Language supposedly has all these rules both of us never have to think about those rules, but the hidden him language guides nearly every interaction we have other people determining whether we can act and attain confuse insult or dazzled the people we community, in radio link the new the new podcast from do only go and crooked media weeks. How language shapes our world and how our world shapes language- I'm amabel yeah, I'm an audio. Listen james veered award, winning writer? I am in awe its complexity and its simplicity. The way we Is it to create the distance and understand I'm going to be your guy join us as we take you on a linguistic nature from crooked media unduly go? This is radio starting the rubber fifteenth on your favorite fuck assets. What if I told you that the latest chapter in our culture wars began with one family from a small town in texas.

From wonder. Media network comes teaching texas, a new audio documentary recounting how one families fight over their child's textbook spiraled into a decades long movement to police. What the children of texas and therefore the country learn in school with the right book. Man's anti c r t laws and money poured into local school board races. The fate of our public education system is top of mind. Is voters head to the poles this fall to find out? Education system got here, listen to teaching texas wherever you get your podcasts all. Those who said that Austria, these e on january sex, but he organised a buster, go down. There has been asked to hand over documents and information about efforts to undo the certification for twenty twenty bucks election pennsylvania, which he called compromised and corrupt guy braided will seize the power that we have given to us by the constitution and is well by you providentially ip

for the leaders in the federal government, god on a sixth of january that they arise up it with all monsieur bless. These latter meet doug mastery ano, the republican nominee for governor in pennsylvania, the birthplace of american democracy. Mastery anna was a state senator who tried to help donald trump overturned the results of the last election, and he was at the: u s: capital, ungenerous, sixth, as governor, he have a lot of power over pennsylvania's elections, including what happens to the swing states. Twenty electoral, that electoral votes that could easily determine ex president doug mastery atto and I get to appoint the secretary state delegate it from me the power to make the corrections to election

the voting log and everything and we're going to clean it up. I might even have to reset voter registration and start all over again across the state that the stroke of a pen I can be certified. Every single machine in the state doesn't seem great, also master and who has ties to extremist christian nationalist groups opposes same sex, marriage and says he'd sign a law to ban abortion with no exceptions. If you in a mother's womb, you know my body. My choice is ridiculous. Nonsense here, if you think about but wait, there's more in two thousand and fourteen mastery anno pose for a faculty photo at the army war college, where he taught for a few years. For some weird reason, everyone in the picture was given the choice to dress up as a historical figure. Guess it was the only faculty member to choose confederate soldier. That's right: Doug master anno, the state senator who represents gettysburg,

so yeah. That's the guy running for governor of pennsylvania and even though the poles currently show him down by a few points, he could absolutely one in twenty twenty Joe Biden, one pennsylvania by a little more than eighty thousand votes, even though he turned out more democratic voters than any presidential candidate in history. That's because trumps maccabees broke turnout records to not sure if you notice, but they still pretty fired up, and I love pennsylvania, the thrilled to be back at this incredible commonwealth, with the thousands of rows. So once again, pennsylvania will be one of the country's biggest battlegrounds in this election the campaign between mastery, ato and democratic attorney. General Josh shapiro is one of the most consequential races in the country. Meanwhile, control of the senate could come down to the contest tween republican nominee, Mehmet OZ, a quack tv doktor from new jersey

and democratic nominee. John fishermen pennsylvania's six foot eight lieutenant governor a hoodie wearing goatee sporting progressive who is described in the atlantic as hacked together from spare parts in an oil streaked, pittsburgh chopper garage. So far. seems to be working for him. He have been leading in the most recent polls and some of them by quite a bit one fuck me. The stakes in pennsylvania and for democracy were huge. The question is: do enough? People know that earn of people paying attention can John fetterman Josh, shapiro and other democratic candidates motivate enough of the voters who came out to defeat trump in two thousand and twenty especially when a lot of those voters, are feeling disconnected from politics and disappointed with the direction of the country. Our organization started because we are working class people and we come out of. real life and we saw that nobody in western pennsylvania from the democratic party to the republican party, to whatever political parties,

and from right was actually talking to people data day way about what their life was like. That's alex wallack hansen, the field director for pennsylvania, united, a group of non profit organisations who helped flip pennsylvania to buy in twenty twenty elections are a choice. on tuesday in november, where you gotta wake up, and you will pick between two people write or you pick tonight about the vast majority of people in our community. Waking up with a pre formed and pray. figured analysis of politics and connecting it provides and how they see the world because they're, not in organisations there not connected to the political establishment and not connected to any way where they touch power and see it shop in their lives. So when political establishment people the media, when they tell this story, oh voters in pennsylvania have been pursued.

created by the republican party message or have been persuaded by the you know the politics of fear and hate and division. That may be true for some people but the vast majority people who are voting arduous shown up and picking between two people on that given day and there's so much complexity. That goes into that. I went to pittsburgh earlier the summer to talk to some of the voters that, while I was talking about their people, who aren't that connected to politics and aren't following the news that closely, but people who still usually show up on election day to pick between two candidates there, the kind of people that political scientists deanna cryptic off, was telling us about in the first episode. In order to understand the divide between the parties, Democrats and republicans, we have to understand this divide between those who pay a tremendous amount of attention, really focus on politics and those who pay much less of attention. Politically. In this focus group I spoke with nine disengaged democrats or from the pittsburgh area. None were daily news, consumers and well,

