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Hey folks,
Just wrapped a sharp, funny, totally unfiltered conversation with Amanda Litman — and wow, this one moved fast. We got real about the Tennessee special election, the useless takes floating around online, and what it actually takes to build a bench that can win. Amanda doesn’t hold back, and honestly… neither do I. This is a must-watch for anyone who actually cares about doing the work, not just tweeting about it.
[00:06:57] Amanda breaks down Afton Bain’s 13-point overperformance — and why criticism of her candidacy totally misses the point.
[00:13:32] We dig into who really has power in the Democratic Party (spoiler: no one you think).
[00:18:46] Why voters aren’t ideological — they’re exhausted — and how campaigns consistently misunderstand that reality.
[00:22:34] The “five-to-seven-word rule,” message clarity, and why Democrats keep losing the simplicity game to Republicans.
[00:27:10] Amanda’s challenge to every armchair strategist: If you believe your theory of the case, prove it — recruit the candidate and run the race.
This conversation hits everything from candidate recruitment to media criticism to what it feels like to actually be in the arena. Amanda shows exactly why she’s one of the sharpest strategists in the game — clear, values-driven, and rooted in the work. If you value honest conversations like this, help me keep them going.
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With urgency,
—Mike
