Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Send us a textJono Kupferberg spent 10 years running his start-up, small business sneaker company before revisiting his early passion of politics to become CEO of Hubdialer - a predictive dialer tool that works with progressive candidates and organizations, including Bernie Sanders for President, Everytown for Gun Safety, the DCCC, major unions, and more. In this conversation, Jono demystifies what "predictive dialing" is, gives case studies of how it can work, and best practices on integrating it into a successful volunteer program.IN THIS EPISODE…Jono’s roots in Chicago politics…The two experiences that crystallized Jono’s interest in working in politics…Jono’s experience as a teenager as part of the lockdown in DC on September 11, 2001…                                                                                                     Before working in politics Jono starts a 10-year business selling athletic-team branded sneakers…How Jono’s politics changed (and didn’t change) in 10 years running his own start-up small business…How Jono becomes CEO of Hubdialer…What is “predictive dialing” anyway?Jono breaks down relevant FCC regulations that impact political phone programs…The role that text messaging plays in an effective program…Jono’s case study of how the Vermont Democratic Party and Everytown for Gun Safety use this tool to leverage their strength…Best practices for high volunteer engagement over the phone…Jono’s strangest work habit…

Send us a textGary Hart has perhaps the most unique political career of his generation...staffer for Robert Kennedy's Justice Department...manager of George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign...two-term US Senator...nearly becoming the Democratic nominee for President in 1984...starting 1988 as the Democratic frontrunner before leaving the race amid a media frenzy...and 5+ decades as a forward-looking thinker on the challenges facing the U.S. and the world.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com)IN THIS EPISODE…Growing up in a farming town in Eastern Kansas and his roots in the Church of the Nazarene…How a connection to Robert Kennedy leads to managing the McGovern campaign in 1972…The Iowa strategy that helped McGovern win the ’72 Democratic nomination…The one word that defined the success of the McGovern primary campaign…Inside the chaotic Tom Eagleton / Sargent Shriver '72 VP process…How he made the jump from campaign manager to a winning first-time US Senate candidate…Senator Hart remembers his Colorado Democratic colleague, the late Congresswoman Pat Schroeder…Early memories as a 36-year old U.S. Senator…How he forged a path as a new breed of Democrat…What led him to run for President in 1984 and how he nearly won the nomination….Who might have been Gary Hart’s 1984 VP choice?Why he didn’t run for re-election in 1986?What he will and won’t say about the short-lived '88 campaign and why the “true story” may never come out…How he tackled his career after leaving the national stage as a candidate…The current issue Senator Hart believes is most under-discussed…Reflecting on his 50+ year friendship with Joe Biden…His confusion over the current state of US politics…His lifelong affinity for used-book stores… AND Atari Democrats, Matt Bai, Michael Bennet, Brumus, Carnegie libraries, clever journalistic shorthands, Bill Clinton, cool and aloof, Walter Cronkite, Detroit, Eisenhower Republicans, The Fairness Doctrine, Geraldine Ferraro, generational friction, Dick Gephardt, Newt Gingrich, John Glenn, Al Gore, Happy Days, hinges of history, Hubert Humphrey, Hugh Jackman, Jacob Javits, JFK, Pat Leahy, Mike Mansfield, Mac Mathias, the McGovern Army, Ed Muskie, the Military Reform Caucus, the National Security Division, The New York Times, Richard Nixon, peanut butter sandwiches, Warren Rudman, the Sermon on the Mount, Silicon Valley, super-delegates, Rick Stearns, Stu Symington, tremendous ferment, Stewart Udall, Watergate, Theodore White, Tim Wirth & more!

