Hello Merge Tag: Where Social Media and Politics Intersect

“Democrats who have been in office for a long time follow polls instead of trying to change them. So while they’ll attack Republicans for threatening to cut Medicaid in order to fund tax cuts for the rich, they’re mostly shy about making a big picture argument about Trump’s fascism.” So says Micah Sifry in a piece called “3 Things Democrats Could Do That They Aren’t (Yet).” If you don’t know him, he’s the author or editor of nine books, most recently Civic Tech in the Global South; A Lever and a Place to Stand: How Civic Tech Can Move the World and The Big Disconnect: Why the Internet Hasn’t Transformed Politics (Yet). He’s also a contributor to The Nation, The New Republic, and The American Prospect and writes a weekly newsletter on democracy, movements, organizing and tech, called The Connector. I invited him on the pod to continue the conversation about what Democrats could be doing that they aren’t already. Now, while I’m particularly interested in the tech and the digital components of these solutions, this conversation is bigger and broader than just whether or not Democrats should be on TikTok. So let’s talk about the future! Find links to his channels and more at HelloMergeTag.com.

“Folks… need to be able to trust communications that we send them. By poisoning the well with some of the[se] texts and emails… people can’t trust the communications they’re receiving.” What happens when the backbone of Democratic fundraising comes under scrutiny? I checked in with some of the organizers of that open letter to ActBlue. In December 2024, a group of 142 consultants, campaign and nonprofit staff, technology vendors, and donors signed onto an open letter to ActBlue calling on the platform to do more to protect donors from spammers, scammers and exploitative digital fundraising tactics. Collectively, the signers of this letter have raised over a billion dollars using ActBlue. For context, that’s nearly 7% of the total sum raised on ActBlue since they launched in 2004. Those who signed on included MoveOn, SwingLeft, New Blue Interactive, the founders of Indivisible, senior digital folks who have worked with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as the SMS director for Hillary for America. That said, not everyone in the democratic digital world signed on. There were prominent voices who publicly opted out. Serious people in the space came forward with concerns about the letter. I invited some of the organizers of this letter onto the pod today to discuss why they started this process, why now, what they say to those who think this was a mistake and more. With me today is Josh Nelson, the CEO of Civic Shout, the digital ad platform for progressive causes. Josh previously served as vice president at CREDO Mobile, and led digital for Al Gore's nonprofits. I hosted Josh on episode 15 of this podcast for a conversation on how democratic fundraising got so problematic and where we can go from here. If you care about this topic, and haven’t already listened to that episode, I highly recommend it. Haley Bash is a grassroots fundraiser, distributed organizer, and facilitator with 10+ years of experience in the social movement sector. They are Founder and Executive Director of Donor Organizer Hub and amongst many other notable projects, they previously built the largest volunteer-run texting program for down ballot candidates at Red2Blue Texting and serve on the Steering Committee of the Grassroots Fundraising Network. Lloyd Cotler, an early adopter of conversational marketing, has worked with some of the biggest organizations in the country to develop engaging and successful SMS marketing strategies. He has crafted interactive text messages for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Random House, the American Cancer Society, the National Education Association and more. Throughout this conversation, we spoke about: Why nowWhat led to this conversation going public How this letter is actually intended to help protect ActBlueWhy it’s in our movement’s interest to solve this problem ourselves (as opposed to letting external parties making these decisions for us!)Who’s doing a good job raising money without using spammy tactics Why people are so down on democrats at the momentAnd a whole lot more Find links, more episodes and more at HelloMergeTag.com.

