Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda

Adam Ditch Kurtz, a Democrat, is running for governor of Tennessee in a race with 4 candidates competing in the August Democratic primary. A career musician, Ditch is building a grassroots campaign informed by his live performance experience and long-term use of social media to communicate authentically and respond rapidly to voters. He outlines his strategies for reaching rural and working-class voters and engaging the established political machine. We talk about The current political climate and appeal of an outsider running for public office Using social media to build an authentic personal brand and connect directly with an audience Most effective tools for reaching rural and working-class voters across Tennessee Breaking through voter apathy and distrust of traditional politicians #Ditch4Governor #Ditch4Gov #Ditch26 #ImPeople #DitchDiggers #WhoDoesThisHelp #TennesseePolitics #GrassrootsCampaign #AuthenticLeadership #MusicianInPolitics #TennesseeGovernor #DemocraticPrimary #PoliticalInnovation #VoterEngagement #SocialMediaPolitics #TennesseeVoters Ditch4Governor.com

Tomas Garduno, organizer and activist, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the power of the working class and what tools are necessary to organize and mobilize this diverse cohort. After 25 years of political experience, Tomas has written the Fundamentals of Electoral Organizing to support this community and encourage more people to get involved. He points out that the electoral arena offers a unique opportunity for the working class to leverage its numerical strength against those with extreme wealth. Deepak and Tomas talk about Need to overcome the artificial divisions of party and identify politics to unite people around shared material interests like housing, food access, and healthcare Primary obstacles to working-class power Who can be an organizer Practical skills for organizing communities for action #FundamentalsofElectoralOrganizing #TheDemLabs #ProtectingDemocracy #VoterEngagement #Democracy #WorkingClass #GrassrootsActivism #GrassrootsOrganizing #Organizing #Activism #VoterTurnout #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #DemocracyMatters #ProtecttheVote #ElectionSecurity #CommunityOrganizing #PoliticalEducation #SocialChange FundamentalsofElectoralOrganizing.org TheDemocracyLabs.org

Stephen Schear, activist and billboard expert, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss a strategy to penetrate the right-wing propaganda machine by placing billboards with concise, visually powerful, and often negative messages in purple rural areas. Stephen details the logistics of creating, funding, and placing these kinds of billboards, emphasizing their cost-effectiveness. Deepak and Stephen talk about Why billboards are persuasive in rural communities Media habits of voters who believe false claims Collaborating with local county Democratic parties to target persuadable voters The value of negative advertising and ridicule in exposing political lies #PoliticalBillboards #TheDemLabs #VoterEngagement #GrassrootsActivism #ProgressiveActivism #VoterTurnout #PoliticalAdvertising #RuralOutreach #PoliticalMessaging #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #VoterSuppression #VoterOutreach #DemocracyMatters steveschear@gmail.com TheDemocracyLabs.org

Michael McNulty, Policy Director at Issue One, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss fixing democracy through campaign finance reform, election protection, big tech accountability, and defending the constitutional powers of Congress from executive overreach. The SAVE Act and Save America Act are identified as partisan attempts to create significant barriers to voting based on a false narrative of widespread voter fraud. Deepak and Michael talk about Lessons learned from international work observing authoritarian tactics to undermine elections Coordinated efforts underway to rewrite election laws and install loyalists in key government positions Details of the SAVE Act and Save America Act and how they are being presented Action that can be taken to protect democracy and combat voter suppression and disinformation #IssueOne #TheDemLabs #ProtectingDemocracy #VoterEngagement #Democracy #GrassrootsActivism #VoterTurnout #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction #SAVEAct #SaveAmericaAct #ElectionIntegrity #VoterSuppression #DemocracyMatters #ProtecttheVote #ElectionSecurity IssueOne.org TheDemocracyLabs.org