Send us a textHolly Harris, founder & president of The Network, has one of the most unique careers in politics. Starting as a local TV news reporter in Lexington, KY…becoming a GOP political operative for names like Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, James Comer…then trading in her partisan spurs as part of the coalition to reform the U.S. criminal justice system - including helping pass the landmark First Step Act. In this conversation, Holly talks her one-of-a-kind path in politics, lessons learned from Mitch McConnell, what drew her to the criminal justice reform effort, how a bipartisan coalition formed to make big changes, and how she’s taking those same lessons to tackle other big problems facing America. IN THIS EPISODEHolly grows up in conservative, small town Kentucky…The story of Holly as a “baby reporter” on local TV news in Lexington…Holly’s tips on how campaigns can get their story on local news…How Holly made the transition to working in politics…What Holly learned working around Senator Mitch McConnell…Holly on the two things you have to win to “win McConnell”…Holly’s connections to the increasingly high-profile Kentucky Congressmen James Comer…What led Holly to take a leadership role in the criminal justice reform movement…What went into passing the landmark federal criminal justice reform First Step Act…Holly weighs in on how criminal justice reform advocates should engage in times of rising crime…The tools used to build a bipartisan coalition on a tough issue…Holly on the importance of expecting and embracing failure…How Holly juggles life in politics as a single parent…AND…100:1 disparities, ACLU, Julie Raque Adams, Laura and John Arnold, beta tapes, Matt Bevin, Len Bias, Cory Booker, Boston Celtics, bucket lists, bypassing security, Center for American Progress, Matthew Charles, the Cincinnati Bengals, Jack Conway, Tom Cotton, Cut 50, Sheryl Delozier, Kirsten Dunst, Dick Durbin, E-Town, Easy Street, John Bel Edwards, Julie Emerson, The Equal Act, evidence-based policies, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Charles Grassley, Trey Grayson, Jordan Harris, Whitney Hignite, industrial hemp, Jessica Jackson, Lebron James, the Justice Cabinet, Kim Kardashian, Lincoln Day Dinners, Paul Patton, the Human Popsicle, Rand Paul, prodigal daughters, RINOs, Ronald Reagan, the Reform Alliance,  Steve Robertson, Rolling Stone, Diane Sawyer, Jeff Sessions, strategic political giving, system-impacted individuals, taking bullets, throwing spaghetti, Donald Trump, University of Kentucky, Harris VonLuehrte, WKYT & more!

Send us a textGuy Cecil recently announced his plans to step down as Chair of Priorities USA - the major Democratic super PAC - after being at the helm for 8 years. In this conversation, he talks his time in the ministry before moving to politics…learning important political lessons amid personal tumult and tragedy…working with big personalities like Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, and Fritz Hollings…running the DSCC…four cycles helping win elections and innovate campaign strategy at Priorities…plus ideas he’s kicking around in considering his next professional chapter.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com)IN THIS EPISODEGuy grows up in a blue-collar family in South Florida…Guy’s time as a Baptist minister before moving into politics…The tumultuous personal time that led Guy to work in politics…Guy talks the role of faith in his political career and how Democrats can better connect with people of faith…Guy’s take on why working in political field is great preparation for a thriving career in politics…Guy’s memories as a junior organizer working for South Carolina Senator Fritz Hollings…Guy witnesses some of the positive side of campaign politics amid personal tragedy…Guy remembers being the Field Director on Mel Carnahan’s tragic 2000 US Senate race…Why running the DSCC was his favorite job in politics…Guy tells some of his favorite Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer stories…The underrated political acumen of Senator Michael Bennet…Guy’s hindsight on the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign…Guy talks his work at Priorities USA over 4 cycles + the two things he’s most proud of…How Guy improved his skill set around raising money…Guy’s passion for helping Democratic messaging move past caricaturizing the electorate…How Guy is thinking about his next professional chapter…Guy’s analysis on what makes an effective campaign manager…The advice Guy gives those seeking to thrive in politics… AND $5M asks, Joyce Aboussie, the Baptist Student Union, bedwetters, Joe Biden, book worms, Sherrod Brown, Danielle Butterfield, Anne Caprara, Jean Carnahan, Jimmy Carter, Lawton Chiles, Bill Clinton, Color of Change, complete enigmas, cultural Christians, Ron DeSantis, Joe Donnelly, Quentin Fulks, fully-formed human beings, G-D skunks, Geoff Garin, Gator football, Julie Gibson, Peter Gomes, Al Gore, Franklin Graham, Helly Hansen, Hialeah, Jim Hodges, Bob Inglis, Kim Kauffman, the Keane family, Martin Luther King, LCV, marine mechanics, Clair McCaskill, mindless television, Robby Mook, Patty Murray, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Barack Obama, the opposite of Miami, John Podesta, JB Pritzker, The Real Housewives, the Reitz Union, relentless human beings, Christie Roberts, Craig Schirmer, Josh Shapiro, Saul Shorr, Structure, terrible old flip phones, Jon Tester, Thursday afternoon movies, Donald Trump, the two most dreaded two words on campaigns, Type A people, walking around like Mother Theresa, white Catholic women in Wisconsin, Gretchen Whitmer, wiki-leaks…& more!