"Creative work isn't going to be an option anymore. You have to do creative work." Ashwath Narayanan is the Co-founder & CEO at Social Currant, a platform that helps nonprofits and social impact organizations collaborate with creators to reach audiences more effectively. He founded Social Currant while still a student at The George Washington University. He’s now graduated, but the work continues on. In a world where around half of TikTok users under the age of 30 report using the platform to keep up with the news, who’s creating content has never mattered more. I invited him on the pod to talk about the role of creators in the social advocacy space, how they’re shaping the conversations happening online, and how brands are leveraging this influential group to reach new audiences and grow their own digital presence. Throughout our conversation, we talked about: Why this work mattersHow we can explain this work to my grandmaThe difference between brands humanizing themselves and them centering actual peopleBrands - and creators - doing influencer marketing well in the social impact spaceWhether or not Democrats need their own Joe Rogan (hint: they don’t!)The importance of investing in progressive creators year-roundThe opportunity for organizations to partner together towards bigger outcomesTrends brands should be paying attention toAnd a whole lot more! Find links, and all episodes, at HelloMergeTag.com.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re joining a community, it feels like you’re joining a list.” On February 1st, the DNC will elect new leadership. Those elected will be tasked with leading the Democratic Party at a critical time, as they work to rebuild while Republicans control every level of the federal government. They will oversee fundraising and operations, but they will also play a key role in shaping the strategy and outlining the vision for what the party should be and how it should allocate its time, energy, and resources. Along with interviewing several candidates for DNC Chair, I also reached out to folks running for other DNC leadership positions. Today, we’re checking in with one of those candidates. Tim Lim is a lifelong Democratic activist who serves as board treasurer for Run For Something, founded Blue Digital Exchange (a trade association for progressive digital professionals who work in the political, non-profit, and advocacy spaces), was a partner at Bully Pulpit Interactive and is the President and Founder of Precision Network. He’s worked at Change.org and he ran the Washington, DC office for Grossman Marketing Group. He’s also served on the National Finance Committee for the last four presidential campaigns. Honestly, his resume is immense. This list goes on and on. He's currently running for DNC National Finance Chair. I invited him on the pod to hear specifically about the role he envisions digital strategy playing in the future of the Democratic Party. Throughout our conversation, we spoke about The importance of accountability, transparency and connection.Deplatforming bad faith actors who are making the environment untenable for everyone elseWhy he wants to bring the National Finance Committee and the grassroots fundraising program under one roofWhat lessons the DNC can incorporate from Run For SomethingWhy this is the time for painful conversationsThe importance of finding a home for everyone who wants to get involved in the party, regardless of how much money they have to donateAnd a whole lot more Listen to our full conversation at HelloMergeTag.com or wherever you stream podcasts.

On February 1st, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will elect a new chair to replace outgoing party chair Jamie Harrison. The next DNC chair will lead the Democratic Party at a critical time, as they work to rebuild while Republicans control every level of the federal government. This person will oversee fundraising and operations, but they will also play a key role in shaping the strategy and outlining the vision for what the party should be and how it should allocate its time, energy, and resources. I reached out to the DNC Chair candidates and invited them to join me on the pod to discuss the role they envision digital strategy playing in the future of the Democratic Party. While not all are able to participate, I’m happy to share conversations with the candidates who accepted my invitation. I checked in with Faiz Shakir. Shakir is an American political advisor, who's served as Senior Advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders and Executive Director of More Perfect Union. He’s previously worked with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Senator Harry Reid, ThinkProgress and the ACLU. He's currently running for DNC Chair. I invited him on the pod to hear specifically about the role he envisions digital strategy playing in the future of the Democratic Party. Throughout our conversation, we talked about: His vision for the position (that of editor-in-chief)The importance of investing in YouTubeWhy the party needs to meet everyone where they areThe role of the party in building communities that can increase civic engagementThe importance of strengthening the Democratic brand as a party that fights for working-class peopleAnd a whole lot more. Listen to our full conversation at HelloMergeTag.com or wherever you stream podcasts.

On February 1st, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will elect a new chair to replace outgoing party chair Jamie Harrison. The next DNC chair will lead the Democratic Party at a critical time, as they work to rebuild while Republicans control every level of the federal government. This person will oversee fundraising and operations, but they will also play a key role in shaping the strategy and outlining the vision for what the party should be and how it should allocate its time, energy, and resources. I reached out to the DNC Chair candidates and invited them to join me on the pod to discuss the role they envision digital strategy playing in the future of the Democratic Party. While not all are able to participate, I’m happy to share conversations with the candidates who accepted my invitation. I checked in with Jason Paul. Jason Paul is an attorney and political strategist from Newton, Massachusetts. He has worked winning campaigns across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine. He is also the author of Trench Warfare Politics in the Tinder Era, a book that explores the current political landscape and outlines pathways for progress.  We talked about DCCC fundraising, what it would mean for the party to exert more control over ActBlue, why we need better research within our party and a whole lot more. Find links and more at HelloMergeTag.com.

