The stakes are high but we are winning

Their plan is worse than you imagine but our path to winning is real

It’s the stakes not the odds

This is a term that is floating around on the political circuit that I can’t endorse enough. The political media has become so obsessed with the horse race nature of politics instead of the actual results of those races. You don’t have to think hard about why.

Analysing what will happen if Trump, or any politician, actually wins their races is much more difficult, fraught with uncertainty, and difficult to put in digestible packages. Having Steve Kornacki roll up his sleeves hit the “big board” and brief who is up and who is down is easier, more entertaining, and less controversial. Thus our entire political media machine has devolved into a constant barrage of who is up and who is down and not the results of what will happen.

Steve Kornacki doing what he does best

As loyal readers you know I am constantly saying that we are winning. Polls aren’t votes. Elections are the measure of strength and momentum. The votes keep going the right way for lovers of democracy and two weeks ago was yet another example with the wins in Ohio, Virginia, and elsewhere.

On top of that people really aren’t paying attention to politics yet. I know that’s shocking to those that read this newsletter or watch my shows. I’ve said specifically that Republicans are paying more attention than Democrats as well since there is a contested primary. I may have been wrong about that too.

I can’t find a better example of this than a poll that came out here in Missouri this week. A truly amazing friend of mine, Joe Pereles, is running for State Senate in west St. Louis County. Missouri Scout is our top local political newsletter and posted this about the race earlier this week:

Courtesy of Missouri Scout

Read that carefully. This Senate seat is being contested by three fairly well known politicians locally. They are already out with emails, social media ads, and doing lit drops at houses. But the undecided in this race is 70%. People just aren’t paying attention yet so take all of those gloom and doom polls and file them under the “people-saying-whatever-pops-in-their-mind” column of importance.

There is a path

This week’s podcast is a solo show. Traditionally the holiday weekend shows are a little different so I figured I’d just jam for 45 minutes about just how dangerous Trump’s plans are and how we as Democrats can fight back, what we should talk about, and how you can help in the mission. I hope you’ll check it out in between hanging out with relatives or listen from your favorite podcast source while walking off your turkey.

The Show

Happy Thanksgiving and our next Paid Subscriber Zoom coming

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving or at least a peaceful one. We had an amazing time with my better half and kids. I smoked a turkey breast for the first time and it came out amazing. Not that Heather wasn’t worried the whole time for giving up control of the main course to a novice like me.

I can’t wait to see you guys soon. I will be announcing our next paid subscriber Zoom event next week! I hope you’ll join us. I’d love to hear from you about what time works best for you so we can have the most folks join the conversation.

Fred