Send us a textGreg Speed is President of America Votes, the infrastructure hub of the progressive community - which coordinates 400+ organizations nationally and in 20+ states. In this conversation, Greg talks how the anti-apartheid movement piqued his political interest, diving into campaigns at the University of Wisconsin, lessons learned on Capitol Hill, and 16+ years as, first-E.D. and now, President at America Votes. In addition to demystifying the origin and operation of AV, Greg gives his analysis on the '22 midterms and the dueling turnout vs. persuasion post-election narratives.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com)IN THIS EPISODEThe issue that first engaged Greg’s interest in politics…Greg sinks his teeth in the 1992 President election while at UW-Madison…Why Greg gravitated to the communications role in politics…and then away from it…Lessons learned from his Hill boss, Congressman Martin Frost…Greg on the 2003-04 origin story of America Votes…The concrete role America Votes plays in politics and campaigns…Greg uses Minnesota as an example of how America Votes operates at the state level…Greg talks both building consensus and avoiding groupthink…Are there corollaries to America Votes on the right?Greg gives his analysis on the 2022 elections…Greg weighs in on the 2022 turnout vs. persuasion narratives…                     Greg talks the latest research on effective messaging and tactics to turn out voters…Greg talks how he’s become a more effective manager over the years at America Votes…Greg’s professional tips to young people in politics…AND the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, Americans Coming Together, Matt Angle, Apartheid, Les Aspin, Peter Barca, the Big Ten, Stephen Biko, The Blue Surge, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, James Carville, Catalist, Chicagoland, circus tents, Bill Clinton, Nate Cohn, the coin of the realm, Deerfield, Tom Delay, The Democracy Alliance, the Dobbs Decision, Rahm Emanuel, embarrassing wide shots, John Fetterman, the Finger Lakes, Joan Fitz-Gerald, hitching posts, hopium, intentional lists, Joan of Arc, the Koch Brothers, MAGA, Bob Matsui, McCain-Feingold, The Media Fund, mental erogenous zones, messaging oracles, Mother Theresa, nerve nets, neutral convening infrastructures, no brainers, Ronald Reagan, Nicole Roe, Steve Rosenthal, Sara Schreiber, social pressure, George Soros, Donald Trump, the University of Wisconsin, vote tripling, The War Room, Joe Wineke, Yankee Republicans & more!

Send us a textThe 2024 open-seat US Senate race in California is the most wide open Senate race in the state since 1992. To dive deep into next year's monumental race, I'm joined by veteran CA strategist Rose Kapolczynski - manager of the winning campaign from that very 1992 Senate race for Barbara Boxer. In a previous episode, Rose talked through her career managing all four successful Boxer Senate races...plus her time as a Hill staffer, working in presidential campaigns, and leading the effort on important statewide races (in California and beyond) over 3+ decades as an influential strategist. Now in her triumphant return, she's setting the table and breaking down the candidates, campaigns, and coalitions behind what promises to be the most interesting California Senate race in decades.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com) IN THIS EPISODERose talks the political & policy legacies of retiring Senator Diane Feinstein...Rose weighs in on parallels between the 2024 race and the first winning Boxer race she managed in 1992...Rose's take on at least a couple of the reasons why Northern California candidates are historically so dominant in statewide elections...Rose sets the table on preliminary 2024 turnout projections and electoral math...Rose diagnoses both strengths and weaknesses of leading Democratic candidates Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, & Adam Schiff...Rose on the impact Republican voters could have in this race...Rose's expectations on the entry of additional strong candidates...Rose's expertise on the role of endorsements in CA politics...Rose on the right mix of television vs. other media in a CA statewide campaign...Will the Democratic candidates go negative?Rose highlights the importance of both women and Latino voters...... & much more!

