Thank you. I’m pretty worried, too, and I look at this thread as a place of real politics among a group of really smart and concerned people. So, here’s my take for what it is worth.
The great disconnect, I think, is between how Democrats have been doing in all the post 2020 elections, on the one hand, and how Biden is doing with the American people, on the other hand. If this is the right metric, then only Biden and the Biden campaign can solve it. Once they solve that, they need to catch a couple lucky breaks, but no one ever got elected president without that.
So, what can they do? Here are some ideas.
First, I think they need to lean into the problem. To me, Biden saying “Just watch me,” while true, isn’t enough to face the age issue. Since this is a problem for him with Democrats, he needs to solve it among Democrats, to give Democrats a reason to overcome it and shout out their support for him. With that in mind, I think the campaign needs to start by saturating the airwaves and social media with (1) great long Biden clips (and they do exist) on each of the great issues from - for example - on abortion, to gun safety, to the economy, to democracy, and to the future - read younger voters; and (2) followed by reinforcing clips of Biden v. Trump on these issues where you can really mock Trump. There should be no voter in the country who has any doubt on Biden and Trump on these issues.
Second, I think Biden needs a Sister Soulja Moment (apropos Bill Clinton) that goes to a critical issue, where he faces down part of his own constituency; the obvious one is “Israel vs Hamas”, where he can face down those supposed young voters who are for Hamas and equate them with Palestinian rights. And he should do it in a face-to-face place. If it’s true that Biden is losing some young voters and Palestinian oriented voters on this issue, it is also true that Jews - who voted about 70% for Biden in 2020 - live in swing states and also vote, so there is room to pick up Republican oriented Jewish voters who also live in those states. It is also true that a lot of the Republican Never Trumpers are strong supporters of Israel. In other words, Biden needs to transform this wedge issue among Democrats to also a wedge issue among Republicans.
Third, as you have so correctly pointed out, Biden needs second level advocacy. Where is his posse of Democratic governors? Where is his rapid response team.
Fourth, I think it is critical that Biden and the campaign start framing the campaign in a story about our heroic history, and how what we are facing now, we have faced in the past and overcome. Stories about our heroic past makes people listen and feel good - which it should! It would provide the umbrella theory of the campaign under which everything else could be argued. I’d name this “Heroic Umbrella” FDR, who faced a great economic crisis and then the greatest threat to civilization ever in the Isolationist Nazi Front and the Second World War. Those issues are eerily similar to today, so I would have Biden calling on our heroic past as the framework for a heroic response to our great challenges today.
Haven't left yet. I have so many followers there. But I think we are seeing the end of Twitter, and I just want to keep working folks there to come join us here.
That makes sense, esp for someone like you with so many followers. Thx for replying! It does appear to be dying. Never much of a big Twitter user myself, but just scrolled thru who I follow to bring many over to Threads in anticipation of deactivating X.
Inflation in gas and food may be coming down but inflation is not coming down in housing. So many young people and renters who might want their own home cannot afford one - not just in Boston in SF - but across this country. Part of this is interest rates but even more problematic - we have too few homes for the number of people who need them so prices stay high - even in times of lower interest rates. When I look at these polls - and there does seem to be a convergence across polls that young people are more discouraged with Biden, I have to wonder at the impact that not being able to afford your own home may play. So many young people are saddled with student loans so that even if they have a higher salary, they have less discretionary income to purchase a home. I would like to see Biden and the Democratic party come up with some policy to address the housing crisis and the impact this has on young people. Forgiving student loans was blocked by the Supreme Court and 2 out of 3 Americans do not have a college degree - so what other policy might Democrats champion that might alleviate this housing crisis for our young people? This seems like a critical issue to address some of the discouragement that young people may currently feel. There is nothing more American than the dream of owning one's own home!
3) Only a third of Americans graduate a four year college, but roughly another third attend 2 year degree programs or get some college in
4) Jobs for young people are more available today than perhaps any time in American history. Fewer young people lack health insurance than any time in American history. The median wealth of Americans under 35 more than doubled from 2020 to 2022 - https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/bidens-address-winning-virginia-wealth
Black and Hispanic Americans are starting their own businesses today at record rates. In many cities the minimum wage is many dollars higher than it was a few years ago due to the work of Democrats across the country.
