Political Trade Secrets: Winning Campaigns | Elections | Politics

🎙️ Political Trade Secrets: Last Full Measure of Devotion—Stories Behind Memorial DayJoin host Dustin Olson and guest J. Mark Powell—author, syndicated columnist, and former television network journalist—for a thoughtful Memorial Day conversation honoring Americans across generations who gave what Abraham Lincoln called the “last full measure of devotion” for our country.Drawing from Powell’s new book, Witness to War: The Story of the Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It, the conversation explores real human stories from the front lines of the Civil War and the sacrifices that helped shape America’s traditions of remembrance.This episode reveals why honoring the fallen is not just about history, patriotism, or rows of white headstones in national cemeteries—it is about real people, real families, and the real sacrifices that shaped the nation.The episode explores:• How the massive loss of life during the Civil War helped shape the origins of Decoration Day and eventually Memorial Day• What real letters and firsthand accounts reveal about death, grief, sacrifice, and daily life during the Civil War• How Americans processed loss on a scale the nation had never experienced before• Why Memorial Day still matters today—from Civil War remembrance to Korean War veterans and modern military sacrifice• The traditions Americans use to honor the fallen, from national cemeteries and Taps to modern moments of remembrance• Why patriotic holidays help cultivate national character, identity, gratitude, and civic memory🔹 Order Witness to War: The Story of the Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It by J. Mark Powell on Amazon!👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for more episodes exploring history, patriotism, public life, and the stories that shaped America.

🎙️ Political Trade Secrets: 📊 PART TWO: Data-Driven Field Strategy: From the 2000 Florida Recount to the 2013 RNC AutopsyJoin host Dustin Olson and guest Chris McNulty—Fmr. RNC Political Director and National Sales Director at In Field Strategies—for part two of their conversation as they pull back the curtain on some of the most consequential behind-the-scenes moments in modern Republican campaign history.From the chaos of the 2000 Florida recount and the so-called “Brooks Brothers Riot,” to the GOP’s post-2012 rebuild after Mitt Romney’s loss, to the field testing and voter-contact strategies that helped Republicans win back the U.S. Senate in 2014, this episode reveals how campaigns actually learn, adapt, and win.The episode explores:• What really happened inside the 2000 Florida recount—the so-called Republican Thugs of the “Brooks Brothers Riot,” SCOTUS decision on Bush v. Gore, and more• How the RNC rebuilt after Romney’s 2012 loss, including lessons from the ORCA debacle, the 2012 autopsy, and Reince Priebus’ leadership• How microtargeting, quality voter data, and direct contact became central to modern campaign strategy• Why contacting voters multiple different ways isn’t annoying, but is actually necessary to get results• What Chris McNulty thinks Republicans should do heading into the 2026 midterms🔹Join Polling Club for exclusive insights on public opinion: PollingClub.com👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for your front-row seat to how politics really works.

🎙️ Political Trade Secrets: Brand Politics—How Democrats Lost the Working Class & Why Latinos Are the New Soccer MomsJoin host Dustin Olson and Chuck Rocha—Democratic strategist, founder of Solidarity Strategies, former Labor organizer, and leading expert on Latino marketing—as they pull back the curtain on cutting-edge campaign messaging and advertising techniques.From connecting with minority voters through true cultural competency to rebuilding trust with working-class Americans, this episode reveals messaging that actually drives votes and exposes what both parties are getting wrong—and what they could do differently—as the midterm elections loom.The episode explores:• How Democrats drifted away from blue-collar voters and how they could win them back• The secret to why both Trump and Chuck’s client Bernie Sanders resonate with voters• What Democrats and Republicans should do heading into the 2026 midterm elections• Why Chuck believes Latino voters are the new “soccer moms” of politics• Where campaigns are failing with multilingual audiences🔹 Join Polling Club for exclusive insights on public opinion: PollingClub.com👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for your front-row seat to how politics really works.

🎙️ Political Trade Secrets: 📊 PART ONE: Data-Driven Field Strategy: The Mechanics of Winning Elections & The Role Parties PlayJoin host Dustin Olson and Chris McNulty—Fmr. Political Director at the RNC and National Sales Director at In Field Strategies—as they pull back the curtain on how Republicans won back the US Senate in 2014, how Ohio transformed from purple to red, and what running campaigns is actually like. From field operations before modern data to the systems, structure, and strategy that determine who wins, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at campaigns and political parties.The episode explores:• Why direct voter contact still wins elections, and how it can be enhanced in a data-driven world• Timeless principles of GOTV from Abe Lincoln to John Wayne (yes, that’s right) to today• The role “party bosses” like the legendary Chairman Bob Bennett played in campaigns🔹Join Polling Club for exclusive insights on public opinion: PollingClub.com👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for your front-row seat to how politics really works.

🎙️ Political Trade Secrets: Controlling the Narrative: What Politics Can Learn From Trial Attorneys | Why would a Democrat say Trump understands commanding attention and shaping narratives better than other politicians?Join Dustin Olson and Donte Mills—national trial attorney, Temple law professor, and Democrat analyst—as they pull back the curtain on how persuasion actually works in courtrooms, campaigns, and the media—and why controlling the narrative often matters more than the facts themselves.The episode explores:• Why the same set of facts can lead to completely different outcomes• Why many trials are effectively decided before the judge ever picks up the gavel• The one thing Donte has done in his career that 99% of other lawyers never have• How Donte’s work with celebrities like Kevin Hart transformed the entertainment industry• What high-profile cases like Johnny Depp’s reveal about the hidden media battles for the Jury’s mind and the court of public opinion🔹 Join Polling Club for exclusive insights on public opinion: PollingClub.com👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for your front-row seat to how politics really works.