Well, them are leaning towards voting in the midterms. Only three said: they'll definitely cast a ballot. All them voted for Biden in two thousand and twenty, but two of them voted for trump in two thousand and sixteen for context. I talk to these voters a few days before the start of the january sixth hearings. We spoke about the hearings, democracy, abortion, the economy, inflation guns and, of course, politics, including pennsylvania's, big mid term, raises a few weeks later. I sat down with a group of experts and pennsylvania politics to help break down with the vote. set, so I'm malcolm cannot stay representative here in pennsylvania and just not too long ago. I finished my bid for the: u s: Senate the democratic primary was the first openly algebra tissue or snuff colored run for you, a senate american history. my name is rebecca cats. I am the founder of new deal strategies and chief adviser to send a candidate John monsieur,

my name's dan wagner, I'm the chief executive officer of service analytics were multipurpose data science, technology and analytics firm, and we do a lot of work, supporting political campaigns, advocacy groups etc with their analytics chow is before this house that chief analytics officer for the two thousand twelve obama campaign, and that's it after the break, we're from Malcolm Rebecca Dan and nine pennsylvania. Voters. The wilderness has brought you may carry him between protest loss of all our rights, canvassing for the midterms and standing in line four knives out to we're all gonna, be our feet. A lot over the next few months is another: two annapolis is come on. People greatness, yes, dream and watches it's something you're gonna, some quality shoes, that's tourism, and we have just the thing. Crooked has launched a cobra branded sneaker with one of our favorite sponsors carry humor

two designs focused on the reminder that while we may be living through a meat grinder of a present, a better future is always possible shoes from a clean white sneaker, with the words no steps back or are patented. I voted sticker print like all of carry him, is best on august, are collaborative load up. Sneakers are made ethically and sustainably from organic cotton, canvas, natural, rubber, cork and recycle plastics. Your pair plants to trees in the brazilian reinforced through carry him is in house ecological restoration programme. Double the brands, double the impact, a portion of the proceeds from these shoes in any idea you buy from the crooked store. Goes to vote writers, the leading organization focused on helping people navigate voter, I d laws. They inform citizens of their states voter I d requirements and help them secure the documents they may need to vote, and you can support them just by supporting your own arches and a comfortable pair of crooked sneakers, see both designs and grab your perfect pair, a crooked dotcom, slash kit, The wilderness brought you about zippered, hiring, challenging specially right now, and you have so much on your plate. Luckily, there's one pleasing:

go where hiring a simple, fast and smart. A police were growing businesses connect to qualified candidates that place is it recruiter? Dotcom such cricket, zip, recruiter, doesn't work for user procureur uses its powerful technology to find a match the right candidates up at your job. You can easily review these recommended kennedy to invite your top choices, to apply four out of five employers who pay. unzip recruiter get equality, can it within the first day, no wonders if recruiters number one rated hiring site based on G2 satisfaction ratings as of january first, twenty twenty two right now to tries it recruiter for free. My listeners can go to separated accomplished crooked, that deprecated outcome, slash c r, o o k E, zip recruiter, dotcom such crooked, zip recruiter. The smartest way to hire. The wilderness has brought you by eighty one. Eighty as part of my morning routine, I make sure, never to skip. I started taking edgy one because I wanted to be just like tommy. You know congrats, thank you. Tom has just been taken it for years and look is just look at him and adonis don. It means a lot so healthy. I want to fall into a routine of doing something for my health specifically, for

digestion- oh here's, the one where I get the fuck indigestion. What time it is all that time is not staying fair igniting in his reps John Zaga likes to pay. So there I was on the toilet. It's our seven year, this body, the squatty party, wasn't do anything for me, so I just got my grandma eighty one down another glass, so I could We all know how hard it can be to keep track of everything your buddy needs for performance age. You want exists to solve this problem, whether. got health, more energy, optimizing your immune system or just wanting a supplement, the taste great eighty one may be the best new addition to your kitchen cabin. I find my favorite way to enjoyed as in a smoothie, but I've had a cat depends on its own. Eighty one was a get tommy on a treadmill john appetite even is convenient. Convenient single, serving travel packs that you can take with you to the office Jim or on trips, because we all know how trips can be. people always want to know how it tastes. Here's my take you get some pineapple, maybe some green apple, a hint of citrus vaguely tropical sweetness alive. I feel it

drinking and its good enough to shine on its own, yet mild enough to disappear into practically whatever you decide to combine it with. This is the best option for easy, optimal nutrition out there. You take one school of eighty, one in your absorbing seventy five highquality vitamins, minerals, whole food source. Super foods profile adapted wants to help. You start your day right right now, it's how to reclaim your health and I'm your immune system of convenient daily nutrition. It's just one scoop in a cup water every day. That's it no need for a million different pills and supplements to look out for your health to make it easier for the greens is gonna, give you a free, one year supply of immune supporting vitamin d, an five free travel packed with your first purchase? All you have to do this: it s a green dot com, slash wilderness again, that's athletic greens, dot com such wilderness to take ownership of over your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance. Rebecca,

