Bulwark Takes: Tim Reacts – Two Great Populist Ads Dems Should Copy

Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Host: Tim Miller
Episode Title: Tim Reacts: Two Great Populist Ads Dems Should Copy
Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Tim Miller breaks down two new digital campaign ads from Democrats Zoran Mamdani (running for NYC Mayor) and Mallory McMorrow (running for US Senate in Michigan). The central theme: how the Democratic Party can reclaim a populist, anti-elite message in the face of Trump-era outsider politics and persistent perceptions that Democrats are defenders of the status quo. Tim evaluates what makes these ads effective attempts at positioning Democrats as outsiders who meaningfully connect with working-class concerns, and urges others in the party to take notes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Democrats’ Outsider Problem

• Democratic Challenge: Both Trump and the MAGA movement have effectively branded Democrats as part of the establishment and “corporate elites,” leaving voters disillusioned with the party’s authenticity on economic issues ([00:30]).
  • “In this political moment, voters don't like the status quo. They want an outsider. And so the Democrats have to figure out how to regain that mantle from Trump, particularly on economic issues.” – Tim Miller [01:20]
• Need for Populist Messaging: Tim notes, even though he isn’t naturally a “class war” guy, the party faces a real strategic need to sharpen its rhetoric against plutocrats and entrenched interests.

2. Zoran Mamdani’s Spoof Ad – “The Plutocrats are Panicking” ([03:25–09:40])

• Format & Concept: A spoof of a recent New York Times article titled “How Are the Very Rich Feeling About New York’s Next Mayor?” The ad uses a humorous dramatic reading, poking fun at the lifestyles and anxieties of New York’s elite.
  • Notable moment: The actor mimics the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” tone, describing Hamptons luxury in exaggerated fashion ([04:04]).
• Relatability Through Parody: By lampooning the “sumptuous summer staples” and exclusive world of New York’s wealthy, the ad effectively creates an “us vs. them” dynamic.
  • “Who are these fucking people? Like, what is it? I don't even know what a Tracy Anderson class is. And, you know, I'm kind of fancy.” – Tim Miller [04:28]
• Building Suspense and Othering: The first minute doesn’t even mention Zoran, instead establishing “the absurd freaks who go to the Hamptons,” then brings Zoran in as the source of the elite’s anxiety ([06:31]).
• Positioning as Threat to Power: The ad emphasizes that “the powerful are scared,” echoing a tactic Trump utilized in 2016. The words “freakout” and “panicking” are repeated for effect ([05:21], [07:53]).
  • “That is, again, that is something that Trump used to affect... People like that notion.” - Tim Miller [05:41]
• Tone – Comedic, Not Angry: Tim admires that the ad mocks plutocrats without descending into “millionaires and billionaires” finger-wagging. Instead, it is clever, light, and relatable.
  • “Making fun of the plutocrats and saying that they're freaking out and they're panicked… that connects.” – Tim Miller [09:01]
• Bi-partisan Displeasure: The ad even quotes a Democratic plutocrat who dislikes Zoran, connecting the candidate’s populism to both sides of the establishment.
• Call to Action via Emotional Resonance: By making viewers laugh at out-of-touch elites, the ad draws a sharp contrast without policy wonkery or anger.

3. Mallory McMorrow’s Ad – “Corporate Greed Ruining What We Love” ([10:19–14:07])

• Opening with Pop Culture: Mallory links her message to NFL RedZone—a beloved, commercial-free football broadcast—now ruined by new ads, connecting to the everyday frustrations of voters ([10:19]).
  • “This is just the latest example of corporate greed ruining the things we love.” – Mallory McMorrow [10:24]
• Authenticity and Relatability: Tim notes that Mallory, wearing Lions gear, comes off as a genuine fan, which strengthens the ad’s credibility ([10:29]).
• Bread-and-Butter Issues: The ad swiftly pivots from football to grocery store inflation, escalating prices on chicken, chips, and beer; tying these everyday costs to corporate greed and Trump-era tariffs ([12:06]).
  • “It's a one, two punch. Tariffs that are making everything more expensive and corporations that are squeezing every last dime out of us.” – Mallory McMorrow [12:06]
• Targeted Enemy Naming: Unlike vague anti-elite rhetoric, Mallory’s receipt shows specific products and companies, which Tim argues raises the ad’s stakes and specificity ([13:04]).
• Populism Grounded in Personal Life: The ad ends by broadening from football Sundays ruined by higher beer prices to the “new American Dream”—affording a house, family, and retirement—all connected to combating corporate gouging ([13:48]).
  • “Sometimes it's just making sure that you can afford to take a break on Sundays without breaking the bank.” – Mallory McMorrow [14:00]
• Importance of Minor Issues: Tim highlights how focusing on relatable but non-“top poll” issues (like NFL RedZone, or parks in the Paige Cognetti ad) helps humanize the candidate.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with timestamps)

• On Democrats’ Struggles with Populism:
  “They've been too easily painted as the establishment…” – Tim Miller [01:00]
• On Relating Everyday Concerns:
  “You can do a white paper version of this… but when you tie it to something else that grabs people’s attention, it goes from being kind of peanuts voice, ‘I'm going to help get grocery prices down’... to something that people can connect with.” – Tim Miller [13:54]
• On the Need to Copy These Models:
  “These are some good models. So there you go, me being positive. Three good ads… Other people learn from this, copy it.” – Tim Miller [14:48]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–03:25 — Setting up the Democrats’ challenge and episode context
• 03:25–09:41 — Zoran Mamdani ad review (“The Plutocrats are Panicking”)
• 10:19–14:07 — Mallory McMorrow ad review (“Corporate Greed Ruining What We Love”)
• 13:48–14:48 — Summative advice for Democratic strategists

Conclusion

Tim Miller’s energetic review provides a blueprint for how Democrats can use humor, specificity, and cultural touchstones to connect with ordinary voters—and recapture the populist outsider spirit. The key, he argues, is not angry class warfare or generic anti-elite rhetoric, but mocking the out-of-touch and illustrating how corporate and establishment interests hurt real people in tangible ways. Both Zoran Mamdani’s and Mallory McMorrow’s ads, despite different ideological leanings and tones, represent the kind of creative, resonant populist messaging that Democratic campaigns should emulate.