5) Joe Biden has done more to combat climate change than any other American leader in our history. Passed the first major gun safety bill in 30 years. Is fighting the GOP war on reproductive freedoms which impacts so many young Americans across the country. Got us to the other side of COVID, is fighting for our freedom abroad without Americans fighting and dying, etc, etc.
The point is that a lot is going right for young people today, and Joe Biden has been deeply focused on their concerns and challenges. We will have a strong case to make to bring young Americans along with us next year, and we should not let polls showing them wandering now - which is be expected a year out - from spooking us. We have to work to do here, but it's doable; and yes I think we need a housing agenda; but can we take the wins on no inflation and lower prices please?
Nov 18, 2023·edited Nov 18, 2023Liked by Simon Rosenberg
Simon, as ever—this is an excellent counterweight to the points raised and I believe we must ALL be better informed/armed with good data and information to combat the media's promotion of bad economic news AND negative sentiment.
But we must also recognize that perception is reality.
While there are plenty of key metrics showing the "economy" is good rather than bad, we can't assume that simply giving Biden credit for these data points will win voters in 2024. Relying on a list of accomplishments and the anything-but-catchy “Bidenomics” is simply not the most winning message.
Here's why I'm positing this: because over and over, we've seen that facts simply can't speak for themselves. Below, I quote directly from https://substack.com/@framelab (a substack by George Lakoff & Gil Duran).
"For facts to matter, they must be framed in terms of their values and their moral importance. They must tell a deeper story that resonates with how people view themselves and the world. Time and again, we have seen facts and policies defeated by lies and frames. This was one of the painful lessons of 2016. Hillary Clinton’s policy accomplishments and plans ran circles around Trump, but the serially-bankrupt reality TV star ended up in the White House."
"Second, despite the fact that the pointy heads in policy land say the economy is wonderful, it’s clear that many Americans don’t buy it. The idea that the economy is doing great doesn’t fit the frame in the brains of people struggling to pay bills and make ends meet. And if a fact doesn’t fit the frame, it bounces right off."
Understand Simon—I'm not arguing your primary point regarding how we MUST win the economic argument, to get to 55.
I couldn't agree more that the economy matters. Though clearly, we saw in 2022's midterms that despite ALL the talk of inflation, voters can make value judgements counter to the media's nonstop spin, and put their FREEDOMS first (namely reproductive FREEDOMS and the FREEDOM to not be ruled by MAGA Repubs, who are happy to overturn our elections, take away our votes, and support a wannabe dictator).
Nevertheless, when it comes to the economy, what's more important than data and statistics (again, not saying they aren't valuable, just ranking them in the frame of effective messaging), is how people feel about it and more critically how they're doing personally. National trends and percentage-level changes can be slow to felt and even slower to swing the mood of the majority of working people.
Moreover, when you’re an incumbent President, and people are expressing feelings of economic pain, the adoption of the term "Bidenomics" unwisely saddles those negative sentiments with Biden, by branding him with the responsibility for the conditions behind people's sense (accurate or not) of economic malaise. This is, frankly, a gift to Tr*mp—he doesn't have solve the problem, he can simply blame Biden for it (bait and switch is, after all, his bread and butter MO).
We should 100% talk about how Biden is actually delivering, but instead of using the opposition's framing, we need to 'flip the script' on how we talk about the economy.
For example, the GOP has long argued for “trickle down” policies that ensure the wealth, well-connected few shouldn't have to pay what they owe, in order to grow the economy, because giving money to the people at the top will translate to them creating jobs for everyone else.
The truth is, it's consumer demand that spurs growth, i.e., put money in working people’s pockets and, assuming they don't have lots of it already stashed away in offshore bank accounts, they will spend it—generating the consumption/demand needed to actually create jobs.
Between the crash of 2008 and Tr*mp's $1.9 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthiest among us, the idea of not taxing/not collecting from the rich what they owe, is one both Democratic and Republican voters in large numbers agree on.
Biden's been good at countering the GOP's ”trickle down” myth, regularly explaining how he's building our economy from the “bottom up and the middle out.” And between the pandemic stimulus payments, unemployment supplements and child tax credits, as you've noted—we saw record low poverty and unemployment rates, and higher wages—these actions result in impacts that go straight to people's self-interest, rather than the state of the economy, writ large.
