Podcast
Pro Politics with Zac McCrary
Hosted by Zac McCrary · EN
Political pollster Zac McCrary interviews interesting people who work in and around the political industry. Guests come from a multitude of backgrounds and specialties within the political industry, and span the partisan spectrum. This is not a podcast for partisan squabbling or punditry about the latest issue in DC - it is hearing directly from successful people in the industry...their stories, experiences, and advice. This is a podcast for anyone who works in politics, hopes to work in politics, or wants to get up close to see how things really work in the world of professional politics.
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Pro Politics Podcast: Pause
Aug 2600:02:34Tap to summarizeSend a textThe Pro Politics Podcast is taking an indefinite pause, though feel free to reach out to me directly for any reason at my personal email: mccrary.zachary(at)gmail.com. Thanks for listening.
Transcribe →10 Findings from a New Media Consumption Study with Adam Wise of National Media and Mitch Kline & Pat McGee of Katz Media
Aug 1200:53:36Tap to summarizeSend a textTwo media firms, Katz Media & National Media, recently partnered to conduct an in-depth media consumption study in the aftermath of the 2024 elections. For the first time publicly, Mitch Kline / Patrick McGee (Katz) & Adam Wise (National) talk in-depth about this study, what motivated it, and 10 core findings from their data.IN THIS EPISODEThe cliff notes version of how Mitch, Pat, and Adam got into politics...The origin story of the new post 2024 election media consumption survey...The 6 distinct voter media consumption profiles identified in this new data... When voters decided who to vote for in 2024 and media implications moving forward...The interconnection among the decline of ticket-splitting, ballot drop-off, and media fragmentation...The relative import of economic vs. social concerns in driving voter decisions...Texting as the "turnout workhorse" of the 2024 election & why it can't be replicated in 2026...Who voters want to hear from in campaigns?How the rise of second-screen experiences should change media strategies...Dirty little secrets about media ratings...What trends indicate about the future of media consumption in the coming years...The role of direct mail in the 2024 electionsFinal takeaways from this data from Mitch, Pat, & Adam...
Transcribe →A Master Class in Political Communications, with Democratic Comms Veteran David Bergstein
Jul 2900:57:01Tap to summarizeSend a textDavid Bergstein, Communications Director for Senator Cory Booker, is one of the most accomplished communications professionals working in Democratic politics - working tough campaigns across the country and stints at the DNC, DCCC, and DSCC. In this conversation, we talk his path to politics out of a political family in Portland, OR, why he gravitated to comms, lessons learned on early races, some of his favorite press gimmicks, the difference in working campaigns vs. committees, some of the saviest pols he's worked with, the changing face of political communications & much more.IN THIS EPISODEDavid grows up in a political household in Portland, OR...Oregon's history as a competitive two-party state throughout the 90s and 00s...The Iraq War and a couple of DC internships pull David into the political profession...Why David was a good fit for political comms work...Lessons from David's early campaign work from California US House races to Midwest mayorals...David's 2 rules on what makes for a good political comms staffer...How comms has changed over the 15+ years David has been in the field...Two of David's favorite costume-related comms gimmicks...Is the media run by liberals?The differences in working for a political campaign committee vs. a campaign...Some of the most politically savvy elected officials David has worked around...Inside the DNC comms operation heading into the 2020 presidential election...How David thinks about candidates balancing preparation vs. authenticity...Lessons David learned from multiple bouts of brain cancer and brain surgery...AND aviator sunglasses, Mark Barabak, Ami Bera, big mouths, Marc Caputo, Jimmy Carter, Edward Chapman, Dick Cheney, consumate liars, Jack Conway, Jim Crounse, dancing Bevin-ochios, Fancy Farm, Neil Goldschmidt, Gwen Graham, The Green Frog, Lucinda Guinn, Haliburton, happy warriors, Tom Henry, Xochitl Hinojosa, Paula Hughes, Doug Jones, Vera Katz, Ted Kulongoski, Dawn Laguens, Alex Leary, Little Beirut, Maryland Matt, Patty Mazzei, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, methane gas, Roy Moore, Mindy Myers, nesting rats, Tom Perez, Rabinowitz/Dorf, Chuck Schumer, Justin Shaw, Gordon Smith, Steve Southerland, Andy Stone, Pat Stranix, Ron Wyden, Fred Yang...& more!
