More from the amazing @anatosaurus.bsky.social here on what Dems can learn from Trump and the GOP on winning attention and shifting the debate: www.weekendreading.net/p/bringing-a...

I imagine if you keep saying first and foremost that you’re the best, it sounds like you’re not going to do big, necessary things to make life better for people as well.

They’re exasperated that the party hasn’t been listening.

Celinda Lake blames (1) the influence of corporate-aligned donors (2) that moderation feels safe and instinctive for many leaders (3) failure to understand (and compete with) the appeal of right-wing populism.

You’re right, although I think they do care about policy – just maybe not in the same way policy wonks do.

They want policy that’s big, immediately impactful, and fits the scale of their struggles (which is not to say that we can’t pursue other slower burning policy change as well).

It didn’t make this piece, but they did not have nice things to say about the consultant class (despite technically being a part of it!)

The pollsters all mentioned this as a mistake for the campaign - after being attacked for “price controls” the campaign abandoned the messaging after a week or so and saw support drop too.

But it was still popular. They had made Republicans attack them on a popular policy - which is what you want!

Here’s the full piece: libertyandpower.substack.com/p/7-hard-les...

We actually spoke at length about this.

Voters continued to support it, even as republicans attacked it (heat which actually helped voters learn about it!)

But the Harris campaign flinched and dropped the gouging messaging in favour of milquetoast platitudes (and saw their support drop after).

They’re frustrated with the party for ignoring their advice and doing that – it’s not pollsters that have been pressing them to go for the center, it’s donors and pundits.

How about reading the piece - they all agree with you ;)

Key insight from Biden pollster Celinda Lake on this kind of language:

When we deride bold policies as “unrealistic” or “unaffordable,” swing voters hear “bullshit.”

They believe:

1) Trump is delivering the unimaginable daily;

2) Taxing the rich + corporations would pay for it.

More here: libertyandpower.substack.com/p/7-hard-les...

More on what pollsters say Dems need to grapple with here: libertyandpower.substack.com/p/7-hard-les...

More here: libertyandpower.substack.com/p/7-hard-les...