As you shared earlier this year Simon, Biden's team launched his reelection campaign with a video that seemed to grasp the fundamental importance of what's at stake in 2024: FREEDOM.
In the April ad, Biden said “Freedom...personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans. There’s nothing more important, nothing more sacred.”
Biden’s ad is powerful because it focuses on FREEDOM—the most fundamental American value; not data or numbers.
Differences between voters are rooted in different moral definitions and values. But regardless of party, the value that is more important than any other to ALL Americans, is freedom—including the freedom to have the opportunity to succeed and thrive, economically.
In the ad, Biden said the stakes for 2024 were between “more freedom and less freedom." That message hast to STAY FRONT AND CENTER, because repetition is the most important element of communications (I know you get that Simon, because each time you send out your emails, each Zoom you host, you repeat the same key points and messages, and extoll us to do the same).
Biden and Democrats believe in FREEDOM; in other words, we believe everyone should have the right to self-determination, especially our fundamental physical (reproductive), political (voting), and economic self-determination.
Always like to see your posts about how to translate data and graphs into a message that resonates with people. (I participated in your Zoom webinars about messaging)
Kathy, thanks so much for attending the webinars (especially if you were in all three!). And, thanks for keeping the values-villians-vision messaging framework to heart.
I try every day to put into practice in some small way—whether it's resisting repeating the media's repetition of MAGA talking points, or presenting policy good news (like Biden's Climate Corps announcement) without using any policy language; it's still such a hard habit to form!
Nov 18, 2023·edited Nov 18, 2023Liked by Simon Rosenberg
Young influencers on TikTok are helping to discourage younger voters.➡️
“Look at economic data, and you’d think that young voters would be riding high right now. Unemployment remains low. Job opportunities are plentiful. Inequality is down, wage growth is finally beating inflation, and the economy has expanded rapidly this year.”
“Look at TikTok, and you get a very different impression — one that seems more in line with both consumer confidence data and President Biden’s performance in political polls.”
Biden admin is weighing whether to join TikTok. We need to promote activists/ TikTok influencers like Jess Craven who have ++ messaging on the economy.📣
Patsy, i agree completely. The absence of decent and affordable housing may be the most depressing issue of our time and, even if great programs were in the works - and they are not - it will take many years to make real progress.
Patsy, in addition to all the statistics Simon shares below, you might check out civicinfluencers.org. This is a group focused on helping young, college-age activists, in targeted Congressional Districts around the country, register voters and get out the vote. For instance, Lauren Boebert won her seat by fewer than 600 votes. Civic Influencers has identified Pueblo College in the district - 12,000+ students. The plan is to recruit a campus organizer, and register enough students to turn the tide there. The group has identified 34 Congressional districts around the country where small numbers of new voters could make a giant difference in which party leads Congress after next year’s election.
4,000,000 young people become old enough to vote each year. They are the most diverse generation in history. Registering them is critical an Civic Influencers is on the job. Hope you will check them out. Worthy of our investment and support, in my opinion!
Nov 18, 2023·edited Nov 18, 2023Liked by Simon Rosenberg
There has to be something we (our government) can do to hold social media companies to account for the defamatory content that is so prevalent on their sites. A start would be for congress to eliminate the exemption from liability that social media companies have for defamatory content posted on their platforms by third parties. This exemption was granted to them by the government as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. No other media sectors have this government-granted protection from liability. If "The Artist Formerly Known as Eric" had posted his comment in the reader comments section of an online Washington Post article, the Post could get sued if its monitors did not act quickly to remove the comment. Less capitalized newspapers have removed their online reader comments sections altogether to avoid the possibility of getting sued. When Fox so-called News reported as news the comments of right-wing trolls on social media that Dominion Voting Systems was conspiring with the Venezuelan Government to rig its voting machines in 2020, Fox was rightly and heftily sued for defamation. It's time that Facebook, Twitter, etc. face these same consequences for their bad behavior. The exemption from liability is a big part of the reason these companies are so profitable. To me, this is evidence of the non-viability of their business model, where we all get to bear the cost of the negative externalities these companies dump on us.
