Election Expert: “We’re in the age of ‘meme warfare…”
About This Episode
Shaan Puri interviews election expert Sasha Issenberg to dissect the multi-billion dollar marketing machines behind modern political campaigns. They explore the data-driven 'Harm Index' used by the Biden campaign, Donald Trump’s unique approach to community building and digital spending, and how 'meme warfare' is reshaping political persuasion.
Episode Description
Show Notes
- 0:00The malarky factory and The Harm Index
- 18:55Trump's 2016 playbook
- 28:18Kamala's viral clip factory
- 32:35Who’s running a better 2024 campaign?
- 35:04What is Elon's role in Trump's campaign
- 38:31The lopsided downside of doorknocks
- 42:25Deepfakes and new tools in campaigning
- 45:58"The podcast election"
- 50:00The new playbook for winning in the age of meme wars
- 54:15Most mis-priced opportunity in elections
Check Out Shaan's Stuff
Check Out Sam's Stuff
Key Takeaways
Use a three-question survey (Familiarity, Truth, and Action) to calculate a 'Harm Index' for negative rumors, ensuring you only respond to narratives that actually change behavior rather than just having high reach.
Shift digital marketing from a 'cost center' to a 'profit center' by using ad spend to drive immediate fundraising or lead generation that covers the cost of broad-reach awareness.
To reach audiences suspicious of traditional marketing, utilize the 'vernacular of the internet' by creating coarse, funny, and unedited content that feels authentic rather than like a polished broadcast.