Chris Nolan, Founder of Spot-On, points out that political consultants often overlook local news sites in favor of national sites with large audiences and programmatic advertising capabilities. Local news sites offer highly effective geographic targeting and audiences engaged in current events and their communities. With shifting loyalties to political parties and a move towards issue-based decisions, local news publishers have an opportunity to play a larger role in down-ballot races. We talk about: Why direct ad buys on local news sites can be more effective and financially smart for reaching voters in specific districts than complex targeting campaigns based on broad data analytics Engagement level on local news sites and their newsletters History of news organizations moving to a digital environment The Spot-On Pinpoint Persuasion Platform #PinpointPersuasionPlatform #PoliticalAdvertising #LocalMedia #LocalNews #CivicEngagement #VoterOutreach #MediaBuyers #PoliticalTech #CampaignStrategy #TargetingVoters #HyperLocalMarketing spot-on.com Pinpoint Persuasion Platform

Erin Miller, Founder of Cartoons for Democracy, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss using postcards to enable people who can't canvass due to age, location, or time constraints to support campaigns. A political cartoon on one side of a postcard with a handwritten note is an eye-catching way to communicate a message quickly and humorously to a broad audience, and it is proving effective at getting attention from voters. Deepak and Erin talk about Why postcarding is a crucial tool for activism and complementary to other tactics Finding ways to overcome digital disinformation Role of the Campaign Postcard Captain How cartoons and humor can bypass literacy and attention span barriers to plant a seed about an idea #CartoonsForDemocracy #TheDemLabs #PostcardCampaign #VoterEngagement #Democracy #PoliticalCartoons #GrassrootsActivism #VoterTurnout #Postcarding #CivicEngagement #GOTV #GetOutTheVote #PoliticalActivism #DemocracyInAction CartoonsforDemocracy.org TheDemocracyLabs.org

Caroline Sanchez-Avakian, Strategic Communications Director at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, offers advice to nonprofits on effectively managing their communications and earned media strategies. The media environment continues to change, requiring nonprofits to tell authentic, clear, and concise stories about complex topics that fit into a larger narrative. We talk about: The need to move beyond episodic campaign-based thinking to building a comprehensive ongoing narrative Connecting policy to real-world community impact is essential to getting the attention of reporters Creating succinct and visually engaging videos, infographics, and bullet points Focusing on reaching an engaged, invested community rather than attempting to go viral with a message #BallotInitiativeStrategyCenter #BISC #BallotInitiatives #Nonprofits #EarnedMedia #MediaStrategy #CommunityEngagement #DigitalStrategy #PoliticalCommunications Ballot.org

Andrea Miller, Center for Common Ground, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to highlight the strategy behind the effort to get out the vote in the Virginia special election, where voters will decide on a proposal to redraw the state's congressional district maps. Deepak and Andrea talk about: Potential impact of the proposed Virginia congressional map Tactics to reach the 675,000 Black voters in Virginia Importance of postcards to effectively reach older, poorer, and rural voters who may not have reliable access to the internet Building trust and demonstrating that civic engagement can lead to tangible changes @CTR4CMNGround #VASpecialElection #GOTV @TheDemLabs #Redistricting CenterforCommonGround.org TheDemLabs.org

Anne-christine d'Adesky, journalist and Founder of Resisting Project 2025, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the financial and ideological motivations behind the Trump administration's policy to seize Venezuela and Greenland for oil and rare earth minerals. Deepak and Anne-christine talk about: How Project 2025 is the instructional guide for autocratic takeovers Who benefits from actions against Venezuela and Greenland Moves to counter China's dominance over the supply chain of rare earth minerals The pursuit of a Christian fundamentalist agenda #TheDemLabs #ResistingProject2025 #Protests #ResistancetoAutocracy #Autocrats #Resistance #Democracy #CivicEngagement #SocialMovements #PoliticalAction Resisting Project 2025 TheDemLabs.org

Patrice, a political commentator, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to talk about the need to write anonymously to be able to maintain his freedom of expression without jeopardizing his corporate career or putting his family at risk. His aims to show that modern political tactics are not new but part of a well-established historical pattern with predictable results. The use of first-person narratives and fictional characters is proving effective in attracting a growing international audience to his Substack Open Letters by Mersault. Deepak and Patrice talk about: The need for independent writers to counter disinformation The long history of the demonization of opponents Using humor, satire, and an entertaining approach to make sharp political critiques more effective Educating readers to fight disinformation #TheDemLabs #PoliticalWriting #Substack #AnonymousJournalism #PoliticalAnalysis #Democracy #GlobalReaders #HistoricalContext #PoliticalCommentary #DigitalActivism #IndependentMedia #PoliticalEducation #ResistanceWriting Open Letters by Mersault on Substack TheDemLabs.org

