The Real Question Isn't What We're Saying—It's How We're Working Together
Do Democrats really have a messaging problem? Or is it a messenger problem? Or a platform problem?
The answer is all three. But here's what nobody wants to admit: our biggest problem isn't external—it's internal.
We Have the Infrastructure. We're Just Not Using It Right.
Look around. We have thousands upon thousands of progressive political and non-profit organizations around the country, dedicated to social justice, equality, inclusion, and political action.
We have labor unions nationwide. We have candidate training programs at every level, from local school board races to congressional campaigns.
Podcasts? Social Media Platforms? Also multiple sources. Sources with millions of followers and subscribers. Yet, we have Democratic leaders soliciting major donors to fund new platforms. Why? We’re not fully utilizing what currently exists.
So why do we keep losing winnable elections?
Because too often, I've sat in rooms where organizational leaders would rather protect their turf than build real power. They'd rather it be "their idea," their credit, their spotlight—even if it means we all lose together. This ego-driven approach to organizing is killing us. We will continue to lose elections if we keep choosing individual recognition over collective victory.
It's time to choose differently.
What We Can Do: Build Real Community, Not Just Networks
Start Where You Are
Every single one of us has agency. Whether you have 5 followers or 5 million on social media, your voice matters. Your followers are reading. They're listening. Engage them. Post consistently. Share your truth. Stop waiting for permission to speak up.
But social media isn't enough. What about the hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters who don't scroll Twitter daily or follow political content? How do we reach the people who showed up for the Women's March in 2017, then disappeared when we failed to channel that energy into lasting change? What about the millions who participated in No Kings Day on June 14th—where are they now?
We can’t squander these moments. We cannot afford to squander the next ones.
The Voter Registration Reality Check
Here's a hard truth: Democrats could win every single race if we got all registered Democrats to actually vote. Yes, we must register every eligible voter we can find. But we also have a responsibility to the millions already on the rolls who've sat out recent elections.
Instead of chasing new registrations while ignoring existing voters, we need to do both. Find out why longtime Democrats stopped showing up. Listen to their frustrations. Address their concerns. Bring them home.
Support the Voices That Matter
Independent media creators are doing heroic work, often without the resources they deserve. Subscribe to their Substacks. Support their reporting. Make it possible for them to keep telling the stories mainstream media won't touch.
Today I'm specifically recommending Amy Pritchard of GainPower and Will Robinson of The New Media Firm. Amy writes with the kind of clarity and urgency we need right now. Her recent posts—"No Silver Bullet: It Takes Political Will to Build Real Power" and "Five Hard Truths About What We're Doing Wrong"—should be required reading for anyone serious about winning.
Will has been in the rooms where decisions get made, and unlike many veterans of Democratic politics, he's actually learned from experience. He's an innovator who understands how to reach voters in ways that work, not ways that make consultants feel comfortable. His piece here and here gives you some insight.
If you want to meet like-minded progressives and support this work and see Will Robinson receive GainPower’s Lifetime Achievement Award TONIGHT RSVP for GainPower's Powerful Idea Awards event—5:30-9PM at 700 M Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. For the cost of an evening out and a couple glasses of wine, you can start building the community we desperately need.
The Authenticity We're Missing
We need to stop performing politics and start living it. Candidates, surrogates, all of us—we need to speak from our hearts, not from talking points. Tell your story. Make it about "we," not "me." Show people how we can create change together instead of promising what you'll do for them.
Look at what's happening in the Greater Los Angeles area right now. Ordinary people have become activists, documenting injustices, confronting agents, protesting civil rights violations. They're not waiting for perfect messaging or polling data. They're responding to what they see with courage and clarity.
Normal, everyday people are taking videos, standing up to masked militia, fighting back against the White Supremacist agenda being implemented from the White House. They understand what's at stake.
Our Goldilocks Problem
As Democrats, we suffer from Goldilocks Syndrome. Everything has to be just right. The polling has to be perfect. The message has to be focus-grouped. The strategy has to be approved by consultants who've been losing elections for decades.
Meanwhile, our opponents are out there winning with authenticity, passion, and a willingness to take risks. They're not waiting for permission. They're not overthinking it. They're acting.
The Choice Before Us
We can keep doing what we've always done—protecting egos, perfecting messages, and losing elections. Or we can choose collaboration over competition, authenticity over polish, and collective power over individual credit.
The infrastructure is there. The people are there. The energy is there.
The question is: are we brave enough to use it?
The communities rising up in Los Angeles aren't waiting for us to figure it out. They're showing us what courage looks like. They're demonstrating what happens when ordinary people decide they've had enough.
It's time for the rest of us to follow their lead.
On a side note: I want to welcome and thank all the new subscribers to GirlUnCensored. Please feel free to share with friends, as we build community. And please feel free to share your opinions and/or send me a message.