Transcribe →Yasmin Radjy, ED of Swing Left, on Grassroots Tactics That Work & Those That May Not
Jul 1500:58:06Tap to summarizeSend a textYasmin Radjy is the Executive Director of Swing Left and Vote Forward, and was featured recently in The Atlantic after her organization released data showing some of ther field and canvassing tactics in the 2024 election did not work. In this conversation, Yasmin talks her family's path as Iranian refugees to the US, how the '08 Obama campaign shifted her perspective on practical politics, founding Resistance School in the aftermath of the 2016 election, her stints as National Political Director at Planned Parenthood and in the Biden Administration, the importance of measuring and disclosing what tactics do and do not work, and the new ideas and projects on which she's focused during an incredibly turbulent time in American politics.IN THIS EPISODEYasmin talks her family's journey as immigrants fleeing the Iranian Revolution of the late 1970s...The inherent politicization of being an Iranian-American...Yasmin becomes active in partisan politics while in college...Yasmin's world is turned upside down knocking doors as a Northern California liberal in small town Ohio in 2008...Yasmin's take on what makes an effective political organizer...Yasmin forms "Resistance School" in the aftermath of the 2016 elections - a program utilized by hundreds of thousands of activists...Yasmin's time as Organizing Director & National Political Director at Planned Parenthood...How Yasmin took the reins at Swing Left and the role it plays in the progressive infrastructure...Findings highlighted in a recent Atlantic article of what Swing Left did in 2024 and what worked and didn't work...Why Yasmin believes it's critical for organizations to publicize findings about its work, especially when programs don't move the needle as planned...The difference in the aftermath of Trump's 2016 win versus Trump's 2024 win...Questions Yasmin wants future research to answer to sharpen grassroots activism...The one trait Yasmin looks for in hiring staff at Swing Left...
Transcribe →Morris Katz, Lead Media Strategist for Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor
Jul 100:51:38Tap to summarizeSend a textMorris Katz, ad-maker at the Fight media firm, is the lead media strategist for Zohran Mamdani's insurgent campaign that secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City in a decisive upset over the long-favored Andrew Cuomo. In this conversation, Morris talks his NYC roots, coming from an artistic family, his accidental path into politics, and a deep dive into the Mamdani campaign's monumental win. We discuss the candidates, the overarching strategy, important tactical decisions, inside the memorable viral and paid media content, the role of outside groups, what is misunderstood about the race, what is replicable for others and much more with a lead operative on one of the most impressive and innovative campaigns in recent memory.IN THIS EPISODEMorris grows up in downtown Manhattan in an artistic household...What diverted Morris from focusing on screenwriting to a career in politics...How a stint in North Carolina politics shaped Morris' trajectory...What is unique about Morris' firm, Fight...How Morris entered the world of Zohran Mamdani & his first impressions of the candidate...Morris breaks down the 3-phase strategy of the Mamdani mayoral campaign...The role the DSA-NY and Working Families Party played in the rise of Zohran Mamdani...How the Mamdani field operation fundamentally changed the race...Was the Free Palestine movement integral to the Mamdani ascent...Inside the Mamdani digital program and why it caught fire...A communication strategy the Mamdani campaign "unlocked"...Technical aspects that made Mamdani video and ad content stand out...What makes Zohran Mamdani an effective political communicator?The paid-media strategy undergirding the campaign's rise...How the Knicks playoff run impacted Mamdani media decisions...Why the campaign invested in :15 second ads...Parallels between Zohran Mamdani and Barack Obama...How Morris views the attacks on Mamdani of anti-semitism and defunding the police...The influential role played by mayoral candidate Brad Lander...Unpacking the winning Mamdani coalition...Morris' most surreal post-election moment...What is most replicable for other campaigns from the Mamdani success?AND AOC, Elle Bisgaard-Church, Eric Bogosian, Jamaal Bowman, Adam Carlson, Josh Charles, Andrew Cuomo, Bill de Blasio, Bob Dylan, Andrew Epstein, eyebrows, halal-flation, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rebecca Katz, Brett Leonard, Willy Loman, manic energy, Tommy McDonald, Matt McLaughlin, Melted Solids, Arthur Miller, Julian Mulvey, the new brunch, Trey Nix, the politics of sighs, Antonio Reynoso, Katie Riley, Sam Rockwell, John Shanley, Erica Smith, Nydia Velazquez, Yul Vasquez, villains...& more!
