Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

Episode: Charting a New Path Forward (LIVE from EconCon Presents)

Date: November 22, 2022
Theme: The paradigm shift in U.S. economics and politics from trickle-down neoliberalism to bold, middle-out, progressive economics—what it means for elections, policy, and the Democratic coalition.

Episode Overview

This special live episode, recorded at EconCon in Washington, D.C., features a panel of prominent economic and political thinkers discussing the 2022 midterm elections and the rise of economic populism. The conversation revolves around how progressive, anti-corporate messaging drove Democratic electoral victories, the strategic communication of economic policies, and the challenges and opportunities ahead for building a durable, pro-working-class majority. The panel includes Helen Brosnan (host), Perry Bacon (moderator), Faz Shakir (advisor to Bernie Sanders), Maurice “Mo” Mitchell (National Director, Working Families Party), and Anna Greenberg (pollster).

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Post-Election Reflections: What Worked and Why

Timestamps: 00:44–12:40

• Economic Populism as a Winning Case:
  Helen Brosnan highlights that a diverse set of Democratic candidates resonated by “villainizing the giant corporations that price gouge, ship jobs overseas, abuse workers and small businesses, and corrupt our politicians and democracy” (00:57).
  Notable Quote: “Democrats won because we actually have an agenda that can work for working people of all races and all backgrounds, not just hollow rhetoric that punches down.” – Helen Brosnan [05:43]

• Youth Voter Mobilization:
  Faz Shakir describes how Bernie Sanders’ 19-state tour focused on energizing young voters, resulting in no significant youth drop-off:
  “We were very pleased to see that… we did not have significant youth drop off. We had huge lines, particularly in the races that mattered… a big deal was a deciding factor.” – Faz Shakir [07:17]

• Messaging Matters on Inflation:
  Shakir notes that over 18 months, activists helped shift the narrative on inflation:
  “On Election Day 2022, Biden Democratic policies were not seen as a major driver of inflation… I think corporate greed and to some degree, the war in Ukraine and snarled supply chains were seen as the cause.” – Faz Shakir [08:10]

• Concrete Policy Wins and Rights as Linked Issues:
  Maurice Mitchell credits legislative victories (American Rescue Plan, Inflation Reduction Act) for giving organizers a substantive message:
  “We had something to say outside of, you know, the Republicans are scary. We actually had a message aligned with concrete solutions that Democrats were actually delivering on.” – Maurice Mitchell [10:08]
  He also broadens abortion to an economic issue: “The ability for working people to be able to plan their families is a fundamental economic right.” [11:22]

2. How Messaging Landed—And Where It Fell Short

Timestamps: 12:40–23:39

• Challenges with Credibility and Programs:
  Anna Greenberg reveals the difficulty of talking about programs whose benefits haven’t yet reached voters:
  “A lot of people didn’t feel the direct effects of those programs… So, how do you talk about it?... We had to acknowledge that people were struggling, acknowledge that anxiety… then talk about the economic measures putting in place that eventually will make things better.” – Anna Greenberg [13:22]

• Policy Popularity vs. Political Complexity:
  Both polling and focus groups show broad support for progressive ideas, but tension on universality vs. means-testing (child tax credit, student debt relief):
  “You poll it and it polls really well… but there's a conservative perspective around parents and families are responsible for their children… So, if you decide to have children, it’s expensive. That’s something that you sort of own.” – Anna Greenberg [18:01]

• Popular Messaging:

  • Prescription drug price controls and Medicare negotiation had universal appeal and helped expand the base (Mo Mitchell, [20:17])
  • Student loan cancellation was an “electoral shot in the arm” for the Democratic base, mobilizing not just young people but a “core” of energized volunteers and voters (Mo Mitchell, [21:19])

• Missed Opportunities in Economic Contrast:
  Faz Shakir argues Democrats didn’t go far enough in drawing sharp economic contrasts:
  “We didn’t even get aggressive about an economic contrast. Think of what that would look like… Think about aggressively campaigning on Medicare expansion, Social Security expansion...” [23:39]

3. Debating Economic Messaging and Its Impact

Timestamps: 23:39–35:08

• Policy and Politics Need to Match:
  There is broad consensus on popular progressive policies, but the panel debates how loudly and proudly Democrats should campaign on them, with Shakir urging:
  “The idea is to advocate and argue that it [stimulus, relief] was right... build credibility and we’re coming back for more.” [26:48]

• How Economic Framing Can Mobilize or Limit:
  Greenberg acknowledges that campaigns did talk about economic issues, but pressing for an “expansive growth message, not just redistribution.”
  “We should be thinking about what does a growth economy look like? What does equitable growth look like?” [29:08]
  She identifies job creation, apprenticeships, and support for people who don’t go to college as key unifying themes (31:25).

