Today, in a new op-ed from the New York Times, American Bridge 21st Century founder David Brock details how Democrats can make significant investments in the media – specifically with innovative content producers on growing platforms – as a part of a “bigger, bolder campaign blueprint to save democracy” and defeat Trumpism.
From the New York Times op-ed:
“Are Democrats up for such a tough (and expensive) fight? Many liberal voters have taken a step back from politics, convinced that Mr. Trump is no longer a threat. According to research conducted for our super PAC, almost half of women in battleground states are now paying less attention to the political news.
Having underestimated Mr. Trump in the first place, Democrats shouldn’t underestimate what it will take to counter his malign influence now. They need a bigger, bolder campaign blueprint to save democracy that doesn’t hinge on the whims of Congress.
Democrats can leapfrog the right with significant investments in streaming video, podcasting, newsletters and innovative content producers on growing platforms like TikTok, whose audiences dwarf those of cable news networks like Fox News.
Democratic donors have long overlooked efforts to fund the media, but with so much of our politics playing out on that battlefield, they can no longer afford to.”
As highlighted by Brock, research from American Bridge 21st Century shows liberal voters aren’t paying as close attention to politics, “convinced that Mr. Trump is no longer a threat.” In order to hold on to our majorities in Congress and win local elections, Democrats must activate and educate a diverse group of women voters, half of whom in key battleground states have taken a step back from politics.
It will also require donors to focus heavily on a growing media apparatus filled with an audience of young people, women, and people of color who support the Democratic platform but are not hearing about our efforts to pass the proposals they care about.
Read the full op-ed here.
Published: Oct 21, 2021