Send us a textYou know David Axlerod...the chief strategist for President Obama, CNN commentator, and founder of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. The Obama years come up a bit in this conversation, but we focus mostly on his 20+ years as a working political media consultant before connecting professionally with then-State Senator Obama. We talk cutting his teeth in NYC, how the appeal of Chicago politics drew him to the Windy City, why he made the jump from political journalist to political operative, & stories, lessons, and insights from his 40+ years in and around politics.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com) IN THIS EPISODE….David’s early political memories growing up in NYC…The political appeal that drew David to Chicago for college…David tells the story of Chicago machine politics through 3 influential figures…What made David make the jump from journalism to become a political operative…The story behind David’s first campaign working for Congressman Paul Simon…The Axelrod approach to political ads…David talks his time working for iconic Chicago Mayor Harold Washington…The historic 1992 Illinois Senate race that might not have happened without Axelrod agitation…How the 1992 Illinois Senate race foretold the 2004 rise of Senator Barack Obama…David’s take on the “self doubt” present among many who work in politics… AND Jill Abramson, Paul Begala, Jessie Berry, Madison Brown, bullshit meters, Jane Byrne, Mike Calabrese, James Carville, cashing in stamps, the Chicago Tribune, chiseling, civilian review panels, Forrest Claypool, Cardiss Collins, George Collins, colorful Chicago lore, the Commissioner of Rodent Control, Rich Daley, Richard J. Daley, Bill Dawson, Alan Dixon, David Doak, Lloyd Doggett, dopes, Stephen Douglas, Rahm Emanuel, Carter Eskew, Jerry Finkelstein, Erwin France, gambling syndicates, Newt Gingrich, golfing with Dan Quayle, hammer-and-tong battles, Fred Hampton, Henry Henderson, Anita Hill, Al Hofeld, homespun wisdom, Hyde Park, impostor syndrome, Ben Lewis, John Lindsay, luminescent figures, JFK, RFK, the Jewish Kennedys, Vince Larkin, Jerry Liebner, Jim Ross Lightfoot, Abraham Lincoln, Little Rock, machine cogs, Jane Mayer, Mark McKinnon, Ralph Metcalfe, Kiki Moore, Carol Moseley Braun, Mike Murphy, Dr. Odom, Jesse Owens, PS 40, Deval Patrick, pastry and cash, Charles Percy, quixotic races, the Reagan Revolution, realpolitik, Republican golden boys, Dan Rostenkowski, Joe Rostenkowski, Mrs. Roth, secret sauces, Bill Singer, slate-making, Bob Squier, Andrew Stein, Stuyvesant Town, Tammany Hall, Clarence Thomas, unerring noses, the University of Chicago, Tom Vilsack, ward bosses, the wheel of history, David Wilhelm, the Wigwam, the Wizard of Oz Syndrome & more!