I can't believe this is our first time meeting with all these guys. We didn't even have our own coffee a moment, arizona with the pod, save it brought the whole crew together. I don't think I've seen you in like fifteen years. I mean maybe more, but I don't want to say how old we are or something. I literally just had this conversation with tommy and I went to Pitt. work to talk with voters who democrats absolutely need if we want to win in November people who cast their ballot for Joe Biden in twenty twenty but aren't totally sure what they'll do in the two thousand and twenty two midterms as you'll, hear they feel pretty down about politics in the state of the country and they're, not following the news as closely as you probably are afterwards. I got together with Dan, malcolm and rebecca to talk about what we heard. Thank you all for doing this dan. I will go out on a limb and say that most wilderness listeners are very politically engaged. Voters who follow

what political news quite closely? How do you think they compare with the broader electorate? They look, nothing like them in a part of our job, unfortunately, as to be analytical and part of it is to stereotype the average pod save him. A listener, is probably late thirties pro The eighty percent are likely white. Probably fifty fifty male female is probably concentrated Two percent plus and urban areas is probably entirely college. Educated philammon, Perhaps they probably share a similar cultural standard, same standard of standard, same feeling. I ve anxiety about recent policy, etc and the average non pod. Save america person probably has not gone to college or has gone to part of college and living through debt right now they consume their news through some combination of cable news, but more like three through facebook. They are looking at the political process right now through deep anxiety because

going through a historical collapse in their standard of living as a result of an nation and rising home prices, and they are thinking about how their families? We're going to get by, and politics is last, not first yeah accessible right. This guy's good you pretty much mailed our audience. Malcolm you just ran in a state. Why campaign in pennsylvania? How important is it to reach voters who aren't. Frequent twitter users or cable news viewers in your opinion, like our archie When was that there were a lot of voters who did not know who we were in a huge say, like pennsylvania,

If you are not able to engage folks, move on to those backups was dancer so accurately described where politics is last, not first and that's the type of family I come from. You know. I live six different places by the time I graduated high school. My mom worked all of the time, and so you know she was a good democrat, but she was like not paying attention to all the twists and turns of politics except for the real quality of life concerns that were frightened and you know the levels of gun, violence in our communities. And, frankly, if you, you know no folks from nor philly gun. Violence was a crisis before it came something that national folks wanted to cover were dealing with. A mass shootings several times in the year. I think we benefited me being able to just talk honestly and openly about my experience in some cases, to the chagrin of my staff analogous, I can talk in points person. I just gonna say what I think

and it'll work, or not work in what I think is We are not deliver, want a government that actually works for those working families. You know all they got is me, and so that's why I have a a big mouth about the needs of working people rebecca. How important is it to reach voters who aren't frequent twitter users or cable news viewers? How does that factor into the euro campaign strategy is very important that we always say campaigns are not won or lost on twitter. to actually go out and talk to the people. They consume news differently and you actually have to talk about things that they care about, and you have to make them believe that you will do some four Right now, the biggest problem we have is no one. No one thinks everyone's gonna do anything. I listen The first clip I asked for it is how they feel that politics media in the way things are going in america here some of what they said once are all in your life,

I must say to open Watch it is I stay out of it. I have to just not have it as an influence, five, which is very important to me. Since this whole pandemic started. My whole thing was to stay in your lane, be the best you can be you're not going to fix this political shit, show or even watch the news anymore, because a lot of it's current draw the party lines, whether it's the boards to go over and just feel like everything's split these days, you're afraid to talk up to your neighbors, not knowing what's on, etc, cause anyone else afraid to talk politics with people, and you know your neighbors friends, and I would agree with that. He seems like a lot of people have pretty hard stances,

you'd, never know. I feel like it's uncomfortable now, no matter what you think it used to be. I think a lot easier about stuff like that. I always just say that politics divides people. So that's why, with family and stuff like that, I don't even get into because there are certain people, man, you could just to learn. Tat is exhausting chemicals. I bet a lot. You would think that that would make it easier to find common ground, but it seems more and more that if you are not one hundred percent in agreement with someone or they're, just completely irate and everybody's always so worked up, So, knowing that these are all registered democrats who voted for Joe Biden and twenty twenty two, these comments. Surprise anybody nope they're, not surprising they're, just depressing.

right. I mean, I think we all know that this is going to be a tough year. Those brewers are confirming it. I mean John, you know better than anybody how important it is for voters to have hope and to look into the future, and they don't have trust in government. They don't believe anyone's fighting for them. It's it's bleak, Malcolm you've, been like an official, but you ve also been and organizer from for most of your life, like what strategies have you found helpful in reaching disengage voters like this, I always think it's. I want you step right. First, we should acknowledge the fact that people have every right to be frustrated and listing too that the thing that stuck with me was the woman who sat I'm just exhausted, and I thank you. Are exhausted in terms of by just things in their daily life. That government is not helping with and their exhausted by this constant political, Conversation that's about! What's the next news clip on you know

ever your favorite nighttime talk news. is one. So the first thing is is really acknowledge that pain. But then you have to talk to people about the possibilities You have a government that is more reflective when you have candidates who are gonna, do something and they're gonna do something because I understand what you are going through. The talk me you from a real place and I always feel like voters can feel there, then why? Why do you think the most democratic messaging fails to reach or move these voters? I answer it a little bit backward, but the most interesting statistic that came out of the twenty twond election was that when you looked at democrats, vote for issues and ballot elections relative to support for Biden Many cases you saw support for democratic ballots positions up by fifteen percent versus democratic candidates, medicaid minimum wage credit rates on things