Re the abominable Musk... why are so many important people still posting on Twitter /X??? If companies are leaving they should too! Gail There are several decent options! Simon you are still on it.... WHY?????
CIVIC INFLUENCERS! Just got off a presentation about Civic Influencer's data-driven work to increase voter participation on college campuses in carefully targeted key swing districts around the country. These efforts are winning elections! "Founded in 2008, Civic Influencers uses ongoing research, innovation and evidence-based voter engagement racial justice strategies, including organizing, advocacy and education for youth, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Disabled and Youth of Color (BIHDYoC) for a more equitable and inclusive democracy." This is a model that deserves support - and expansion. I urge everyone to learn more about their 2024 strategy. https://civicinfluencers.org/young-people-can-swing-elections/.
He writes with such wisdom and humanity about an enormously complex and difficult situation. Especially glad to see him address the critics who call for a cease-fire without acknowledging the consequences: "As long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, a cease-fire is not peace. To Hamas’s members, every cease-fire is time they exploit to rebuild their stockpile of rockets, reposition fighters and restart the killing by attacking innocents again." And thankful to hear him state clearly and unequivocally to Bibi and to the world: "A two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people."
I don't envy the hand he's been dealt (just like when he first took office in 2021), but I'm beyond grateful for his leadership.
I agree with every word of your post. Thank you for it. When I read Biden’s essay this afternoon, I was struck by the power of his argument, and without a word of histrionics. I would have also picked out exactly the words you quote.
I have noticed a subtle strengthening in Biden’s argument against Hamas since the Israelis found and uncovered those hospital tunnels earlier this week. The road to peace in the Middle East can only open when Hamas is destroyed. Everyone in that neighborhood knows that. So the sooner that can happen the better.
Simon, I love your confidence - it sustains me - but I think you are ignoring the enormous impact of the Gaza war, and Biden's embrace of Netanyahu, on Democrats generally and on the communities we need to be, not just supportive, but enthusiastic in '24. A bad situation is going to get worse when hard right AIPAC starts pouring huge sums into primaries against the "squad" and anyone else who supports Palestinian rights. I do not see how this can be turned around.
you saw the polling I shared this week which showed overwhelming support among Democrats for Biden's management of the Israel-Hamas war? And high marks from young people too? And you noted that last week - last week - our coalition outperformed expectations all across the country again, as we did throughout 2023 and in 2022? There was no sign of struggle just last week Ed.
thanks Sheila -this is good to know. I will check them out. I donate monthly to Civic Center which is focused on registering young people but perhaps is not as strategic as civic influencers.
Here is Tim Miller interviewing Prof Scott Galloway, with a fascinating discussion about the ‘techno elite narcissists’ like Musk, that crap post about America and yet ‘what do they have to complain about?’ Gives a thought provoking take.
Happy thanksgiving to Info Warriors. I am thankful for HC!
He was not born and raised American! He’s from South Africa. Until he landed here. Money talks BS walks, I personally cannot stand the man and his pomp! I would not trust him w a chip for my brain or an Open AI or Robots or EVs or anything he touches. Billionaires need to be constrained by heavy taxation.! And regulations! Watch what they do not what they say. I worship no man and put no one on a Pedestal!!!
Thank you. I’m pretty worried, too, and I look at this thread as a place of real politics among a group of really smart and concerned people. So, here’s my take for what it is worth.
The great disconnect, I think, is between how Democrats have been doing in all the post 2020 elections, on the one hand, and how Biden is doing with the American people, on the other hand. If this is the right metric, then only Biden and the Biden campaign can solve it. Once they solve that, they need to catch a couple lucky breaks, but no one ever got elected president without that.
So, what can they do? Here are some ideas.
First, I think they need to lean into the problem. To me, Biden saying “Just watch me,” while true, isn’t enough to face the age issue. Since this is a problem for him with Democrats, he needs to solve it among Democrats, to give Democrats a reason to overcome it and shout out their support for him. With that in mind, I think the campaign needs to start by saturating the airwaves and social media with (1) great long Biden clips (and they do exist) on each of the great issues from - for example - on abortion, to gun safety, to the economy, to democracy, and to the future - read younger voters; and (2) followed by reinforcing clips of Biden v. Trump on these issues where you can really mock Trump. There should be no voter in the country who has any doubt on Biden and Trump on these issues.