Send us a textRebecca Lambe is often described as the architect of Nevada’s “Reid Machine” that has shaped politics in the state over the past 20 years. In this episode, she talks cutting her teeth in Missouri politics with both Governor Mel Carnahan and Senator Jean Carnahan and then moving west to Nevada to build the state Democratic political organization with Senator Harry Reid...plus co-founding Senate Majority PAC to build and protect a Democratic Senate Majority. This conversation contains both Rebecca's memorable campaign stories and case studies, as well as incredibly practical nuts-and-bolts insight into successful electoral politics. IN THIS EPISODE…Rebecca grows up in Alaska as the only girl in a large family…The movie that inspired Rebecca’s career path toward journalism and ultimately politics…Campus activism at the University of Missouri sparks Rebecca’s career toward politics…Rebecca’s entry into the world of Mel and Jean Carnahan…The future US Senator Rebecca knew at Mizzou…Rebecca talks early political lessons learned from Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan…Rebecca’s memories of the tragic Carnahan plane crash in October 2000…What Rebecca learned from managing a very narrow loss for Senator Jean Carnahan in 2002…The non-political reason why Rebecca moved west from Missouri after the 2002 race…Rebecca’s intersection with Senator Harry Reid & early days growing the Reid Machine…Rebecca demystifies what (and who) the Reid Machine is…Rebecca’s thoughts on what made Harry Reid such an effective political operator…The story behind Harry Reid winning a tough 2010 re-election…Rebecca breaks down the 2022 re-election of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto…A post-mortem on the much-discussed Nevada congressional redistricting…Rebecca on the 2022 Governors race and legacy of Steve Sisolak…How Rebecca approaches her role on IE races at Senate Majority PAC…Some of the advice gives to younger operatives…Two of Rebecca’s favorite spots to visit in Nevada… AND 30% unemployment, 428 votes, Alaska drivers' licenses, Sharron Angle, John Ashcroft, Carl Bernstein, Joe Biden, Bob Bigelow, the Bootheel, James Browning, Randy Carnahan, Robin Carnahan, Citizens United, Club for Growth, computer programmers, constant deluges, controversial student curators, Culinary 226, Tom Daschle, deep-pocketed benefactors, Paul Dunn, durable boots on the ground, Marc Farinella, Scott Fairchild, fellow travelers, Julie Gibson, Al Gore, Martin Heinrich, John Kerry, Adam Laxalt, the Legion of Black Collegians, the long game, Sue Lowden, Ty Matsdorf, Mizzou, Mike Muir, Barack Obama, the PTA, Planned Parenthood, JB Poersch, precipitous drop-offs, Jon Ralston, Rolla, Karl Rove, Searchlight, Saul Shorr, Chris Sifford, spade work, straight arrows, Roy Temple, Dina Titus, Harry Truman, Mark Twain, whistlestop tours, Roger Wilson, Bob Woodard, Fred Yang…& more!

Send us a textJosh Wolf managed his first race at age 19, spent 10 years on the road running top House, Governor, and Senate races before becoming a media consultant & partner at AL Media. He also is the founder of Warchest, the innovative campaign budgeting software that - in a few short years - has become omnipresent on Democratic campaigns. In this conversation, Josh talks managing races from Maryland to Massachussetts, Florida to California...as a media consultant, helping elect Governors Katie Hobbs and Dan McKee...plus his theories on effective campaign managers, impactful media, and smart campaign budgeting. IN THIS EPISODE…Josh’s path to politics at a very young age from Baltimore MD…The story of Josh managing a competitive State Senate race at age 19…How Josh become an itinerant campaign manager on the road for nearly a decade…The 2012 Wisconsin Senate recalls become an inflection point for Josh…Josh’s take on what makes an effective campaign manager…The 3 types of errors on campaigns & 2 most important things for a manager…Josh breaks down his work in campaigns in California, Massachusetts, and Florida…Josh’s path into media consulting…Josh goes deep on how his client Katie Hobbs beat Kari Lake to win the high-profile AZ Gov race in 2022…Josh on the political trajectory of Arizona…Josh tells the story of one of the more memorable, effective ads from the ’22 cycle in the Rhode Island Governor’s race…Josh talks how and why he founded the innovative campaign budgeting software Warchest…Josh’s best practices on how a campaign should decide to spend “early” or not…Josh’s take on how traditional and digital media should integrate…Josh explains one his most controversial, heterodox opinions…Josh gives a travel hack and movie recommendation…AND Eric Adelstein, Andover caucus meetings, Ami Bera, the best spreadsheet, Joe Biden, John Bivona, broken formulas, budget gaps, cable-news parents, the campaign’s fastest runner, James Carville, clusters of talent, Heather Colburn, comically early starts, Shelbi Dantic, Bob Dole, Dominican baseball prospects, Russ Feingold, friendly insiders, gas station TV ads, germaphobia, Steve Grossman, the Harvard Business Journal, high-leverage mistakes, important incubators, Conner Johnston, King Oscar, Kory Kozloski, Roger Lau, Kari Lake, Hannah Ledford,  Ann Liston, living in the minutia, Dan Lungren, the MAGA brand, Dan McKee, Matt McKee, Andy Meyer, moments of self-reflection, Mike Muir, Patrick Murphy, the Newport Gulls, Trey Nix, Pikesville, Robert Redford, Harry Reid, roaming the halls in Annapolis, sardine-heads, Bill Scher, throwing shirts out the window, toxic work cultures, Bobby Zirkin & more!

