Happy to kick this around. I liked "Hopefuls" the best, but open to other options. I struggle with this everyday when I write....No bad option but let's discuss!
Thanks for another terrific event last night! My dream is for every Democrat in the House and Senate and all on-air talent at MSNBC and CNN (and their producers) to enroll in Hopium University, double-majoring in Economics and Communications. And implore them to please be louder each day about what they've learned. As you've shown us, there's an incredible story to tell!
I think I hear a distant refrain, maybe coming closer. I’m not sure, but it sounds like someone singing……if My hearing aid is working I do believe it goes likr this “Happy day are here again….” but then it trails off to someone screeching like Joe McCarthy. Oh well, I’m over 80 so I guess I’ll just have my memories. 🙁
I'm a subscriber to your Substack, as well as Robert Hubbell, Jessica Craven, HCR and Joyce Vance.
There are many thousands of followers among these newsletters.
Your messaging so powerfully lays out the reason we're way better off with Joe Biden and the Democrats than the nihilist GOP IMO it would be great if we created an organized initiative targeting persuadable voters in key battleground states texting and emailing Hopium, data driven messaging on a weekly basis for the next 13 months.
I'd be really happy to work on this with your direction.
Because people don’t remember numbers (“numbers numb, stories stick”), your contextualization is useful (“The economy has grown at 3% on average under Biden, the highest for any President since Clinton.”) As well, I think it helps to find markers that are immediately evident in people’s everyday lives. High prices at the grocery store = high inflation (regardless of the official numbers), headlines dominated by trump = Biden’s doing nothing (regardless of the facts). “Help Wanted” signs = job growth (a marker that we should highlight, especially as we will see many more of these with the holidays approaching). What other markers of a strong, growing economy can we highlight?
Really enjoyed the talk last night. Quick note that I received a "sorry you weren't able to attend" message, but I did call in real-time and listened to all but the last 3-4 minutes.
Amazing informative and inspiring hour. I couldn’t attend live but hung on every word on the tape. Find time to listen to this. And yes Simon do merchandise because Hopium matters.
Some interesting observations, Simon. As always, the problem isn't that the information isn't out there. But as you astutely point out, it is not being framed in a way that allows us to address it effectively. Seeing how you laid it out brings out that failure in how the data is framed and analysed. Thank you. It is illuminating, and has me thinking in terms of how we can reframe how this kind of information so it is more illuminating to the people we talk to. I hope to bring this up for discussion in my group as we begin strategizing for next year. What really IS our message, and how do we communicate it. One thing I know for sure: if we don't stop demonizing everyone who disagrees with us, we stand no chance of being listened to. And if we just frame it for people who agree with us, we lose all those people at the edges, not sure which way to turn.
I feel like this analysis of the Israel/Hamas conflict is pretty out of touch with how young progressives are reacting to it. They are NOT happy with Democrats and Biden right now.
Hear you. A few reactions: 1) I clearly think that the view of some on the left about Israel-Palestine, and particularly about Hamas, is just wrong. 2) We need to distinguish between what activists believe and what the broader Democratic community believes. A look at polling this week finds "A wave of new polling in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel reveals a significant uptick in American support for the Jewish state — especially among Democrats that had been growing less supportive of Israel in recent years..." https://mailchi.mp/5e42c412b24c/daily-kickoff-785179?e=[UNIQID I may be out of touch with their views, and right for being so.
Thank you for responding. The polling also shows some big generational gaps, and shows that the public strongly does not want bloodshed of innocent civilians in Gaza. With Netanyahu in charge it's hard to see how it doesn't get much worse, but am praying for some miracle of peace and that some effective diplomacy is happening behind the scenes.
Enjoyed the talk last night. We are “hoptimists!” “Hopetimists?”
Happy to kick this around. I liked "Hopefuls" the best, but open to other options. I struggle with this everyday when I write....No bad option but let's discuss!
My vote is Hoptimists.😊
Thanks for another terrific event last night! My dream is for every Democrat in the House and Senate and all on-air talent at MSNBC and CNN (and their producers) to enroll in Hopium University, double-majoring in Economics and Communications. And implore them to please be louder each day about what they've learned. As you've shown us, there's an incredible story to tell!
I think I hear a distant refrain, maybe coming closer. I’m not sure, but it sounds like someone singing……if My hearing aid is working I do believe it goes likr this “Happy day are here again….” but then it trails off to someone screeching like Joe McCarthy. Oh well, I’m over 80 so I guess I’ll just have my memories. 🙁
Simon
I'm a subscriber to your Substack, as well as Robert Hubbell, Jessica Craven, HCR and Joyce Vance.
There are many thousands of followers among these newsletters.
Your messaging so powerfully lays out the reason we're way better off with Joe Biden and the Democrats than the nihilist GOP IMO it would be great if we created an organized initiative targeting persuadable voters in key battleground states texting and emailing Hopium, data driven messaging on a weekly basis for the next 13 months.
I'd be really happy to work on this with your direction.
Thanks
Merrill Weingrod
401-480-8003
I think there’re more like millions who follow all you mentioned.
Enen a better reason to get an outreach program going. A few million texts and emails going out each week to persuadable voters would be amazing!!
Because people don’t remember numbers (“numbers numb, stories stick”), your contextualization is useful (“The economy has grown at 3% on average under Biden, the highest for any President since Clinton.”) As well, I think it helps to find markers that are immediately evident in people’s everyday lives. High prices at the grocery store = high inflation (regardless of the official numbers), headlines dominated by trump = Biden’s doing nothing (regardless of the facts). “Help Wanted” signs = job growth (a marker that we should highlight, especially as we will see many more of these with the holidays approaching). What other markers of a strong, growing economy can we highlight?
Really enjoyed the talk last night. Quick note that I received a "sorry you weren't able to attend" message, but I did call in real-time and listened to all but the last 3-4 minutes.
It was great!
Great insights. Thanks to both of you. Onward.
Amazing informative and inspiring hour. I couldn’t attend live but hung on every word on the tape. Find time to listen to this. And yes Simon do merchandise because Hopium matters.
Some interesting observations, Simon. As always, the problem isn't that the information isn't out there. But as you astutely point out, it is not being framed in a way that allows us to address it effectively. Seeing how you laid it out brings out that failure in how the data is framed and analysed. Thank you. It is illuminating, and has me thinking in terms of how we can reframe how this kind of information so it is more illuminating to the people we talk to. I hope to bring this up for discussion in my group as we begin strategizing for next year. What really IS our message, and how do we communicate it. One thing I know for sure: if we don't stop demonizing everyone who disagrees with us, we stand no chance of being listened to. And if we just frame it for people who agree with us, we lose all those people at the edges, not sure which way to turn.
I feel like this analysis of the Israel/Hamas conflict is pretty out of touch with how young progressives are reacting to it. They are NOT happy with Democrats and Biden right now.
Hear you. A few reactions: 1) I clearly think that the view of some on the left about Israel-Palestine, and particularly about Hamas, is just wrong. 2) We need to distinguish between what activists believe and what the broader Democratic community believes. A look at polling this week finds "A wave of new polling in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel reveals a significant uptick in American support for the Jewish state — especially among Democrats that had been growing less supportive of Israel in recent years..." https://mailchi.mp/5e42c412b24c/daily-kickoff-785179?e=[UNIQID I may be out of touch with their views, and right for being so.
Thank you for responding. The polling also shows some big generational gaps, and shows that the public strongly does not want bloodshed of innocent civilians in Gaza. With Netanyahu in charge it's hard to see how it doesn't get much worse, but am praying for some miracle of peace and that some effective diplomacy is happening behind the scenes.