Transcribe →Mike Nellis: Founder of Authentic digital, former Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris, & co-founder of White Dudes for Harris
Jun 1701:07:22Tap to summarizeSend a textMike Nellis is the founder of Authentic, a digital fundraising firm that's raised over $1 billion for it's clients including Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff and numerous Governors, Senators, and high profile organizations. He was also a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign, the co-founder of White Dudes for Harris in the 2024 presidential campaign, and an active thinker and leader on how progressive politics has to evolve in a changing world.IN THIS EPISODEGrowing up in a conservative, middle class home in Omaha...Anti-Iraq War protests draw Mike into political activism...Mike's time as an Obama volunteer and fellow in the '07-'08 Iowa Caucus...On the campaign trail from Nebraska to North Carolina to Connecticut and more...Mike's connection to the 2016 Bernie Sanders' campaign...Mike's take on why a full primary would've helped the Kamala Harris' 24 presidential effort...Mike founds Authentic, a firm focused on online fundraising...Mike's time as a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential bid...Behind the scenes of designing the Harris' 2020 logo...Mike's recent focus as a General Consultant for campaigns...Why Democrats have become so risk-averse?Mike co-founds the White Dudes for Harris 2024 group...What Democrats must do to better appeal to younger men...The right balance of economics vs culture in Democratic campaigns...Should messaging and governance go big or go small?Where do Democrats need to move to the center?Mike's encouragement for those working in politics to stay healthy...AND...90s pro wrestling, AKAs, Avon, Brene Brown, George W. Bush, Pete Buttigieg, Carter Lake, James Carville, Bob Casey, Shirley Chisolm, Bill Clinton, John Fetterman, Flagrant, Scott Galloway, Jared Golden, Al Gore, Nikki Haley, hollowed-out banks, John Kerry, Larry King, Jane Kleeb, Scott Kleeb, Dan Malloy, Joe Manchin, Elaine Marshall, Ross Morales Rocketto, Morningside University, Elon Musk, music appreciation class, Trevor Noah, Martin O'Malley, Orange Theory, Ben Ostrower, Jordan Peterson, Ro Khanna, Chris Rock, Joe Rogan, Pat Ryan, Adam Schiff, Lis Smith, Tim Tagaris, Andrew Tate, Vampire Weekend, Theo Von, Tim Walz, Paul Wellstone, Wide Eye Creative & more!
Transcribe →Congressman Mike Quigley, Why He Called on Biden to Step Aside, & Why It Remains A Necessary Conversation
Jun 3, 202500:47:23Tap to summarizeSend a textCongressman Mike Quigley is in his 9th term representing Chicago's North Side and Lakefront as a Democrat in the House. He made waves last year after the first presidential debate as one of the first elected Democrats to publicly urge President Biden to step aside as the party's nominee. In this conversation, we talk through what led him to speak out, the reaction from the White House and his colleagues, and why he believes it's an important conversation for the party to have now. We also discuss his path in politics as a staffer, as a reformer on the Cook County Board, winning a 20+ candidate '09 special election to replace Rahm Emanuel in the House, favorite moments during his tenure, what he's learned visiting Ukraine, and what Democrats need to do to better connect with voters.IN THIS EPISODEGrowing up in a conservative, blue-collar household in in the Midwest...The teacher who made an impression on his politics and the advice he continues to quote today...Learning both theory at the University of Chicago and practical politics while cutting his teeth in Cook County politics...Why he lost his first race for office and how he turned a loss into a win a few years later...A decade on the Cook County Board as a reformer taking on the Chicago machine...How he won a 20+ person special election in 2009 to replace Rep. Rahm Emanuel in the House...Initial impressions and surprises in his early days in Congress...Two members who served as his mentors...Some of the work he's done in the House he's most proud of...Why Ukraine matters and what he's learned by traveling to the country several times...Why he was one of the first Democratic elected officials to call on President Biden to step aside as the '24 Democratic nominee in the aftermath of the debate...Reactions from colleagues and constituents after going public with his concerns about President Biden...Do Democrats have a larger problem of too many older Democrats refusing to retire and make way for younger leaders?Thoughts on how Democrats can better connect with voters...His favorite Chicago Blackhawks' memory and excitement for the new Chicago Pope...AND John Anzalone, big cats, Rod Blagojevich, burning your mortgage, cannon fodder, Frank Capra, Carol Stream, Forrest Claypool, Walter Cronkite, Paul Ehrlich, Sara Feigenholtz, John Fritchey, William Fulbright, Mary Gatey, Gabby Giffords, Newt Gingrich, Bernie Hansen, Kasie Hunt, Mark Kirk, John Lewis, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Vladimir Putin, Robert Redford, Branch Rickey, FDR, Paul Ryan, Helen Schiller, Glenn Schneider, Michael Sheahan, Adam Smith, spring chickens, John Stroger, Larry Suffredin, Studs Terkel, Harry Truman, The Weiner Circle, Gary Williams, working for the pension...& more!