• The Importance of Mobilizing the Base:
  Mitchell sees organizing and concrete wins (like student debt forgiveness) as vital to energizing activists and volunteers:
  “Concrete proof points in people’s lives… led to these razor thin margins. It was an element that led to the victory.” [32:03]

4. The Divide: Progressive Ballot Issues vs. GOP Wins in Red States

Timestamps: 35:08–41:01

• Why Do Voters Split Tickets?
  Faz Shakir highlights that voters often approve minimum wage hikes or Medicaid expansion—then elect Republicans:
  “I think there is… a strong consensus when you do economic justice issues… When you’re living in that bread and butter, it is our expansion universe. It is our persuasion universe.” [36:44]

• Branding Democrats as Fighters for the Working Class:
  Shakir argues Democratic success hinges on fighting, visibly, against powerful interests:
  “It needs to break through in the audiences and in the voters’ minds that that is what defines a Democrat. That means there was a fight and a friction that these guys picked against power… They were on my side and those guys were not.” [38:20]

5. Legislative Wins, Disappointments, and Strategic Lessons

Timestamps: 41:01–49:09

• Biggest Wins: Infrastructure and Chips:
  Greenberg:
  “I think those two pieces of legislation have allow us to… create and build a narrative about how we want to provide good paying jobs, stable jobs, jobs with benefits.” [41:29]

• Biggest Misses: Structure and Care Economy Left Behind:
  Mitchell:
  “We had opportunity to pass some structural democracy reform… and also there were components of the build back better agenda that included the care economy. Right. That was left on the floor and we need to figure out how to pick that up.” [43:34]

• Policy Must Deliver Immediate, Tangible Benefits:
  Shakir critiques that some victories (Inflation Reduction Act) are too slow to affect people’s daily lives:
  “When you know you’re about to pass something, put something in there, it’s immediately beneficial… That’s why I thought the stimulus was really critical. Right. It’s touching. You feel it, you sense it.” [46:30]

Memorable Quotes

• “Republicans tried faux right-wing populist rhetoric and they failed. It turns out when the messages only seek to divide people and are backed up by absolutely zero substance, you fail.” – Helen Brosnan [05:27]

• “We actually had a message aligned with concrete solutions that Democrats were actually delivering on.” – Maurice Mitchell [10:08]

• “At a point where voters were going into the voting booths, voting on economy as the number one issue… the Biden path seemed much more appropriate than whatever these Republicans are offering.” – Faz Shakir [08:36]

• “If you can’t talk about how you’re going to be for people who don’t go to college as much as people who do, then you’re not talking to a majority of this country.” – Anna Greenberg [30:50]

• “All of the work and the voting and the organizing that they had done last cycle was for some purpose, right? And those concrete proof points in people’s lives… led to these razor thin margins.” – Maurice Mitchell [32:03]

• “It needs to break through in the audience and in the voters’ minds that… these Democrats, they are willing to fight for me and take on power.” – Faz Shakir [38:20]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:44–06:26: Introduction to the panelists and the political moment
• 06:27–12:40: Panelists’ roles and reflections on the election
• 12:40–20:17: Polling, messaging challenges, inflation, and policy communication
• 20:17–23:39: What policies resonated/not—means testing, student loans, drugs
• 23:39–28:43: How much did economics drive messaging?
• 28:43–31:30: Economic messaging for the future—growth, skills, alternatives
• 31:30–35:08: Organizing for turnout and the role of student debt relief
• 35:08–41:01: Why red states vote for progressive issues but elect Republicans
• 41:29–49:09: Best and worst of Biden’s agenda: infrastructure, missed reform, immediate benefits

Conclusion

This episode provided a candid inside look at how progressive economic ideas and tailored communication strategies contributed to Democratic successes in 2022, while also highlighting challenges in reaching non-traditional constituencies and building credibility through tangible, visible results. The conversation underscored the importance of both substantive policy wins and a fighting, pro-worker, anti-corporate narrative to sustain and expand a diverse governing coalition.