Second, I think Biden needs a Sister Soulja Moment (apropos Bill Clinton) that goes to a critical issue, where he faces down part of his own constituency; the obvious one is “Israel vs Hamas”, where he can face down those supposed young voters who are for Hamas and equate them with Palestinian rights. And he should do it in a face-to-face place. If it’s true that Biden is losing some young voters and Palestinian oriented voters on this issue, it is also true that Jews - who voted about 70% for Biden in 2020 - live in swing states and also vote, so there is room to pick up Republican oriented Jewish voters who also live in those states. It is also true that a lot of the Republican Never Trumpers are strong supporters of Israel. In other words, Biden needs to transform this wedge issue among Democrats to also a wedge issue among Republicans.
Third, as you have so correctly pointed out, Biden needs second level advocacy. Where is his posse of Democratic governors? Where is his rapid response team.
Fourth, I think it is critical that Biden and the campaign start framing the campaign in a story about our heroic history, and how what we are facing now, we have faced in the past and overcome. Stories about our heroic past makes people listen and feel good - which it should! It would provide the umbrella theory of the campaign under which everything else could be argued. I’d name this “Heroic Umbrella” FDR, who faced a great economic crisis and then the greatest threat to civilization ever in the Isolationist Nazi Front and the Second World War. Those issues are eerily similar to today, so I would have Biden calling on our heroic past as the framework for a heroic response to our great challenges today.
For starters! 😊
Are you planning to leave Twitter as well? Thoughts?
Haven't left yet. I have so many followers there. But I think we are seeing the end of Twitter, and I just want to keep working folks there to come join us here.
That makes sense, esp for someone like you with so many followers. Thx for replying! It does appear to be dying. Never much of a big Twitter user myself, but just scrolled thru who I follow to bring many over to Threads in anticipation of deactivating X.
Inflation in gas and food may be coming down but inflation is not coming down in housing. So many young people and renters who might want their own home cannot afford one - not just in Boston in SF - but across this country. Part of this is interest rates but even more problematic - we have too few homes for the number of people who need them so prices stay high - even in times of lower interest rates. When I look at these polls - and there does seem to be a convergence across polls that young people are more discouraged with Biden, I have to wonder at the impact that not being able to afford your own home may play. So many young people are saddled with student loans so that even if they have a higher salary, they have less discretionary income to purchase a home. I would like to see Biden and the Democratic party come up with some policy to address the housing crisis and the impact this has on young people. Forgiving student loans was blocked by the Supreme Court and 2 out of 3 Americans do not have a college degree - so what other policy might Democrats champion that might alleviate this housing crisis for our young people? This seems like a critical issue to address some of the discouragement that young people may currently feel. There is nothing more American than the dream of owning one's own home!
While I agree more must be done on housing, need to share some data here:
1) Gen Z not behind previous generations in home ownership, in part due to low interest rates prior to the recent rise in interest rates - https://www.redfin.com/news/gen-z-millennial-homeownership-rate-home-purchases/. In fact they are ahead of Millennials when Millennials were young.
2) Biden has forgiven $127b worth of student loans, and implemented a plan to make monthly payments far less expensive - https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/29/biden-administration-has-forgiven-127-billion-in-student-debt.html
3) Only a third of Americans graduate a four year college, but roughly another third attend 2 year degree programs or get some college in
4) Jobs for young people are more available today than perhaps any time in American history. Fewer young people lack health insurance than any time in American history. The median wealth of Americans under 35 more than doubled from 2020 to 2022 - https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/bidens-address-winning-virginia-wealth
Black and Hispanic Americans are starting their own businesses today at record rates. In many cities the minimum wage is many dollars higher than it was a few years ago due to the work of Democrats across the country.
5) Joe Biden has done more to combat climate change than any other American leader in our history. Passed the first major gun safety bill in 30 years. Is fighting the GOP war on reproductive freedoms which impacts so many young Americans across the country. Got us to the other side of COVID, is fighting for our freedom abroad without Americans fighting and dying, etc, etc.
