IdeaLog
Five lessons of the 2022 midterm election
Posted on December 14, 2022
Was 2022 a turnout election? Which groups are trending toward one of the parties? How important was inflation? Do voters even like the Democratic Party? In short, what mattered to voters in the midterms?...
Ballot initiatives are trending progressive
Posted on November 30, 2022
Progressive ballot measures did quite well in 2022. In contrast, before the last decade or so, conservatives largely dominated ballot measures, using them to energize their base with an anti-tax, anti-labor and anti-LGBT agenda....
Start planning abortion rights ballot measures for 2024
Posted on November 16, 2022
There were six state referenda on abortion this year (CA, KS, KY, MI, MT, VT) and abortion rights won all of them. Proactive ballot measures not only enshrine good laws, they drive turnout and...
2022 elections come down to turnout
Posted on November 2, 2022
The 2022 elections will be decided by voter turnout, just like the elections of 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021. The polls suggest that the battle for control of the U.S. Senate is razor-close, and...
Three basics of political messaging
Posted on October 18, 2022
We were asked three key questions about political messaging. Here are the questions and answers: 1. How can progressives persuade Americans to confront their biases and reconsider their stances on politics and policy? First,...
Conservatives are lying about crime
Posted on October 5, 2022
Over the past two years, violent crime across the United States plunged to its lowest level in decades. The Justice Department said so on September 20. Bet you hadn’t heard that. No wonder, since...
How to persuade one-on-one
Posted on September 21, 2022
Direct face-to-face persuasion is a bit different. When you talk to people at their doors (e.g., campaigning) or in their offices (e.g., lobbying), there are potential advantages, if you use them. The big difference...
The three pillars of fascism
Posted on September 7, 2022
Last week, President Biden declared that the “MAGA philosophy” is “semi-fascism,” and right-wing heads exploded. It seems they have no idea what fascism is. So, let’s talk about it. But first, remember we’re talking...
Abortion rights is a winning issue
Posted on August 24, 2022
Recent polls confirm that Americans overwhelmingly support abortion rights and oppose the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. This is a powerful issue for progressives and Democrats in virtually every 2022 campaign. Before...
Ten tips for canvassing door-to-door
Posted on August 10, 2022
Door-to-door canvassing is the lifeblood of politics. Done right, it is the most effective method of political persuasion. But how is it done right? Here are ten tips: (1) Dress like someone voters would...