Democratic messaging right now leading these midterms is a disaster, says Julian Zelizer. "We are polling evenly with fascism or continued democracy," he adds. A total lack of competence at community building on the Democratic Party and left side more broadly has led to this failure in message-building,. Zelizer: If you're not even firing on some of the cylinders that are pretty crucial to defeating an organized fascist movement, it means you can start firing on those cylinders now.
In a democracy, meaningful change often requires adapting views and building coalitions. Some believe finding common ground and building rapport is the best way to change minds. Others believe activism and protests are key to raising awareness. Increasingly, however, the acts of listening and persuasion are left out, as each side is convinced that the other is unmovable.
Anand Giridharadas is a journalist, columnist, on-air political analyst, and author. His latest book, The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy, explores how the tactics of persuasion can help strengthen democracy and foster positive societal change.
Guests:
Anand Giridharadas, Journalist, Author, The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy
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