Transcribe →Eight Years in the Reagan White House with Veteran GOP Staffer Frank Lavin
May 20, 202501:19:38Tap to summarizeSend a textFrank Lavin served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush in positions as varied as personnel, national security, international trade negotiations, Ambassador to Singapore, among others. In this conversation, we discuss his 8+ years in the Reagan White House from 1981-1989 - which is chronicled in his recent book Inside the Reagan White House. In the Reagan White House, he wore several different hats, was in hundreds of meetings with President Reagan, worked alongside some of the most influential administration officials - culminating in his stint as White House Political Director during the 1988 elections.IN THIS EPISODEFrank grows up in small-town Ohio in a tensely political time...Frank talks the establishment vs. conservative sparring in the GOP of the 1970s...Frank's early campaign activities in the late 70s and working for an IE backing Reagan as a college student in 1980...An important political lesson Frank learned from James Baker in Baker's 1978 race for Texas Attorney General...Memories of how Jim Baker ran the Reagan White House as Chief of Staff...How Reagan borrowed from FDR to become a powerful political communicator...How Reagan led the White House in meetings behind closer doors...Frank's first White House job of letting unsuccessful job applicants down easy...How the White House was a tug-of-war between "true believers" and "pragmatists"...Memories of his time at the Office of Public Liasion and how the President would "freeze" the first 10 minutes of a meeting...The 1984 Democratic challenger the White House was most worried about and how Reagan bounced back from a bad '82 midterm to win an '84 landslide...The difference in "desk truth" and "street truth"...How Reagan staffer Mike Deaver fundamentally changed the way a White House handles presidential travel...Frank's time as a White House national security staffer negotiating with the Soviets and spending time with President Reagan and Margaret Thatcher at Camp David...Frank demystifies his role as White House Political Director during the 1988 elections...The origin of the famous Reagan "11th Commandment" maxim...How Reagan initially won - and successfully held - the voters who came to be known as "Reagan Democrats"...Frank's memories of being around President George H.W. Bush...The low point of Frank's time in the Reagan White House...Quick memories from Frank of prominent figures including Karl Rove, Colin Powell, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Roger Stone, and Pat Buchanan...AND Al Haig Disease, Lee Atwater, Jimmy Carter, George Christopher, Bill Clinton, creative tension, Peter DelGiorno, Terry Dolan, Tony Dolan, Frank Donatelli, Mike Dukakis, exotic tendencies, the FEC, fireside chats, forced marriages, force multipliers, Gerald Ford, John Glenn, Barry Goldwater, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bob Haldeman, Warren Harding, Kamala Harris, Gary Hart, hatchet men, horizontal management, LBJ, jelly beans, Dick Lyng, Paul Manafort, Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, Ed Meese, Walter Mondale, Brian Mulroney, Daniel Murphy, Ed Muskie, NCPAC, neutral recapitulations, the New Left, non sequiturs, Oliver North, John Poindexter, the Reykjavik Summit, Stu Spencer, Robert Taft, Donald Trump, Bob Weed, George Wortley...& more!
