Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes - "Social Media Strategy for Dems Needs a Major Upgrade"
Episode Information
- Title: Social Media Strategy for Dems Needs a Major Upgrade
- Host/Author: The Bulwark
- Release Date: March 10, 2025
- Participants: Sam Stein (Managing Editor at The Bulwark), Lauren Egan (Author of The Opposition Newsletter)
1. Introduction to the Episode
In this episode of Bulwark Takes, Sam Stein engages in a conversation with Lauren Egan about the Democratic Party's ongoing struggles with social media strategy. Lauren, who recently launched her newsletter The Opposition, provides insights into the challenges Democrats face in adapting to the evolving digital landscape.
2. The Challenge: Democrats’ Struggle with Social Media
Lauren Egan opens the discussion by highlighting the Democratic Party's difficulty in maintaining an authentic and effective presence on social media platforms. She states:
"This edition is about Democrats just trying to figure out how to be themselves on social media and like, not be cringe and awkward, which they're really struggling with. They've been, you know, like we saw last week with State of the Union stuff, just like, they cannot figure out how to be organic and be themselves and break through this new media environment. And it's showing."
[00:26]
The core issue is the inability of Democrats to resonate organically with audiences, making their efforts appear forced and ineffective compared to their Republican counterparts.
3. Attempts to Improve Social Media Strategy
Sam Stein elaborates on the Democrats' recognition of their social media deficit post-election and their efforts to address it. He remarks:
"The election was a demonstration of the fact that Democrats have a deficit on it. And as I understand it, and correct me if I'm wrong, the party kind of emerged from the election and were like, we're definitely going to try and break through. We're going to get on all these podcasts, we're going to build up our social media networks, might acquire some, but we know we have a problem and we're going to fix it."
[01:10]
Despite acknowledging the problem, Lauren confirms that substantial progress remains elusive:
"Absolutely not. Yeah, they definitely came out of the last election. And we're like, this is bad. We know we are bad at this. This is no longer a problem we can ignore because Republicans have just like dominated this space so much."
[01:26]
4. Case Study: Gavin Newsom’s Podcast
A significant portion of the discussion centers around California Governor Gavin Newsom’s new podcast, which has sparked debate due to his comments on trans women in youth sports. Lauren critiques the podcast’s potential reach:
"Is that cool? Like, it's great that he's doing this, but like, who's going to subscribe? It's going to be people that are already die hard Democrats or like reporters like us who are just like, you know, like junkies. Junkies and like have no life and are going to listen to this."
[02:20]
Sam defends Newsom’s initiative, suggesting that engaging with diverse platforms, even those with opposing views like Charlie Kirk’s show, is essential for reaching new audiences:
"I actually personally think it's fine and actually probably healthy to build out these networks and try new things... The goal here is to open up new audiences for you. Right. To like reach new people who otherwise wouldn't consider you."
[03:05]
5. The Importance of Authenticity
A pivotal theme in the conversation is the necessity for authenticity in social media engagements. Lauren emphasizes the Democratic Party’s cautious and risk-averse nature:
"There’s still a deep sense of just fear. And Democrats as like the party as a whole, it’s just so ingrained in them to be so cautious, so risk averse to sit there in like a conference room and do a cost-benefit analysis on like every decision that they make instead of just having sort of like a little bit of thicker skin or like the gut for being like, okay, we’re going to do this because we have to."
[05:25]
Sam extends this by comparing Democratic figures to their Republican counterparts, asserting that authenticity stems from being true to oneself rather than forcing engagement:
"99% of these people, the Democratic Party, are inauthentic on these platforms because they're older, they're just unfamiliar with them... Trump, by contrast, the most authentic version of Trump is being on TV and in the spotlight at all times and being a constant."
[08:25]
Lauren concurs, pointing out that individuals like AOC succeed because their online presence feels genuine:
"The stuff she does that's good though is like her doing some Instagram Live thing where she's cooking... it shows and like, right. This feels real. I think that’s a part of it, like the authenticity stuff."
[08:04]
6. Strategies for Improvement
The hosts discuss potential strategies for the Democratic Party to enhance their social media effectiveness. Sam suggests that embracing genuine interactions, even with those who hold opposing views, can humanize Democratic figures and broaden their appeal:
"The most authentic version of JD Vance is being an online troll. Like, that's who he is. This is who Donald Trump is. And so, naturally, they feel more seamless and authentic in these forms, because this is who they are, and so they have an advantage."
[08:25]
Lauren advises that Democrats should lean into their unique personalities and authentic traits instead of attempting to mimic styles that don’t resonate naturally:
"If you’re a dad and you have dad humor, just lean into that. Like, that will be, like, that's fine."
[11:09]
7. Potential Solutions and Future Outlook
Looking forward, Lauren remains cautiously optimistic that the Democratic Party will eventually find a viable social media strategy, but acknowledges uncertainty regarding the timeline:
"They have to figure it out. Like, this is the way the world is moving. This is how, like, politics is going. Like, they. They have to figure it out. Will they figure it out and on what timeline? Like, I don't know. I think they will eventually."
[11:28]
Sam adds that while some Democrats are considering building their own media infrastructure, such efforts risk isolating themselves from broader, apolitical audiences:
"But you're just talking to yourselves there, basically."
[12:17]
Lauren reinforces the need to engage with swing voters in apolitical spaces to enhance cultural relevance:
"The apolitical spaces are what matters. And you can't build that. You have to go there. If you build it, it's not apolitical. And you have to go where some of these swing voters are if you want to be. Just have more cultural currency."
[12:21]
8. Concluding Remarks
The episode concludes with Sam Stein encouraging listeners to subscribe to Lauren Egan’s newsletter and The Bulwark’s YouTube channel for more in-depth discussions. He acknowledges the importance of adapting to the digital age and thanks Lauren for her contributions.
Key Takeaways:
- The Democratic Party is struggling to establish an authentic and effective social media presence.
- Efforts to engage in new media have often appeared forced, leading to perceptions of inauthenticity.
- Successful figures like AOC demonstrate that genuine engagement tailored to individual strengths can resonate well.
- To reach broader audiences, Democrats need to embrace authenticity and engage consistently across diverse platforms.
- Building separate Democratic media infrastructures may isolate the party, emphasizing the need to engage within existing, apolitical spaces.
Notable Quotes:
- Lauren Egan: "This is no longer a problem we can ignore because Republicans have just like dominated this space so much." [01:26]
- Sam Stein: "The most authentic version of Trump is being on TV and in the spotlight at all times and being a constant." [08:25]
- Lauren Egan: "If you’re a dad and you have dad humor, just lean into that. Like, that will be, like, that's fine." [11:09]
- Sam Stein: "But you're just talking to yourselves there, basically." [12:17]
This episode provides a critical examination of the Democratic Party's current social media strategies, highlighting the need for authenticity and adaptability in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Listeners gain an understanding of the internal challenges and potential pathways forward for Democrats aiming to enhance their online presence and engage more effectively with diverse audiences.