KQED's Forum Inside the Democrats’ Campaign Spam Machine
Aug 20, 2025
Adam Bonica, an associate professor at Stanford, dives deep into the chaotic landscape of Democratic fundraising practices. He highlights how alarmist texts often prioritize consultant profits over effective campaign strategies, leaving candidates with a meager share. This discussion critiques the ethics of manipulating vulnerable populations, especially seniors, and the resultant public disillusionment. Bonica calls for transparency and a reevaluation of tactics, encouraging listeners to reclaim trust in democratic engagement amidst the spam deluge.
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Alarmist Texts Are Data-Harvest Tools
- Many urgent, all-caps fundraising texts are designed to startle rather than inform and harvest data.
- Adam Bonica says those messages link to pages that primarily collect personal information, not communicate policy.
Seniors Are The Primary Targets
- Spammy, emotional fundraising mainly targets seniors with lower digital defenses.
- Bonica reports over 95% of this money comes from donors aged 65+, many 80+.
Fundraising Tactics Damage Party Brand
- Bonica argues these tactics erode the Democratic Party's brand and public trust.
- He compares it to public radio losing legitimacy if it resorted to constant, desperate appeals.