The point is that a lot is going right for young people today, and Joe Biden has been deeply focused on their concerns and challenges. We will have a strong case to make to bring young Americans along with us next year, and we should not let polls showing them wandering now - which is be expected a year out - from spooking us. We have to work to do here, but it's doable; and yes I think we need a housing agenda; but can we take the wins on no inflation and lower prices please?
Many thanks.
And here is a newly announced Biden Administration program focused on creating more affordable housing in urban areas - https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/27/politics/biden-administration-converting-commercial-properties-residential-use/index.html
Simon, as ever—this is an excellent counterweight to the points raised and I believe we must ALL be better informed/armed with good data and information to combat the media's promotion of bad economic news AND negative sentiment.
But we must also recognize that perception is reality.
While there are plenty of key metrics showing the "economy" is good rather than bad, we can't assume that simply giving Biden credit for these data points will win voters in 2024. Relying on a list of accomplishments and the anything-but-catchy “Bidenomics” is simply not the most winning message.
Here's why I'm positing this: because over and over, we've seen that facts simply can't speak for themselves. Below, I quote directly from https://substack.com/@framelab (a substack by George Lakoff & Gil Duran).
"For facts to matter, they must be framed in terms of their values and their moral importance. They must tell a deeper story that resonates with how people view themselves and the world. Time and again, we have seen facts and policies defeated by lies and frames. This was one of the painful lessons of 2016. Hillary Clinton’s policy accomplishments and plans ran circles around Trump, but the serially-bankrupt reality TV star ended up in the White House."
"Second, despite the fact that the pointy heads in policy land say the economy is wonderful, it’s clear that many Americans don’t buy it. The idea that the economy is doing great doesn’t fit the frame in the brains of people struggling to pay bills and make ends meet. And if a fact doesn’t fit the frame, it bounces right off."
Understand Simon—I'm not arguing your primary point regarding how we MUST win the economic argument, to get to 55.
I couldn't agree more that the economy matters. Though clearly, we saw in 2022's midterms that despite ALL the talk of inflation, voters can make value judgements counter to the media's nonstop spin, and put their FREEDOMS first (namely reproductive FREEDOMS and the FREEDOM to not be ruled by MAGA Repubs, who are happy to overturn our elections, take away our votes, and support a wannabe dictator).
Nevertheless, when it comes to the economy, what's more important than data and statistics (again, not saying they aren't valuable, just ranking them in the frame of effective messaging), is how people feel about it and more critically how they're doing personally. National trends and percentage-level changes can be slow to felt and even slower to swing the mood of the majority of working people.
Moreover, when you’re an incumbent President, and people are expressing feelings of economic pain, the adoption of the term "Bidenomics" unwisely saddles those negative sentiments with Biden, by branding him with the responsibility for the conditions behind people's sense (accurate or not) of economic malaise. This is, frankly, a gift to Tr*mp—he doesn't have solve the problem, he can simply blame Biden for it (bait and switch is, after all, his bread and butter MO).
We should 100% talk about how Biden is actually delivering, but instead of using the opposition's framing, we need to 'flip the script' on how we talk about the economy.
For example, the GOP has long argued for “trickle down” policies that ensure the wealth, well-connected few shouldn't have to pay what they owe, in order to grow the economy, because giving money to the people at the top will translate to them creating jobs for everyone else.
The truth is, it's consumer demand that spurs growth, i.e., put money in working people’s pockets and, assuming they don't have lots of it already stashed away in offshore bank accounts, they will spend it—generating the consumption/demand needed to actually create jobs.
Between the crash of 2008 and Tr*mp's $1.9 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthiest among us, the idea of not taxing/not collecting from the rich what they owe, is one both Democratic and Republican voters in large numbers agree on.
Biden's been good at countering the GOP's ”trickle down” myth, regularly explaining how he's building our economy from the “bottom up and the middle out.” And between the pandemic stimulus payments, unemployment supplements and child tax credits, as you've noted—we saw record low poverty and unemployment rates, and higher wages—these actions result in impacts that go straight to people's self-interest, rather than the state of the economy, writ large.