I paid a loans and a brassiere, and this happened all over the country. A lie met in terms of voting behaviour with Democrats, but not supporting presidential candidates or democratic candidates, and so the question you have to Yourself has: why is it that voters are so miss aligned between support for an issue which is the product and then the candidate which is functionally the brand and I'd probably interests and more and hearing rebecca sphere, about this. But in terms of like the core diagnosis, ten percent of these people are probably they represent in that room there align with with democratic positions by our alliance democrats, because what has become really a broken brand over the last twenty years yet rebecca. What do you think about that? Because one thing that struck me and will listen to some of this in a bit is they'll say that they don't like both sides. Both sides are extreme, but then, when you

into the issues. They seem a little more solidly democratic than you'd think from how they described themselves. They any. I think they don't like a lot of leadership in washington and they don't think those people reliable, it's almost like they think everyone in washington is like a let them eat cake to the masses. Democratic should be the party of working people and we cannot condemn the way that we used to. I think it's because, honestly, that a lot of the folks had been She then have been in washington for many many many decades and is. your role get overturned and democratically earls. They will say what better than that- and there is no passion, there's no sense of urgency. They're, just watching everything, kind of fall apart and more More people are watching it to end their losing their minds and like screaming into the void, and we have to find candidates who give it and who, who can show them that they give a damn

yeah. So, like we said you know, it was clear from this group that, even though they felt disengage from politics itself, they had very strongly, It's about a lot of political issues that started with the economy and inflation, which was on just about everyone's mind. Let's take a listen not only in short supply, but just watch a weekly go up and get my chicken wings anymore. It's like blaming it on, let's say feeding my two boys definitely impacted us or south christmas time. My rent is going to so the certainty of and he store shelves in gas prices is to get the things so yeah and sad especially those who don't have the means, and I mean love lot more frugal. It was or restore specially kafka. Now

customer hundred dollars to fill up. My jeep gone up quite a bit, so gas this is an inflation, have come up in every single focus group, usually unprompted, usually early on in the discussion heard, a lot about healthcare, housing, rent, the baby formula shore, age, malcolm when you are on the campaign? Trail what'd? You tell voters who were annoyed, to say the least, that these economic problems haven't been fixed it with Democrats in charge of washington, the true The fact that big oil companies are raging and more money than they ve ever made that all these me processors are making so much money forget union it was that they treated our record. Profits are stolen wages from workers, and I think that's exactly right. I do think that people they want somebody to blame when there is a big problem and I dont think we ve done enough.

To tell people the truth about where the blame should lie in corporate agreed, that is out of control and that gets to run unabated? Here's the challenge for president Biden ever He knows, president by everybody doesn't know the ceo of exxon mobile right. No Democrat should be out there talking about inflation without talking about corporate greed right, we have villains out there, and people need to know who they are and we need to be crystal clear about like it didn't have to be this way. This executives are making many on the backs of working people and nothing is cheap

jane and until we have real messaging coming out busy people are gonna. Blame Democrats because democratic are the ones in control, even though republicans were the ones making things worse. Here's. My question, though I feel like we get to this point. Every cycle like why don't democratic politicians focus enough on economic issues, because even if you are someone who just wants to win and you're just looking at the polls in here just listening to focus groups in your listening to your advisers, they're gonna tell you that economic issues are top priority for most voters And yet we always have this problem. Word seems like democratic politicians. Do not focus enough on economic issues. People like they're, not like they're, not their cell, programmed in poll tested and they talk like robots ray. I mean, like John fetterman. The reason that people like him right now is exists talking like a normal person and that,

I to be this like crazy, like ahead exploding thing among folks, like look that he's costs go to you know we had programmed So many politicians that you have to have this like rich donor network and comfort, the law firm and do all these things that they have lost touch with regular people. That is the problem. I think if we get more candidates out there who, your sound. What folks are going through, I think we're gonna win more elections. I just hope democracy is still here at ted When that binding happens. I would just underline that this everyday campaigns round and we want to change. The senate. We have to change the senators and I think that that's true for all of these positions like what the hell are, we You- and I mean our candidate- should be like working more. It should be the actual people. We are trying to reach, because there is a fluency there that you cannot learn. You have to know that stuff and communicate with people as represent in just as I like.

Why don't I waited so hard what others are also theirs? definitely, the normal person problem. The democratic politicians have I think another problem is democratic. Politicians can sometimes talk about economic issues, but those issues don't always break through the media filter. The media doesn't love to cover economic issues. Economic debates, at least any more how should campaigns handle that sort of media reluctance to actually cover economic issues, They should make it part of their message and hammered every damn day. I mean this is the problem like. We don't have a message right now. If it's, the only thing they were to be talking about, that would get cover right, and the problem is that everyone's just trying to do no whatever sunday press conference to just get in the news and get a hook and be exciting, and at the end of the day you gotta connect with people, and you gotta me

in a way that report will care about and it just about its packaging honestly, then what do you think there's a few problems? One is our disagree with the premise that Democrats don't talk about economic issue. I think they do. I favour the delivery, is poor routinely poor? Second, there often caught and well, debate promoted by the media, so they'll say like? I believe that minimum wage should go up well. What do you think about trans people in bathrooms? What are you about whatever, because that's the thing that's going to raise the ratings of those different media channels, because there's revenue attached to a cultural battle- and you have people on both sides- that will engage in that and they'll raise advertising revenue for their different channels and so, unfortunately, that meat capitalist track prevents alone, the solid delivery from democratic candidates, because these cultural things have incentives to run against those just send your efforts, but Democrats always take the bait. That's the problem is

