in the State of the Union in Numbers Report that reveal national averages can mask significant differences in how voters view the economy With the economy top of mind for most voters, the complete picture of inflation in 2022 and its impact on different voters Worker pay, labor force participation, availability of childcare, and unemployment rates Growing interest on social media in government data @USAFacts #GovernmentData #Inflation #Voters #EconomicData  USAFacts.org

Taylor Salditch is the Interim Executive Director at Supermajority, a women's equality organization offering a wide range of opportunities for marginalized voters to get informed and have their voices heard.  The values-based progressive agenda at Supermajority promotes the needs of women at the local and national levels with calls to action to address specific issues. With an interracial, intergenerational approach to building the community, Taylor emphasizes that what is good for women is good for everybody. We talk about: Why women are the key to winning elections Building women's political power Keys to effective voter contact with women under 30 Deep canvassing conversations Getting out the vote in 2022 using digital tools and phone calls to engage a broad community Goals for 2024 include engaging seven million young women @Supermajority #Women #WomenAreVoting #Activism #Advocacy #WomensRights #GenderEquality #ProgressiveValues Supermajority.com  

Patti Russo, Executive Director of The Campaign School at Yale University, reports on the success of women elected officials who graduated from their program and the impact their success has on others thinking of running for office. Creating this radically collaborative non-partisan environment has opened the range of applicants interested in running for office and campaign management. In the early years, the average attendee was a white woman in her mid-40s, and now they are women of color in their mid-20s. We talk about: What is driving women to run for office Encouraging more women of color to seek elective office Returning to the on-site intense summer training from remote and advantages and disadvantages of both Challenges that women candidates face What men bring along to their support of women candidates @TCSYale #TheCampaignSchoolatYale #PoliticalCampaigns #WomenCandidates Apply to the Summer Session of The Campaign School at Yale University June 12-16, 2023 TCSYale.org prusso@tcsyale.org