From MySpace to TikTok and Why Political Campaigns Must Adapt to the New Social Media Landscape with Scott Goodstein Catalyst Campaigns
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Release Date: 09/17/2025
Combining Influencer Content with Paid Media Strategy with Nicole Dunger and Ryan Davis People First
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Nicole Dunger, Vice President of Growth, and Ryan Davis, CEO of People First, highlight the value of integrating influencer content into paid media strategies, a practice becoming more common in the political and advocacy space. The use of micro-influencers is key for state and local races, and the paid amplification can promote authentic voices to hard-to-reach voters. Campaigns are planning their influencer strategies earlier in the campaign cycle and effectively using creator content to inform messaging to a broader audience. We talk about: The common practice of commercial brands to...
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Ground-Breaking 4K Video Texting Technology Transforms Political Campaign Messaging with Josh Justice Peerly
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Josh Justice, CEO of Peerly, highlights the new Video in Motion technology, an evolution of their previous HD video texting service. This next-generation tool allows for sending 4K high-resolution video to voters' phones via text message, bypassing the limitations of MMS protocols. This is a direct-to-voter messaging model that Josh argues is superior to traditional OTT and CTV advertising because it delivers a measurable interactive experience directly to voters. Josh and I talk about: The integration of AI for video captions and thumbnails using AMP AI to handle replies that text campaigns...
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Building Ethical Generative AI for Nonprofits and Activists with Aram Fischer Change Agent
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Aram Fischer, Co-Founder and CEO of Change Agent, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss values-aligned generative AI and how it contrasts with mainstream AI platforms. Aram warns about built-in societal biases and misinformation in tools like ChatGPT that need to be identified to better align data with proper action. Deepak and Aram talk about: Shortcomings in existing gen AI platforms related to data privacy and implicit and explicit biases Practical applications for AI for voter data analysis and fundraising Using AI to support campaign communications and...
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Filmmaker Partners with Activist Dolores Huerta to Create Short Videos to Inspire Nonviolent Resistance with Ellen Gavin
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Ellen Gavin, filmmaker and changemaker, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss her latest project, a short film titled "The People United," a collaboration with legendary activist Dolores Huerta that encourages nonviolent community intervention to protect neighbors from ICE. Ellen drives home the point that effective activism must touch the heart to move the feet and be driven by a message of solidarity, rather than being motivated by fear-based tactics. Deepak and Ellen talk about: The use of films to tell stories that combat political disinformation and inspire...
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How a Critical Mass of Peaceful Protesters Can Fight Autocracy with Anne-christine d'Adesky Resisting Project 2025
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Anne-christine d'Adesky, Founder of Resisting Project 2025, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss strategies to counter the agenda of Project 2025, guiding the Trump administration. She details the growth and significance of the No Kings protests, explaining the goal of reaching 3.5% of the US population — a figure identified as a tipping point for effective nonviolent resistance. Deepak and Anne-christine talk about: How the No Kings mobilization grew and who participated Lessons from international pro-democracy movements Why creative forms of resistance are...
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Expanding Citizen Led Ballot Initiative Access with Maresa Strano New America
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Maresa Strano, Director of the Political Reform Program at New America, discusses the role and mechanics of ballot initiatives in the 23 states that allow for citizen-led statewide initiatives. These Initiatives are a tool for direct democracy and are an effective mechanism for achieving political and good governance reform. Once established in a state's constitution, ballot initiative-driven legislation is difficult to restrict, and typically, changes are unpopular with voters. Current research suggests an opportunity to expand the ballot initiative process to new states as a means to...
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Managing Candidate Expectations in the Age of Security Threats and Social Media with Eva Posner Evinco Strategies
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Eva Posner, Founder of Evinco Strategies, focuses on the immense challenges facing political campaigns in this current environment of political violence, the 25-minute news cycle, and economic uncertainty. This climate has deterred qualified candidates from running and made it more difficult for campaigns to raise money, particularly from larger donors. We talk about: How the threat of political violence is impacting the physical safety and mental health of candidates and their staff While partisan outrage drives small-donor online donations, sustained funding from major donors has become...
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From MySpace to TikTok and Why Political Campaigns Must Adapt to the New Social Media Landscape with Scott Goodstein Catalyst Campaigns
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Scott Goodstein, Founder and CEO of Catalyst Campaigns, discusses the evolution and current state of social media strategies in politics in this interview, recorded on September 11 and the day after the murder of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Scott was the social media architect for the 2008 Obama campaign and contrasts the early, diverse social media landscape with today's video-dominated rapid-response environment, which is concentrated on a few major platforms. We talk about: Where and how voters are getting news and information Using social media for two-way engagement rather...
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Tips for Podcasters and Their Guests with Karen Jagoda and Deepak Puri
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
This is an interview conducted by Deepak Puri of The Democracy Labs, discussing the art of podcasting with me, Karen Jagoda. Being a podcaster since the early days, I have seen my share of great guests, reluctant guests, and unprepared guests. Listening to other podcasters has helped me understand both the great potential and limited value podcasts and podcasters can have. In addition to the Digital Politics Podcast, I am also the producer and host of the Empowered Patient Podcast, which has allowed me to interview scientists and medical professionals who are increasingly interested in...
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Life Science Leaders Call for Combatting Science Skepticism with Hamid Ghanadan LINUS
Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda
Hamid Ghanadan, CEO at LINUS, reports on their recent State of Science research that tracks scientists' sentiment, funding expectations, and barriers to their work. Key findings reveal that the politicization of science and erosion of public trust in science threaten to slow innovation rates and negatively impact public access to accurate information. The survey also shows a direct negative impact on scientists' morale, job satisfaction, and creativity. We talk about: The growing perception of the public that science is not real Sources of public distrust of scientific information When...
info_outlineScott Goodstein, Founder and CEO of Catalyst Campaigns, discusses the evolution and current state of social media strategies in politics in this interview, recorded on September 11 and the day after the murder of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Scott was the social media architect for the 2008 Obama campaign and contrasts the early, diverse social media landscape with today's video-dominated rapid-response environment, which is concentrated on a few major platforms.
We talk about:
- Where and how voters are getting news and information
- Using social media for two-way engagement rather than broadcasting
- Need to break out of the partisan echo chambers
- Strategic differences between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to defining the narrative and storytelling
- The role of AI in creating sophisticated disinformation
https://www.thewrap.com/wsj-trans-ideology-charlie-kirk-bullets-false-report/