Here are two great resources for how to frame economic data / arguments so they are about people's values and, not simply the economy: https://reframingamerica.substack.com/p/economic-fairness and https://reframingamerica.substack.com/p/economies-are-for-people
As you shared earlier this year Simon, Biden's team launched his reelection campaign with a video that seemed to grasp the fundamental importance of what's at stake in 2024: FREEDOM.
In the April ad, Biden said “Freedom...personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans. There’s nothing more important, nothing more sacred.”
Biden’s ad is powerful because it focuses on FREEDOM—the most fundamental American value; not data or numbers.
Differences between voters are rooted in different moral definitions and values. But regardless of party, the value that is more important than any other to ALL Americans, is freedom—including the freedom to have the opportunity to succeed and thrive, economically.
In the ad, Biden said the stakes for 2024 were between “more freedom and less freedom." That message hast to STAY FRONT AND CENTER, because repetition is the most important element of communications (I know you get that Simon, because each time you send out your emails, each Zoom you host, you repeat the same key points and messages, and extoll us to do the same).
Biden and Democrats believe in FREEDOM; in other words, we believe everyone should have the right to self-determination, especially our fundamental physical (reproductive), political (voting), and economic self-determination.
Always like to see your posts about how to translate data and graphs into a message that resonates with people. (I participated in your Zoom webinars about messaging)
Kathy, thanks so much for attending the webinars (especially if you were in all three!). And, thanks for keeping the values-villians-vision messaging framework to heart.
I try every day to put into practice in some small way—whether it's resisting repeating the media's repetition of MAGA talking points, or presenting policy good news (like Biden's Climate Corps announcement) without using any policy language; it's still such a hard habit to form!
“Between more freedom and less freedom”?
Give me a break!
That’s not how anyone who wants to win an election would frame it.
How about this: “Between freedom and dictatorship”.
Young influencers on TikTok are helping to discourage younger voters.➡️
“Look at economic data, and you’d think that young voters would be riding high right now. Unemployment remains low. Job opportunities are plentiful. Inequality is down, wage growth is finally beating inflation, and the economy has expanded rapidly this year.”
“Look at TikTok, and you get a very different impression — one that seems more in line with both consumer confidence data and President Biden’s performance in political polls.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/17/business/economy/tiktok-biden-economy.html?unlocked_article_code=1._Ew.dmAR.Xh0pBkvRW56d&smid=url-share
Biden admin is weighing whether to join TikTok. We need to promote activists/ TikTok influencers like Jess Craven who have ++ messaging on the economy.📣
https://www.tiktok.com/@jesscraven101/video/7249941711546256682
Younger voters care about many issues and they’re all interconnected ! ( paraphrased from the youngest US House Rep, Maxwell Frost)
Patsy, i agree completely. The absence of decent and affordable housing may be the most depressing issue of our time and, even if great programs were in the works - and they are not - it will take many years to make real progress.
Patsy, in addition to all the statistics Simon shares below, you might check out civicinfluencers.org. This is a group focused on helping young, college-age activists, in targeted Congressional Districts around the country, register voters and get out the vote. For instance, Lauren Boebert won her seat by fewer than 600 votes. Civic Influencers has identified Pueblo College in the district - 12,000+ students. The plan is to recruit a campus organizer, and register enough students to turn the tide there. The group has identified 34 Congressional districts around the country where small numbers of new voters could make a giant difference in which party leads Congress after next year’s election.
4,000,000 young people become old enough to vote each year. They are the most diverse generation in history. Registering them is critical an Civic Influencers is on the job. Hope you will check them out. Worthy of our investment and support, in my opinion!
There has to be something we (our government) can do to hold social media companies to account for the defamatory content that is so prevalent on their sites. A start would be for congress to eliminate the exemption from liability that social media companies have for defamatory content posted on their platforms by third parties. This exemption was granted to them by the government as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. No other media sectors have this government-granted protection from liability. If "The Artist Formerly Known as Eric" had posted his comment in the reader comments section of an online Washington Post article, the Post could get sued if its monitors did not act quickly to remove the comment. Less capitalized newspapers have removed their online reader comments sections altogether to avoid the possibility of getting sued. When Fox so-called News reported as news the comments of right-wing trolls on social media that Dominion Voting Systems was conspiring with the Venezuelan Government to rig its voting machines in 2020, Fox was rightly and heftily sued for defamation. It's time that Facebook, Twitter, etc. face these same consequences for their bad behavior. The exemption from liability is a big part of the reason these companies are so profitable. To me, this is evidence of the non-viability of their business model, where we all get to bear the cost of the negative externalities these companies dump on us.