Send us a textWho's lived a more varied, interesting political life over the last 6 decades than Jeff Greenfield? Aide and speechwriter to Senator Robert Kennedy...staffer for NYC Mayor John Lindsay...successful political consultant with the famed David Garth...and then as an omnipresent political commentator at CBS, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN...5 time Emmy Award Winner...author of several books. This is a great, wide-ranging conversation with one of the most respected, enduring, and distinctive voices in American politics.IN THIS EPISODEHow the New York Yankees are responsible for Jeff’s political obsession…The serendipitous path that led Jeff to become an aide to Senator Robert Kennedy…Jeff’s memories of the U.S. Senate of the 1960s…Jeff on the political savvy of RFK…The stories behind two of RFK’s most memorable speeches in the aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr’s Assassination…Jeff talks how the 1968 election might have played out had Senator Kennedy lived…What it was like writing a speech for Robert Kennedy…Jeff’s theory on the right match of speechwriter and speaker…Jeff’s time working with famed political consultant David Garth…The ad Jeff wrote as a media consultant of which he’s most proud…Jeff talks his connection with longtime friend William F. Buckley…The story of Margaret Thatcher insulting Jeff on national TV…Jeff’s move from political consulting to working in television…The media job Jeff held that was the most fun…Jeff's approach to interesting television commentary…Four of Jeff’s pet peeves about contemporary political punditry…The “single most powerful event” Jeff ever attended…Recommendations from one of Jeff’s favorite restaurants and favorite band…AND  Aeschylus, Muhammad Ali, Barney Greengrass, the Beatles, Tom Bettag, Beyonce, Big Pink, Tom Bradley, the Bronx High School of Science, Ron Brown, Buggs Bunny, bullshit measurements, Hugh Carey, William Sloane Coffin, communist cigars, computer manuals, Daffy Duck, Richard Daley, doo wop, Fred Dutton, Peter Edelman, Dwight Eisenhower, elephants, Firing Line, Joe Frazier, John Kenneth Galbraith, John Glenn, the Grateful Dead, Averell Harriman, Lester Holt, Hubert Humphrey, Inspector Javert, Irving Ives, Jacob Javits, journalistic utopias, jut jaws, Murray Kempton, Henry Kissinger, Ted Koppel, John Lindsay, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Lil Nas, losing altitude, Russell Long, the longest slogans in the world, Al Lowenstein, the Making of the President, Eugene McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, George McGovern, Stephen Miller, mock primaries, Bill Moyers, the National Review, The New York Times, Richard Nixon, Lee Harvey Oswald, particle physics, personal antipathy, Ronald Reagan, Robbie Robertson, Howard Samuels, Ted Sorensen, Aaron Sorkin, Adlai Stevenson, Norman Thomas, Donald Trump, two doses of herpes, Unconventional Wisdom, the unit rule, V-E Day, the violence of institutions, Adam Walinsky, wartime correspondents, Watergate, Billy Wilder, wretched ironies, Sam Yorty & more!