just that one hundred percent cultural issues drawn it, as is that thing over their weak about and they don't like addressed the bully head on, Majority of news consumption is not done through them. media at start online, and they have done a very good job, creating simple messages that elevate cultural differences between americans with concern. stood: overwhelming delivery through their parties through their packs, etc. That you are really good job of reinforcing a brand of super out of touch. Fancy elites that Another promoting the delivery of their economic argument, get smoked out by the amount of content that they're putting on the at that is really really effective and how it brand sets the democratic party. So here's a real world issue that sort of comes into play: like one issued its received a lot of coverage in the media recently

on violence, unfortunately, because we ve had so much of it in twenty twenty two, the deadly shooting at a fourth of July, parade in highland park, illinois investigators call the shooter a white supremacist through targeted black people. in the last thirty minutes police. What is the deadliest, school shooting and state history, the nineteen children who were killed involving community, also morning to teachers. It also came up in this group. Here's a clip jewish friends who passed through the tree line massacre and Any time just as yes do you really should have morgan was, you're not was the same. I was I mean I believe in people have the right to bear arms, but

you got made to mass kill more strength. State why government why, once more stripped, checks waiting periods application fees or something I think people should still be able to keep their balance it should be a lot more complicated. in your, why we don't have new laws very, very lovely, miss you too, We are very passionate about no more gun. Laws are changing, gun laws, so I think it's a platform that they would vote on for representatives? or blacklist equation that would increase regulations around sell gas. I had a lot of friends and family members that fall into that category

as well, but if I ask them directly, do you think that there should be more so that would probably also yes so It gets lumped in with, like these more extreme things that people get afraid than that. It's been kind of tough one star over there, instead of taking it piece by piece really looking at what might be effective without actually like infringing on people's rights, I should say there are fifteen, but I think it should be awkward tip about a boy dan. How do you think this group of disengaged democratic voters matches up to the broader electorate on gun control hi? I would say that their opinions match up with around sixty per se. American voters. I was actually surprised, maybe in the in a good direction, that most these voters and in that last guy, that was talking about don't banner fifteen's and make them tougher. That was the trump voter were actually a little bit more. Forward on gun control than I thought there might be. The films were there. The senate is right

they are afraid of where the politicians are here. Malcolm how central should gun violence be too Democrats mid term message in and how far can can it's going state like pennsylvania? I think the same was true in you. emma conversation about code on culture wars, I think we have to believe in something and we have to fight for you now I remember a conversation you and I John had a long time ago and sit with me forever. When you talk about another letter, So you know trumps a liar, but he's the most honest liar I now. I think there is something to be said about people, believing that you believe something, and so I think, whether its guns, whether it standing up for trans folks, our response to that can't be well like. Let's does not talk about it. Of course I wouldn't have one on that issue. I dont think that they have, but I think that we are really you know clunky

in terms of how we engage on those issues, sometimes I do think that sometimes we are afraid of championing ideas and things that are a common sense and that our beads, Where do you buy broad majorities of the american people like? Why are we afraid to act this? But I think voters are dying for democrats to go on offense right. We were just were so scared and if you give There is a choice. They will pick strong and wrong over weaken right. Every single day of the week right and what we have to do is is have strong and right. I guess is from like a message. Prioritization standpoint, like you guys, have a message calendar and we just like about how important it is to have the candy talking about economic issues like every single day, and then the supreme court overturns road wait and then there was another mass shooting somewhere and obviously you don't want to be afraid of that. You don't want to shirk from that. You want to say what you'd believe and you want to be strong about that, but like how do you navigate and in

I meant where all these different issues pop up, even as you know, people keep talking about the economy need to talk about all the time. How do you balance that with the republican candidate for governor in pennsylvania once we'll go after doctors who are helping, women get abortions in other states like it is a different kind of landscape out there, and I think Democrats need to show exactly what the republican candidates are for and what. Therefore, these are economic issues. If you are forced to have a child that you cannot have right now because of the situation in your life or because it's going to put at risk the life of your partner right who's, birthing that child in the first place. These are economic issues. When people in communities like mine, there is a shooting and folks are traumatized, and it's like tough to get to work or you can't get to work because your block is

frickin blocked off from yet more police tape. I don't think these things are like separate things, then what you think I think, a few troubling patterns when you see it in the data one is that communication and process, as opposed to consequences, never works and number two is a lot of the language and by language I mean the actual words that we used to talk about. Things have calcified in people's minds, so much of their no longer effective and how you talk about them in the case of row or guns, etc. A lot of what we found is that talking with work It's like supreme court or judges or whatever either people they ignore it. or rather in a test. The environment has no effect. What does have an effect? What always has, in effect, is speaking to the consequences of a policy or the consequences.

If a candidate. So what does that mean in the case of roe? What that means of row, is that a woman who is sexually assaulted has a very real possibility of been incarcerated for up to two years and the state of south carolina. but make it very real. Let us not about skoda us it's not about this site, about that. What is very real is women are no longer free and freedom is a very powerful word and the united states and this is no longer about choice. Row is about freedom and have guns counts are no longer about guns guns, her about the safety of our children and unfortunate a lot of Democrats are of the age, for they no longer have to experience things. I'd have been apparent today, which is kind of a sad thing right. The people on this, all like week. We know the anxiety of that situation, given our age. the challenge of that session.