Re the abominable Musk... why are so many important people still posting on Twitter /X??? If companies are leaving they should too! Gail There are several decent options! Simon you are still on it.... WHY?????
CIVIC INFLUENCERS! Just got off a presentation about Civic Influencer's data-driven work to increase voter participation on college campuses in carefully targeted key swing districts around the country. These efforts are winning elections! "Founded in 2008, Civic Influencers uses ongoing research, innovation and evidence-based voter engagement racial justice strategies, including organizing, advocacy and education for youth, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Disabled and Youth of Color (BIHDYoC) for a more equitable and inclusive democracy." This is a model that deserves support - and expansion. I urge everyone to learn more about their 2024 strategy. https://civicinfluencers.org/young-people-can-swing-elections/.
Very happy to see you're now posting to Threads, Simon.
I imagine you'll share President Biden's pitch-perfect op-ed in today's Washington Post, but for those who haven't yet seen it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/18/joe-biden-gaza-hamas-putin/
He writes with such wisdom and humanity about an enormously complex and difficult situation. Especially glad to see him address the critics who call for a cease-fire without acknowledging the consequences: "As long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, a cease-fire is not peace. To Hamas’s members, every cease-fire is time they exploit to rebuild their stockpile of rockets, reposition fighters and restart the killing by attacking innocents again." And thankful to hear him state clearly and unequivocally to Bibi and to the world: "A two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people."
I don't envy the hand he's been dealt (just like when he first took office in 2021), but I'm beyond grateful for his leadership.
amen.
I agree with every word of your post. Thank you for it. When I read Biden’s essay this afternoon, I was struck by the power of his argument, and without a word of histrionics. I would have also picked out exactly the words you quote.
I have noticed a subtle strengthening in Biden’s argument against Hamas since the Israelis found and uncovered those hospital tunnels earlier this week. The road to peace in the Middle East can only open when Hamas is destroyed. Everyone in that neighborhood knows that. So the sooner that can happen the better.
Simon, I love your confidence - it sustains me - but I think you are ignoring the enormous impact of the Gaza war, and Biden's embrace of Netanyahu, on Democrats generally and on the communities we need to be, not just supportive, but enthusiastic in '24. A bad situation is going to get worse when hard right AIPAC starts pouring huge sums into primaries against the "squad" and anyone else who supports Palestinian rights. I do not see how this can be turned around.
you saw the polling I shared this week which showed overwhelming support among Democrats for Biden's management of the Israel-Hamas war? And high marks from young people too? And you noted that last week - last week - our coalition outperformed expectations all across the country again, as we did throughout 2023 and in 2022? There was no sign of struggle just last week Ed.
Everyone have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
Joe Biden published an important op-ed in the Washington Post today on the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Please read it here - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/18/joe-biden-gaza-hamas-putin/ and let's discuss in the coming days.
I am also grateful for Biden's strong and sensible leadership!
thanks Sheila -this is good to know. I will check them out. I donate monthly to Civic Center which is focused on registering young people but perhaps is not as strategic as civic influencers.
Here is Tim Miller interviewing Prof Scott Galloway, with a fascinating discussion about the ‘techno elite narcissists’ like Musk, that crap post about America and yet ‘what do they have to complain about?’ Gives a thought provoking take.
Happy thanksgiving to Info Warriors. I am thankful for HC!
https://youtu.be/_VntTdU13RE?si=937U4a1FD71Sa0WI
Simon, thank you for recreating the BLS chart. Could not access the link, having no “X” account.
He was not born and raised American! He’s from South Africa. Until he landed here. Money talks BS walks, I personally cannot stand the man and his pomp! I would not trust him w a chip for my brain or an Open AI or Robots or EVs or anything he touches. Billionaires need to be constrained by heavy taxation.! And regulations! Watch what they do not what they say. I worship no man and put no one on a Pedestal!!!