A politician should stand for something and fight for it with passion and authenticity.
That’s what motivates voters, even those who don’t necessarily agree with all of your proposals and ideas, according to Anat Shenker-Osorio.
She knows what she’s talking about.
Unlike overpaid corporate consultants and establishment commentators, she’s actually done the work for years, testing and researching messages and stories that resonate with progressive voters. She has helped politicians articulate complex policy proposals and champion legislation through repetition and effective storytelling that touches the heart and the mind.
"'Republicans are seen as apex predators like lions, tigers and sharks, beasts that take what they want when they want it. Democrats are typically tagged as tortoises, slugs, or sloths: slow, plodding, passive,'" CNN host John Berman said, quoting a New York Times article in which Shenkar-Osorio shared her findings after polling focus groups.
Currently, the Democratic brand has one of its lowest favorability ratings, even as Democratic candidates are notching up giant wins in Texas and Miami. There is a lack of trust in the leadership, which is seen as ossified, catering to corporate donors, and not beholden to its base, which is demanding fighters and transformational change. Even President Obama admitted over the weekend that they might be too old and out of touch: “There is an element of, at some point, you age out. You’re not connected directly to the immediate struggles that folks are going through.”
Just look at their refusal to turn away from Silicon Valley bros, AIPAC, or embrace ABOLISH ICE and universal health care. The Establishment is more comfortable embracing Prime Minister Netanyahu and Marco Rubio than Zohran Mamdani. They believe they can win 2026 and 2028 by playing possum and playing to “the center,” which ends up being GOP-lite on immigration, crime, and security.
Anat Shenker-Osorio, host of Words to Win By, joins The Left Hook for a deep dive into the mindset of the Democratic establishment, how they triangulate their failed messaging, and what studies show is a better way forward that can help Democrats not only win, but restore the majority’s faith in a party that can still be the vehicle for progressive change.
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Thank you Lisa Gonzalez, Steward Beckham, Cat: Poli-Psych, MEGAN WINDELER, Ellen Johnson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Anat Shenker-Osorio! Join me for my next live video in the app.