Lauren Windsor, political journalist and documentarian, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to talk about gonzo journalism and the need to report on a story with integrity and commitment to the truth. She draws a sharp distinction between her work and that of people who use deceptive tactics to appeal to less media-savvy audiences and create a false narrative. Deepak and Lauren talk about: The value of undercover reporting to hold politicians accountable Rules of the road for activist journalists Advice for victims of deceptive video campaigns Lauren's documentary Gonzo for Democracy #TheDemLabs #Journalism #EconomicJustice #SocialJustice #GonzoforDemocracy#GonzoJournalism #ElectionIntegrity #PoliticalJournalism #MediaLiteracy #Democracy #Accountability #Disinformation #DocumentaryFilm theundercurrent.tv TheDemLabs.org

Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, shines a light on how free and low-cost apps can simplify political intrigue and complex social issues and be used to educate and motivate. Visualization tools for relationship mapping, accountability mapping, and crowdsourcing increase civic engagement, hold elected officials accountable, and counter disinformation and conspiracy theories. Deepak and I talk about: Relationship mapping tools such as Kumu.io which are effective for exposing hidden financial and personal connections between individuals and organizations Accountability maps from Esri that serve to directly connect decisions of elected officials to tangible consequences and outcomes in their districts Crowdsourcing apps like Padlet which is a way to engage individuals in real-time information gathering and mobilization allowing for rapid response and collective documentation of events #TheDemLabs #PoliticalAccountability #DataVisualization #CivicEngagement #PoliticalTransparency #SocialJustice #VotingRights #CitizenJournalism #PoliticalData #CommunityOrganizing #Kumuio #Esri #Padlet TheDemLabs.org

Pat LaMarch, broadcaster, journalist, advocate, and founder of the Homeless Remembrance Blanket project, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Pat uses her journalism skills to address the root causes of mental health disorders, homelessness, and substance abuse, to inform and drive change in public policy. Deepak and Pat talk about: The source of her dedication to writing about poverty and homelessness The lack of empathy for the poor and the need to translate complex information into stories that inform a general audience What can be done to address the underlying issues of homelessness The potential for communities to make a difference #TheDemLabs #MemorialBlanket #Homelessness #Poverty #PovertyAwareness #Journalism #EconomicJustice #Affordability #SocialJustice #OrganizingMatters #FoodInsecurity #MentalHealth #SubstanceAbuse #SocialImpact #VoicefortheVoiceless MemorialBlanket.org TheDemLabs.org

Bradley Tusk is a political strategist, venture capitalist, philanthropist, podcaster, and author with a mission to promote and implement mobile voting in US elections. He points out that the most effective way to combat low voter turnout is to make it easier for people to vote and find out information about candidates and ballot initiatives. The Tusk Foundation has developed an open-source mobile voting platform that addresses security, authentication, and auditability, and it is being rolled out in 2026 in the US, starting with a local election in Anchorage, Alaska. We talk about: Increasing voter turnout to address political extremism by making politicians accountable to a more representative electorate Who benefits from low voter turnout, and why they might not support mobile voting How mobile voting drives cost savings, timeliness of results, and accessibility The need to give voters choices about how and when they can vote, including in-person and by mail, but also using the convenience of their mobile device #BradleyTusk #TuskFoundation #MobileVoting #Democracy #VoterEngagement #CivicTech #DigitalDemocracy #VotingRights #ElectionSecurity #PoliticalInnovation #TechForGood #DemocracyMatters BradleyTusk.com Author of Vote with Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting is Our Final Shot at Saving

Saru Jayaram, long-time activist and leader of One Fair Wage, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the historical origins of the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers in the US and the power of that community to drive higher wages. The movement has now expanded beyond tipped workers to a broader coalition fighting for a living wage for all. Saru emphasizes that any political platform that focuses on affordability must also include raising wages to be effective. Deepak and Saru talk about: Organizing restaurant workers dating back to the response to 9/11 How COVID empowered restaurant workers to demand higher wages The composition of the workforce most impacted by low minimum wages Why addressing affordability requires policies that drive living wages in more states #TheDemLabs #OneFairWage #FairWage #LivingWage #RestaurantWorkers #LaborRights #EconomicJustice #Affordability #WorkersRights #TippingCulture #SocialJustice #OrganizingMatters #DigitalPolitics OneFairWage.org TheDemLabs.org

