David Shor

These were obviously the best ads in the campaign. And the point I just want to say is I think this reinforces the point that what voters cared the most about was the cost of living and that voters were really mad, you know, about the actual situation. And I think that Harris being able to, you know, in this ad, acknowledging, oh, things are actually very bad. I don't like this.

These were obviously the best ads in the campaign. And the point I just want to say is I think this reinforces the point that what voters cared the most about was the cost of living and that voters were really mad, you know, about the actual situation. And I think that Harris being able to, you know, in this ad, acknowledging, oh, things are actually very bad. I don't like this.

I have a plan to fix this is part of what made it so effective.

I have a plan to fix this is part of what made it so effective.

I think that there was this big strategic question that Democrats faced, and it wasn't just the Harris campaign, which is polling would tell them you should talk about the economy or voters care a lot about the cost of living. But it's very hard, one, to get media attention on those things. And two, I think that Trump has done a good job of baiting us.

I think that there was this big strategic question that Democrats faced, and it wasn't just the Harris campaign, which is polling would tell them you should talk about the economy or voters care a lot about the cost of living. But it's very hard, one, to get media attention on those things. And two, I think that Trump has done a good job of baiting us.

I think what's really interesting about a lot of the democracy and authoritarian stuff is just that It's how concerned you are by it really varies a lot by political engagement and by education and the kind of people who set media decisions, you know, at CNN or who work in politics are the kinds of people who are going to be much more concerned about it than working class folks are.

I think what's really interesting about a lot of the democracy and authoritarian stuff is just that It's how concerned you are by it really varies a lot by political engagement and by education and the kind of people who set media decisions, you know, at CNN or who work in politics are the kinds of people who are going to be much more concerned about it than working class folks are.

Asking the hard questions. Yeah, I think, you know, obviously, I think that democratic messaging last cycle was not economically focused enough. I think that it focused too much on, you know, narratives of defending institutions, defending democracy. And I think it's just very easy for folks to fall into that trap.

Asking the hard questions. Yeah, I think, you know, obviously, I think that democratic messaging last cycle was not economically focused enough. I think that it focused too much on, you know, narratives of defending institutions, defending democracy. And I think it's just very easy for folks to fall into that trap.

The thing I'll say, you know, in terms of why I'm sympathetic to the people who actually had these jobs and had to make these decisions is it just feels wrong. You know, like I have a situation, I mentioned this before, where donors will email me and they'll be like, oh, look at this crazy, absolutely terrible thing, this evil thing that Trump is doing. We need to test it.

The thing I'll say, you know, in terms of why I'm sympathetic to the people who actually had these jobs and had to make these decisions is it just feels wrong. You know, like I have a situation, I mentioned this before, where donors will email me and they'll be like, oh, look at this crazy, absolutely terrible thing, this evil thing that Trump is doing. We need to test it.

We need to tell the voters. You test it and it really doesn't work. People want to hear about eggs, you know, and it's easy for me to say that, you know, because I don't really, I'm not directly in charge. But I just think it just feels really wrong when you're in the moment. It's just very, it's very hard to totally shift direction, you know, just because data tells you one thing.

We need to tell the voters. You test it and it really doesn't work. People want to hear about eggs, you know, and it's easy for me to say that, you know, because I don't really, I'm not directly in charge. But I just think it just feels really wrong when you're in the moment. It's just very, it's very hard to totally shift direction, you know, just because data tells you one thing.

Each coalition's campaigns are ultimately going to reflect, you know, the aesthetic and cultural choices of the people who staff them. And it makes sense. Like if you had just said two years ago, oh, Trump's going to end by showing up at a McDonald's, like it just wouldn't have been surprising, I think. And so it's just hard to escape, you know, that kind of demographic pull.

Each coalition's campaigns are ultimately going to reflect, you know, the aesthetic and cultural choices of the people who staff them. And it makes sense. Like if you had just said two years ago, oh, Trump's going to end by showing up at a McDonald's, like it just wouldn't have been surprising, I think. And so it's just hard to escape, you know, that kind of demographic pull.

But we have to try because we have to actually win these people over. OK, and so now I just have a couple more slides I want to go through. I talked about this before, but voters cared a lot more about delivering change than preserving institutions. And then we have this other polling question here, which I think is interesting, which is just asking people to pick between the statements.

But we have to try because we have to actually win these people over. OK, and so now I just have a couple more slides I want to go through. I talked about this before, but voters cared a lot more about delivering change than preserving institutions. And then we have this other polling question here, which I think is interesting, which is just asking people to pick between the statements.

Things could be going better in America, but what we need is a return to basic stability. And the other is things in America are going poorly, and what's needed is a major change and a shock to the system. And when you have those two things, it's 53-37, which is a lot wider than the election result ended up being.

Things could be going better in America, but what we need is a return to basic stability. And the other is things in America are going poorly, and what's needed is a major change and a shock to the system. And when you have those two things, it's 53-37, which is a lot wider than the election result ended up being.