Is. It seems like it's a lot process process and they're, not talking about the consequences on what these decisions mean for american freedom, using that word explicitly and american safety. Safety of our children to grow up in a society where they are safe and free and there's a front sort of words that we should start using in a world where a woman can be incarcerated for treating her body and a world where a kid going to highland park can be murdered in front of their parents, freedom, if these are words that cholera would have used in the nineteen nineties. These are now words that Democrats should be owning because they are core to our own culture

They are core to what americans are thinking about every day, especially parents who are very, very scared after the break. A reality check on the impact of the january sixth hearings and are paneless dig into what rights or on the ballot for pennsylvanians. This fall. The wilderness is brought to you by stamps dot com, if you're a small business owner. You know how important it is to be ready for the insane holiday season. Luckily, stamps dot com has everything you need to make your life a whole lot easier. It's the twenty four seven post office. You can access from anywhere say goodbye to lines, traffic and hassle. That's why we've used stamps dot com since our earliest days here crooked media, get access to the EU s ps, any pia services. You need to run your business right from your computer, protect your margins and made discounts on. U s p s and u p s rates up to eighty six percent off print postage wherever you do business all you need. Is your computer and a printer with stamps dot, com switch and save feature you can easily compare

carriers and rates and, if you're running an online store, stamps dot com works seamlessly with all the major shopping carts and marketplaces get ahead of the holiday chaos this year get started with stamps dot com today sign up with promo code cricket for a special offer that includes a four week: trial, plus free postage and a free digital scale. No long term commitments or contracts just go to stamps dot, com click, the microphone at the top of the page and enter code cricket. The wilderness is brought to you by simply safe if you've ever spent a few minutes scrolling through the next door. App, you know it's a nightmare, make sure you protected with simply safe home security. Simply safe has everything you need to feel safe at home, sensors for every window, indoor indoor and outsourcing hd security cameras, hazard detectors to guard against fires, floods and carbon monoxide with twenty four seven professional honouring simply saves agents call you the moment. Effort is detected and dispatch police or first responders in an emergency, even if you can't be reached. So we save blankets, your home and protection with advanced centres for every room,

window in dore, their monitoring, expertise, proprietary, advance response technology to visually, confirming a break in his real seeing at the highest priority police dispatch, John love. It has had simply safe for years and in boys he say I recommend simply safe. It's a really good security system is extremely reliable. It for me easy to use it's! Actually it's it's just a better design than some other ones. It comes. It looks nice nice, it's got. The nice keypad nice base station got the nice sensors just looks good, it's easy to use, and once you have it you never to worry about it. Just works. What more could you want? What more could you want? Customize, the perfect system for your home in just a few minutes at simplisafe, dot com, slash crooked, go today and claim a free indoor, security, camera, plus twenty percent off with interactive monitoring, go to simplisafe dot com, slash crooked, because there's no safe, like simplisafe. Welcome back, so we left off from our panel talking about what to make of voters' fears and jumping right back.

And I asked malcolm Rebecca and dan to dig into what's really at stake for folks in pennsylvania. This upcoming midterm, so I think, will definitely have a language issue. Like you mention in this next issue, asked which issues don't get enough. Media attention and peoples have things like the economy in health care and education. Then I asked which issues are getting too much media attention, and here's what I heard stopped suddenly it's the time when I was eating dinner before I came here today. Talking about the the capital last year and I feel like it's time, to reply. She is right. Now we get as you wish. We focus on things now, instead happened almost two years ago and your emotions generous, its attacks investigations. Are all of you paying attention to the investigation into the january sixth attacks? No, no! No! Not at all It's one occurred

so there you plans it's that time of year, I didn't watch the neighbor or my biggest concern with. It is more about the like the background wonder what happened or why seemingly normal people can get caught up and now few stipulations. This was, of course, right before the hearing started. Most of the group said they were concerned, something like this could happen again in just about every one. Also later said, the trump is at least partially to blame. Most people said fully to blame, but clearly it's not the top issue on voters mines. So my question to all of you is: how do democrats get voters to care about the ongoing existential threat to democracy without talking about it, a lot dan? What you think, I think it's another time when we Democrats who everyone I call. It mistakenly believe that people care about process over consequences hearings.

tat sausage, making all that stuff etc. The reality is that these people murdered police officers matters. They murder cops do you know you don't like all the other kind of things around it and I think january, six as the point, but you want to use it as an element of the brand narrative that you're trying to build, and we have incredible moment now, because we both have a scottish decision? I think the exercise that everybody to be doing right now, every campaign party committee, whatever is to look at the electorate and say forty five percent of the electorate- is republican. Sixty percent of americans fur

in this decision, deeply unpopular, but, more importantly, among that forty five percent of republicans, nearly twenty to twenty five percent of them- actually disagree with the policy, but you really need a fix say on this part of the electorate. These public and twenty percent of their electorate is now sitting in a position being like what the fuck just happened? Dude this is this is messed up. And how do we think about capturing that twenty percent of their population- which add it up with your taller twenty million americans who are in the republican but always voted republican, and our deeply disagree with this decision? Twenty million americans? This is a huge, critical mass and exactly digging into who those twenty million people are is gonna, be the difference between whether we win and whether we lose an opportunity, but the framing of how we do. It is really really important, because it's a lot of folk and they could go either way. So I thought democracy was it.