Javan Van Gronigen, Founder of Donately considers 2025 as a year of testing the water for peer-to-peer and crowdfunding for political and advocacy campaigns. AI is enabling organizations to create and deploy fundraising content more quickly and target specific audiences. Increasingly, digital tools are showing effectiveness for all donor levels, whether turning a small-dollar donor into a recurring one or engaging a major supporter. We talk about Digital outreach to mobile-first donors Common mistakes on donation pages, including overly complicated forms Value of fundraising appeals tied to rapid response to current events Need to create compelling stories about real people to motivate donors #Donately #DigitalStrategy #OnlineGiving #NonprofitMarketing #DataDrivenNonprofits #DigitalFundraising #NonprofitTech #DonorEngagement #AIForGood #MobileFirstFundraising #AdvocacyTech #SocialImpactTech #StorytellingForChange Donately.com

John Fitch, The Fitch Law Firm, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the importance of victims reporting sexual abuse not only for their own justice but to break the cycle and prevent perpetrators from harming others. John warns that delayed reporting can lead to the loss of essential physical evidence, making the case harder to pursue. Deepak and John talk about: The staggering widespread prevalence of sexual abuse in small towns to big metropolitan cities Behavior of sexual predators Lifelong trauma victims endure Challenges victims face in seeking justice #TheDemLabs #FitchLawFirm #SexAbuse #Lawyer #Ohio #NewYork #SexualAbuseSurvivors #Justice #LegalAdvocacy #BreakTheSilence #ChildProtection #LegalRights #SexualAbuseAwareness #LegalSupport #EpsteinFiles JohnFitch.com TheDemLabs.org

Behdad Jamshidi is the Founder of CJAM The Marketing Connector, which has vetted over 1,000 marketing agencies to identify those most qualified to deliver on their promises. The idea of a single agency handling all political and advocacy campaign needs is no longer realistic, as there are an increasing number of channels to reach voters and supporters. We talk about: The vast majority of agencies are execution focused while clients often expect high-level strategic thinking Red flags of agencies noted during the vetting process and from their work with clients The need for constant testing and adjustment to messages in this rapid response environment If a marketing firm is not using AI, it is falling behind the competition #CJAMMarketing #PolitcalCampaigns #Advocacy #MarketingAgencies #DigitalPolitics #CampaignStrategy #PoliticalMarketing #MarketingROI #DigitalStrategy #CampaignManagement #PoliticalConsulting #MarketingPartners #ElectionMarketing CJAMMarketing.com

Ivan Pardo, Founder of Solidarity Tech used his organizing platform to successfully manage the over 100,000 volunteers for the campaign of Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of New York. This platform was originally designed to be multilingual from its inception to organize non-English-speaking rideshare drivers. While technology was key to the Mamdani success, the authenticity of the candidate and message discipline were key to connecting with volunteers and voters. We talk about: Deep organizing at scale focusing on getting volunteers to commit and show up for shifts, re-engage and recruit their friends Converting social media engagement into volunteer sign-ups Why multilingual capabilities are essential for reaching diverse communities Bridging online enthusiasm with offline action #ZohranMamdani #ZohranforNYC #CRM #LaborOrganizing #CampaignVolunteers #GrassrootsTech #PoliticalInnovation #CommunityOrganizing #CivicTech #Democracy #VolunteerManagement #PoliticalCampaigns #NYC #SocialImpact #TechForGood Solidarity.tech

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 use creator content in paid advertising Why micro-influencers with 5,000-50,000 followers are the sweet spot for congressional races Measuring ROI from influencer campaigns Learning to cede creative control to influencers, trusting them to know how best to communicate to their followers #PeopleFirst #Influencers #InfluencerCampaigns #InfluencerMarketing #PoliticalCampaigns #DigitalCampaigns #VoterOutreach #Election2026 peoplefirst.cc