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Yasmin Radjy is the Executive Director of Swing Left and Vote Forward, and was featured recently in The Atlantic after her organization released data showing some of ther field and canvassing tactics in the 2024 election did not work. In this conversation, Yasmin talks her family's path as Iranian refugees to the US, how the '08 Obama campaign shifted her perspective on practical politics, founding Resistance School in the aftermath of the 2016 election, her stints as National Political Director at Planned Parenthood and in the Biden Administration, the importance of measuring and disclosing what tactics do and do not work, and the new ideas and projects on which she's focused during an incredibly turbulent time in American politics.

IN THIS EPISODE

Yasmin talks her family's journey as immigrants fleeing the Iranian Revolution of the late 1970s...

The inherent politicization of being an Iranian-American...

Yasmin becomes active in partisan politics while in college...

Yasmin's world is turned upside down knocking doors as a Northern California liberal in small town Ohio in 2008...

Yasmin's take on what makes an effective political organizer...

Yasmin forms "Resistance School" in the aftermath of the 2016 elections - a program utilized by hundreds of thousands of activists...

Yasmin's time as Organizing Director & National Political Director at Planned Parenthood...

How Yasmin took the reins at Swing Left and the role it plays in the progressive infrastructure...

Findings highlighted in a recent Atlantic article of what Swing Left did in 2024 and what worked and didn't work...

Why Yasmin believes it's critical for organizations to publicize findings about its work, especially when programs don't move the needle as planned...

The difference in the aftermath of Trump's 2016 win versus Trump's 2024 win...

Questions Yasmin wants future research to answer to sharpen grassroots activism...

The one trait Yasmin looks for in hiring staff at Swing Left...

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Morris Katz, ad-maker at the Fight media firm, is the lead media strategist for Zohran Mamdani's insurgent campaign that secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City in a decisive upset over the long-favored Andrew Cuomo. In this conversation, Morris talks his NYC roots, coming from an artistic family, his accidental path into politics, and a deep dive into the Mamdani campaign's monumental win. We discuss the candidates, the overarching strategy, important tactical decisions, inside the memorable viral and paid media content, the role of outside groups, what is misunderstood about the race, what is replicable for others and much more with a lead operative on one of the most impressive and innovative campaigns in recent memory.

IN THIS EPISODE

Morris grows up in downtown Manhattan in an artistic household...

What diverted Morris from focusing on screenwriting to a career in politics...

How a stint in North Carolina politics shaped Morris' trajectory...

What is unique about Morris' firm, Fight...

How Morris entered the world of Zohran Mamdani & his first impressions of the candidate...

Morris breaks down the 3-phase strategy of the Mamdani mayoral campaign...

The role the DSA-NY and Working Families Party played in the rise of Zohran Mamdani...

How the Mamdani field operation fundamentally changed the race...

Was the Free Palestine movement integral to the Mamdani ascent...

Inside the Mamdani digital program and why it caught fire...

A communication strategy the Mamdani campaign "unlocked"...

Technical aspects that made Mamdani video and ad content stand out...

What makes Zohran Mamdani an effective political communicator?

The paid-media strategy undergirding the campaign's rise...

How the Knicks playoff run impacted Mamdani media decisions...

Why the campaign invested in :15 second ads...

Parallels between Zohran Mamdani and Barack Obama...

How Morris views the attacks on Mamdani of anti-semitism and defunding the police...

The influential role played by mayoral candidate Brad Lander...

Unpacking the winning Mamdani coalition...

Morris' most surreal post-election moment...

What is most replicable for other campaigns from the Mamdani success?

AND AOC, Elle Bisgaard-Church, Eric Bogosian, Jamaal Bowman, Adam Carlson, Josh Charles, Andrew Cuomo, Bill de Blasio, Bob Dylan, Andrew Epstein, eyebrows, halal-flation, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rebecca Katz, Brett Leonard, Willy Loman, manic energy, Tommy McDonald, Matt McLaughlin, Melted Solids, Arthur Miller, Julian Mulvey, the new brunch, Trey Nix, the politics of sighs, Antonio Reynoso, Katie Riley, Sam Rockwell, John Shanley, Erica Smith, Nydia Velazquez, Yul Vasquez, villains...& more!

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Mike Nellis is the founder of Authentic, a digital fundraising firm that's raised over $1 billion for it's clients including Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff and numerous Governors, Senators, and high profile organizations. He was also a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign, the co-founder of White Dudes for Harris in the 2024 presidential campaign, and an active thinker and leader on how progressive politics has to evolve in a changing world.

IN THIS EPISODE

Growing up in a conservative, middle class home in Omaha...

Anti-Iraq War protests draw Mike into political activism...

Mike's time as an Obama volunteer and fellow in the '07-'08 Iowa Caucus...

On the campaign trail from Nebraska to North Carolina to Connecticut and more...

Mike's connection to the 2016 Bernie Sanders' campaign...

Mike's take on why a full primary would've helped the Kamala Harris' 24 presidential effort...

Mike founds Authentic, a firm focused on online fundraising...

Mike's time as a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential bid...

Behind the scenes of designing the Harris' 2020 logo...

Mike's recent focus as a General Consultant for campaigns...

Why Democrats have become so risk-averse?

Mike co-founds the White Dudes for Harris 2024 group...

What Democrats must do to better appeal to younger men...

The right balance of economics vs culture in Democratic campaigns...

Should messaging and governance go big or go small?

Where do Democrats need to move to the center?

Mike's encouragement for those working in politics to stay healthy...

AND...90s pro wrestling, AKAs, Avon, Brene Brown, George W. Bush, Pete Buttigieg, Carter Lake, James Carville, Bob Casey, Shirley Chisolm, Bill Clinton, John Fetterman, Flagrant, Scott Galloway, Jared Golden, Al Gore, Nikki Haley, hollowed-out banks, John Kerry, Larry King, Jane Kleeb, Scott Kleeb, Dan Malloy, Joe Manchin, Elaine Marshall, Ross Morales Rocketto, Morningside University, Elon Musk, music appreciation class, Trevor Noah, Martin O'Malley, Orange Theory, Ben Ostrower, Jordan Peterson, Ro Khanna, Chris Rock, Joe Rogan, Pat Ryan, Adam Schiff, Lis Smith, Tim Tagaris, Andrew Tate, Vampire Weekend, Theo Von, Tim Walz, Paul Wellstone, Wide Eye Creative & more!