Transcribe →Patrick McHugh, Co-Founder of Gambit Strategies & Former E.D. of Priorities USA
May 6, 202501:01:21Tap to summarizeSend a textPatrick McHugh, co-founder of Gambit Strategies, was the Executive Director of Priorities USA in 2020 as the main super PAC allied with the Biden Presidential campaign. Prior to that, he had stints at the DSCC and working in the opp research department on major Democratic campaigns. In this conversation, we explore Patrick's roots in opposition research, his experiences running big organizations and on the campaign trail, and mine his deep expertise on emerging trends and best practices in digital persuasion advertising.IN THIS EPISODEGrowing up in suburban Maryland, near DC but not of DC...The family tragedy that demonstrated how precarious the middle class can be...What set Patrick on a course toward working in politics...Lessons learned working for John Edwards for President in 2007 and Kay Hagan for Senate in 2008...The new opposition research tactic Patrick helped spearhead in 2008...Why Patrick gravitated to opp research in his first few campaign jobs...Some of Patrick's favorite opp research findings and stories...Patrick's memorable opp research trip to Hawaii...Patrick's stints during both good and bad cycles at the DSCC...Patrick moves into senior leadership as Executive Director of the Priorities USA Super PAC...Patrick on one tactical approach that helped Biden in 2020 that was disregarded by Democrats in 2024...How Patrick handled asking for big checks as ED of Priorities...Patrick develops an expertise in digital persuasion and starts Gambit Strategies...Patrick's insights on how voters watch TV and what it means for campaigns...Will streaming options become even more fractured or more consolidated...How digital content should differ than traditional linear TV content...The kind of junior digital staffers Patrick looks for to join Gambit Strategies...Patrick recommends some of his favorite sources of digital trends and data...AND George W. Bush, Ana Caprara, Guy Cecil, Hillary Clinton, DSCC, Elizabeth Dole, frozen records, Amy Gooden, Heidi Heitkamp, Martha McKenna, Linda McMahon, Chris Murphy, press vortexes, JB Pritzker, rocking chairs, Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority PAC, tier 5 races, Donald Trump, Two Americas, John Walsh, Elizabeth Warren...& more!
Transcribe →Checking Back in with Dr. Michael Cohen on the New Edition of His Book, Modern Political Campaigns
Apr 22, 202501:09:53Tap to summarizeSend a textCatching up this week with return guest Dr. Michael Cohen, who just released a new edition of his book Modern Political Campaigns this month. He studied under iconic pollster Bill Hamilton as a student, worked in the trenches in Republican campaigns, spent time at Gallup, apprenticed under renowned GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio and worked with famed Dem strategist Mark Penn when Michael was an in-house pollster at Microsoft. Along the way, Michael started his own firm (Cohen Research Group), built the successful Congress in Your Pocket tech app, and wrote Modern Political Campaigns to bring the campaign literature up to speed with the ever-evolving political industry - including a new edition that includes a focus on the role AI is playing in political campaigns. This is a great nuts-and-bolts conversation on the political industry with a smart pollster, tech entrepreneur, and author.IN THIS EPISODE…The new edition of Modern Political Campaigns, including a focus on AI in campaigns...How political campaigns are (and are not) using AI at this point...What Michael knows about Gen Z from teaching courses at NYU and Johns Hopkins...Lessons he learned from a recent heart attack and recovery...Michael’s formative years growing up on Long Island…The political switch flips for Michael in college…Michael crosses paths with famed Democratic pollster Bill Hamilton…Michael makes the jump to political polling under Tony Fabrizio…The bizarre story of how one of Michael’s candidates was pilloried on the Colbert Report…Michael starts his own polling firm to move beyond partisan politics…Michael’s stint as an in-house pollster at Microsoft with Mark Penn…Michael’s compares working with legendary Dem pollster Mark Penn and iconic GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio…Michael creates the wildly successful Congress in Your Pocket app…Michael’s 101 on how to create an app…The long journey behind Michael’s new book Modern Political Campaigns…Michael’s advice to those who want to write a book and get it published…Michael’s take on what makes a good pollster…Michael weighs in on the question of a “polling crisis”…Michael’s advice on the best books to understand how politics works…AND AAPOR, Michael Bender, Sidney Blumenthal, Stephen Colbert, Sean Cook, Bob Dole, enlargement ads, Ezra Cohen Corporation, Arthur Finkelstein, the Gallup Poll, Josh Gottheimer, Sasha Issenberg, Peter Jennings, Steve Jobs, Ed Koch, Celinda Lake, Massapequa mannerisms, mobilization vs. persuasion, Never Trump Republicans, Ronald Reagan, Rowman & Littlefield, Jake Rush, Karen Thurman, Chris Tompkins, Tevi Troy, vampire roleplaying, Ted Yoho, & more!
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