On February 1st, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will elect a new chair to replace outgoing party chair Jamie Harrison. The next DNC chair will lead the Democratic Party at a critical time, as they work to rebuild while Republicans control every level of the federal government. This person will oversee fundraising and operations, but they will also play a key role in shaping the strategy and outlining the vision for what the party should be and how it should allocate its time, energy, and resources. I reached out to the DNC Chair candidates and invited them to join me on the pod to discuss the role they envision digital strategy playing in the future of the Democratic Party. While not all are able to participate, I’m happy to share conversations with the candidates who accepted my invitation. My first conversation was with Nate Snyder. Nate Snyder is a union organizer, grassroots professional, counter-terrorism expert, professor, voter protection advisor, and crisis manager who served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Partnership & Engagement at the Department of Homeland Security under the Biden/Harris Administration. We talked about dis- and misinformation, extremism, the TikTok ban, the modern-day robber barons and a whole lot more. Find links and more at HelloMergeTag.com.

In this episode, I'm joined by Wisconsin State Representative Francesca Hong and her Chief of Staff, Nada Elmikashfi. Full disclosure: I have the pleasure of serving as Rep Hong’s digital director.  But even if I didn’t, I’d be tuned in. They are two of the strongest progressive voices currently active in Wisconsin politics. Rep Hong, along with being a chef and a community organizer, is also the first Asian-American to ever be elected to the Wisconsin legislature. In January, that caucus will grow from 1 to 3. So that’s exciting. But for the last 4 years, it’s just been her. Nada is an activist, a thought leader, an organizer, as well as a first-generation American, born in Sudan.  Together, they have been champions for working people, helped draft the Economic Justice Bill Of Rights, and been unrelenting progressive forces on a long list of issues working their way through the Wisconsin State Capitol.  To say that both of these very strong women stand out in the halls of our government would be quite an understatement. I invited them on the pod to talk about the role — and possibly the responsibility — they feel to be representatives for their communities, both on social media and in real life. Find links to relevant articles, social handles and more at hellomergetag.com.

Sarah Keyeski is a mental health care provider, a mom and this past cycle, she was a first-time political candidate. She ran for State Senate in Wisconsin against an incumbent who's been an elected official in her community since 1991 — and Sarah won! Emily Tseffos is a former educator, a community advocate and a mom who ran for office in an extremely Republican district. While she didn’t win, she ran a hell of a race and made impressive and significant inroads into a community not used to being organized. Full disclosure: I had the privilege to work with both of these candidates throughout their campaigns.  But I invited Sarah and Emily onto the podcast because they didn’t just run strong races—they also executed inspired digital programs. We dive into how they approached digital strategy, especially as it related to their field programs, what they learned along the way, and their advice for future candidates. In this conversation, we also explored: The power of social media to cut through the noise and build real connectionsHow social media can connect the dots to help explain why things are the way they areThe importance of going beyond the soundbite"The Schitt's Creek Protocol" And so much more Find links to their social channels and more at hellomergetag.com. ----- Big thanks to our sponsor Civic Shout. Learn more about the great work they're doing to help Democratic campaigns and progressive nonprofits build their lists ethically at civicshout.com/partners.

I've been posting pretty much daily to TikTok for two years. I've built up a bit of a following in the process. I also write thefyp.news, a weekly pop-up newsletter from FWIW spotlighting the top political content, creators, and trends on TikTok ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election.  After my first year posting, I wrote a blog post. You can find that here. Now that I'm 2 years in, I pulled together 12 takeaways — some new, some less so — of things I've learned about this important, but complicated platform. Listen to all episodes of Hello Merge Tag at hellomergetag.com or wherever you stream podcasts. Big thanks to our sponsor Civic Shout. Learn more about how they're helping Democratic campaigns and progressive nonprofits build their lists ethically at civicshout.com/partners.