Happy Wednesday, Politicados! Yesterday was Super Tuesday, which means today will be full of discussion of the results… Or, they would, if anything interesting happened. But even though I am comfortably writing this on Tuesday night before results trickle in, I feel confident in projecting that nothing surprising will happen (unless I am jinxing myself, in which case, I look forward to voting for Dean Phillips in November).

For today’s header, I wanted to direct your attention to an article in Salon shared by LawTalkingGuy on Monday. I thought it was a great read and worth re-highlighting to everyone. It’s an interview with Rachel Bitecofer about her recent book, Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy By Beating Republicans at Their Own Game. She talks about how Democrats have tried to message in the past, why it’s not working, and what she sees as a more effective path forward.

Bitecofer’s most basic point is simple: Democrats as a whole — despite their “reality-based” self-image — have been unable or unwilling “to accept that the American voter is, at best, rough clay,” and to work with it accordingly. On the other hand, she writes, “Republicans have long understood this and have built an electioneering system that shapes the electorate and meets voters where they actually are.” The point of “Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts” is to convince Democrats to change their strategic approach while there’s still time to rescue democracy, and to focus relentlessly on the threat posed by Republicans in terms that hit voters where they are. 

The good news is that some Democrats have already made that shift, while others are groping their way towards it. But to be effective, this needs to be comprehensive, bottom-to-top systemic change, Bitecofer believes, and that hasn’t happened yet. She also discusses the effects of the right-wing media ecosystem, and the think-tank and donor infrastructures that underlie it, to paint a fuller picture of America’s perilous political situation. But in fact, she argues, Democrats and their allies can turn the tide by focusing on low-hanging fruit — the things that are easiest to change. Salon interviewed her with a particular focus on those most immediate concerns and the 2024 election. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

I encourage you to read the article. And maybe read her book! I also encourage you to be kind and thoughtful today. Cheers.