The Great Battlefield

John Chrastka joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career and founding the EveryLibrary PAC, where they work to support public libraries and help fight against book bans.

Ira Chaleff joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career including running the Congressional Management Foundation and his recent book "To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Political Followers"

Shikha Dalmia, Editor of The UnPopulist and a prominent voice against authoritarianism, dives deep into her journey from India to journalism and her influence on liberal thought. She discusses the surprising rise of Hindu nationalism in India, drawing parallels with Trump's appeal in the U.S. Dalmia shares her split from libertarian circles, critiques left populism, and advocates for a cross-ideological liberal coalition. She emphasizes the need for institutional safeguards against future authoritarianism and offers insightful advice for Democratic politicians.

Haley Lickstein, a progressive political content creator and activist, shares her journey from childhood civic engagement to founding Haley Lickstein Media. She discusses her impactful internships, including at Emily's List, and her surprise experiences at Facebook. Haley dives into her mission to mobilize young women through education and community building, her podcast 'Haley on the Go', and strategic outreach to high-profile guests. She emphasizes creating thoughtful content that resonates over virality and staying hopeful amid political challenges.

Caleb Brock, Director of Digital Strategy for Congressman Ro Khanna, is a digital political strategist with a knack for building activist communities. He critiques the old-guard consultants, stressing the need for adaptability within the Democratic Party. Caleb shares his journey from local activism in Texas to leading innovative digital campaigns, emphasizing the power of young talent. He discusses the balance of fast iteration with accuracy, the importance of forging connections through social media, and calls for diverse voices in politics to meet modern challenges.

Claire Shorall joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career as a teacher, activist and now co-founder and CEO of Sway, a voting group platform that aims to mobilize people with shared views, a new social network for politics.

"Javier" (pseudonym) joins The Great Battlefield to talk about being an organizer at NYC ICE Watch, a community based network that does rapid response, cop watch and ICE watch.

Asli Aydintasbas, a senior policy fellow and expert on Turkish politics, delves into the worrying trends of democratic backsliding observed in Turkey, Hungary, and the U.S. She draws fascinating parallels between Erdogan, Orban, and Trump, highlighting the tools used to consolidate power. However, she expresses cautious optimism about the U.S. due to its structural strengths, including federalism and lifetime judges. Aydintasbas also emphasizes the importance of addressing economic concerns to counter populism and the need for authentic leadership in future elections.

Amy Pritchard returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about what she's been up to at GAIN Power, leadership development, staffing pipelines and political consulting, including direct mail. And she has a health update.

Chris Torres joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career in politics and his role as Executive Director at Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice, where they're building power with the next generation of leaders.