Equally important issue to raise and pennsylvania because of the governors race, where a victory by republican dogma. Austria would put a supporter of trumps attempted coup in charge of one of the most important swing states and twenty twenty four, but in this group, which had plenty to say about both Senate candidates that will here in a bit there were only two people who had opinions about mastering I dunno, even though those two people said he was one said he was dangerous. One said he was radical and only one person had an opinion on Josh shapiro. Although that woman said she loved him, do you guys think that she euro can make mastery nanos extremism and democracy a central issue in this campaign. Should he I mean, I think Shapiro will probably go on obviously, but even harder, I would say, on abortion, because that is, I think, where the voters are, because Doug master, I always elected governor abortion is done and pennsylvania. There's no exceptions, I think,

mastery honour has just a terrible record that shapiro can just kind of poker and exposed him a little bit, malcolm anything. You know, I think, on the republican side, we have two folks added such out of their day mines, and so, I think that those things are going to really matter, and I hope that common I'm gonna shapiro, if a good friends let there, but I, but I hope that that the team plays every day when He said that his number one issue if he were governor better Rebecca said and douglas Ronald said, this is number one issue is banning all of abortion. I mean you, have to get creative with, as you don't need to do anything you just play that so I wanna get the subjects nearing dear to malcolm and rebecca S, heart the pennsylvania senate race. Towards the end of the session, I asked a group of their planning to vote in the mid terms and if they had settled on a specific senate candidate,

Here's what they said for those of you are planning to vote. How many of you have made up your minds or read about it before you have I voted in the primary for federal voted. Yes, yes, I've read I've researched, he might look strange, but I think he has some things that I thought might be. good for the country. Maybe he's instead or maybe crazy, No, I just thought that he might be, something new, Especially the fact that he didn't parents are like the lieutenant governor's mansion, or it turns out that he's not. Press by people's money can be bought off. I don't I can, but I respect that. I feel like that's a nice stance. He stands up for what he believes in. He took her time

is really a lot of work. It's one hundred percent for him because he wanted the people. When you asked him a question he will answer if he doesn't know he's kind of search for it and the laws heck yeah, but at least he's honest about his flaws compared to the other ones, trying to sweep them underneath the carpet. It just seems like a very and that what he does, your typical politician expect, William. after us scare, yes ray. What's he do my son one from the state and will run for one of our senate seats, which is so important and then win. Therefore this weather it really care about pennsylvania? He can't even lie live here. Then you have no idea. Fine

he's a doctor right is show, has liable and has been absolutely alternative medicine. I too dangerous for evil. So that's it. promise of integrity, whether or not he actually believes what he's saying or nuts that definitely puts them in a bad way. That sounds so Rebecca The only somewhat negative comment about fetterman was from that guy, who said he didn't like him, but still respected him. That happens to be the only person in the entire group who said he'd consider voting for trump in two thousand and twenty four again. It's maybe the best focus group review, I've heard of any candidate three years of doing the wilderness? So as someone whose working with them? My question is how much the appeal do you think is unique to your guy and how much can be replicated by other democratic candidates? I mean you, don't want to get to it

two issues like. Hopefully, we win and then everybody's going around. Where are you like? Dig ease in car hire zita trying to be it like? It works because it's not fake right like he is. This is who he is. I think people respect back. What I will say is gets John will say he doesn't look like a typical politician, because you don't even look like a typical person right They think they know that he understands what they're going through and that that personal connection, it doesn't have to have the look of john betterment for a candidate to connect with a voter, and I think we ve spent way too long with cookie cutter candidates. don't get the whole machine behind them. I think voters are hungry for somebody different who can speak to what they're going through and to the point where thing earlier like it's not just about process is about, like speaking to these consequences of people's lacks malcolm,

You are in against fetterman in the primary. I remember that had yeah just in case just to just to catch people up. Obviously he had name recognition and and money, but what qualities do you think helped him win, and what do you think he has to watch out for in the general? So I think to rebecca's point: it's not about somebody being john, because John is John Brigham, where in america that say that he lives directly across the street of steel mill like in my family and I live in an old car dealer. So we're not going be able to have a candidate who can replicate him. We're not gonna have a candidate who can be a black gay kid from north Philly you're, not gonna, able to replicate that exactly, and I think that that really matters that you can have candidates who are themselves- and I think that that is something that the John absolutely have you never get candidate like that. You can get through a primary. There must be other

candidates. White does but usually there's an establishment candidate who washington legs, and think is more electable and that person can just in in in win the primaries, and then that becomes the candidate. Dan is also the perfect foil for fetterman. And do you think that there are lessons for other democratic candidates either from how fetterman campaigns for himself or how he campaigns against us? Because I know is I'm following this whole thing on on twitter everytime, I see rebecca having a good time with eyes and the houses. Unlike I I keeps a room like god, democrats used to run campaigns like this all the time. This is a fun campaign. Why? Why don't Democrats do that? Any more it's twenty dollars recruiting is outrageous. We got Joe Biden the thing. I guess I'll disagree with the premise that candidates who are cells. Do better because doctor ass, I think, has been himself, but he has just that. You just a sociopath sergio so by,

worship him showing that he's a sociopath and I'm not sure that's going to that's going to help him win. But I think, like from a like a campaign, tactical point of view, what I think they're doing successfully, framing the brand of their opponents very early on it's something that we did in two thousand twelve and we committed sources around it, and so I think, a lot of these democratic candidates. The challenge with a conventional messaging schedule is ok. Do this and I make my dont contrast ads and I do that is it takes away from the creativity of? really solid campaigning is need to create, a narrative about my opponent to make people believe x Y, see about them in this case that he's a rich socio and do that very early and often so you're kind of like setting the bio of your opponent, and that takes a lot of creativity. It requires we saw the digital team which a lot of people don't have, and it's not entirely formulaic. So just washing erased from the outside, it seems like it

makes a lot of a successful campaigns, especially the creativity and in John. I didn't get to answer you. point about not that they need my advice. They beat me, but still I'm going to give my vice that nevertheless yeah, please two words or three words: philadelphia and black voters, and obviously I'm going to work my tail off to help in that guard, but I think you know the more time that John can be in, and failure rebecca those things in it, the better Because these are voters were not voting for doctor oz and be very clear, they're, not fucking, vote for Dr Oz, but the question is: are they going to stay home just because they're frustrated- and I hear that frustration every single day and cracking that night of getting that turned out in philadelphia as high as we possibly can. That's going be a big part of making sure John wines, Josh wins

Everybody else wins, I'm always pro having stay, why candidates come to philadelphia on that note, evolving very generous, very your time, melcombe time rebecca cats dan Wagner. Thank you so much for joining the wilderness. Thinking wilderness happy to do thanks election. We started this episode talking about the threat to democracy from mega candidates like doug mastery onto it's, a threat that all of us who follow politics, I fully understand. Well, since it's rightly received a lot of media coverage, we're all familiar with the headlines from the january six hearings, the investigations into donald trump and the assault on voting rights and democratic norms. That's coming from right wing courts and state legislatures. We feel a sense of urgency around these issues because we consume news about them. Every det, the voters I talked to in pittsburgh were either too busy to follow politics too, confused by all the details or to discuss

by the spectacle, they felt a sense of urgency around a set of issues that have also receive lots of coverage, but tend to have more personal and immediate impacts, the cost of food and gas and ran mass shootings in abortion bands, and they don't have much confidence that politicians can fix those problems, at least not the same kind of politicians that haven't fix them in the past Which helps explain why they seem to like John fetterman. It's not like is new to politics. The guy's been invoked It offers, since two thousand six first as a mere now lieutenant governor, but he doesn't look like a typical politician. Any doesn't talk like a typical politics, it s like a normal human being, would talk to their friends. He's not scared of something a little weird or off. He generally says what he thinks: a quality that even a former trump supporter and our focus group appreciated. Not impressed by people's money, be bought off Why can't I respect that

If it that's a nice stance, he stands up for what he believes in for the vast majority of voters, who think that the country is headed in the wrong direction. A candidate who doesn't seem like a typical politician can be appealing. It's a sentiment. We also heard from the swing voters. up to in virginia- I just you know it comes down to. Why can't we rang a better candidate forward, I think we need new energy new blood in an hour, mid term. Here you might listen to these voters,

I think that, while an outsider like fetterman, has a decent chance, most longtime democratic incumbents, don't if people think that washington is broken, they tend to punish the party that is running the place and it's possible. That happens in a lot of these toss up races, especially in the house, but it's also possible that twenty twenty two is different and that's because the alternative to voting for democratic governance, however imperfect it may seem, is voting for candidates like doug mastery on oh and doctor oz, maga loyalist, who are out of touch wackos at best and dangerous threats to dimmock, see at worst? The key for democrats, though, is to make that case to voters in a way that connects with the fears and anxieties that are on the minds of people who don't pay that much attention to politics. If democrats want disengage, voters to care about saving democracy, they have to campaign like democracy is worth saving

a true grassroots democracy or you listen and learn from the people you want to represent. Were you show that you actually give a shit about their problems and are willing to fight like hell except when people to use our vote? It is because they are. See something to fight for, and somebody who wants to fight for them, and so I can't settle for somebody who is going to do the bare minimum at this moment, our country, we have to be putting people forward who are fighting for what real people actually need this alex from pennsylvania, united the organization we heard from the beginning of this episode, the once we're trying to reach disconnected voters, one door at a time, that's how we can start to rebuild People's faith in democracy and is pierre united organizer machine mcbride tells us that's how we can start to enlist the next generation in the fight to save it. I'm a mother of eight children, thirty grandchildren, and when I go canvas it meant the world I have met eighteen rule granddaughter.

Per se a geiger okay. Now what do I do now? What you don't know. sure her or her phone I have now just put something in her. I know I'm going to see her fight again for southern there's, some important to her. And I'm not scared of a conversation that might not be so positive? That's ok That's real. We are real people talking to reopen. on the other side of the door so expect anything, don't settle for nothing and just keep knocking, keep talkin and keep rocket, keep knocking, keep talking and keep rock.

I, like it and speaking of getting future generations involved next week were headed to orange county california, a former republican stronghold were I'll talk to a group of twentysomethings who help turn the area blue eye casting their very first ballot for Joe. But the question is Will they show up again how many of you plan on voting in the mid term elections this november? What is that yeah? So we get some work to do see next time on a wilderness.

The wilderness is an original podcast from crooked media season. Three is produced by dustlike productions. I'm your host John fabric from crooked media are executive producers. Are sarah geisler katy long and meet special thanks to Alison falsetto and Andy taft for production support into michael issue from bennigsen strategy group who helped us with our focus groups from dustlike? Our executive producer is me, should use if our next is our executive editor. Seventy cone is the senior producer to meagre Adams is the producer, and french ass could be, as is the assistant producer. This episode was sound designed by two meagre adams. Valentino Rivera is our senior engineer. Martin follow

is the composer thanks to our development and operations coordinator, a dustlike rachel, garcia into chrissy marin for archival legal review. If you want to learn more about how you can take action in the fight for our democracy had over two votes, if america dot com, slash midterms,.