Anchor Change with Katie Harbath

The morning after the 2026 midterms, I hosted a live Q&A on what Tuesday changed for tech — and took questions on my book, Disrupting Politics: A Front Row Seat to the Collision of Technology and Democracy. We talked about the vote for checks and balances, what comes next for House Republican leadership, Trump as a lame duck, and the 2028 hopefuls already distancing themselves. Then the tech half: hearings and subpoenas instead of a federal AI law, trust and safety coming back into public view, the AI election war rooms at OpenAI and Anthropic, how chatbots answered election questions (and the pink-slime gap left when real news sites block them), AI-generated ads, the $11 billion ad-spending split between broadcast and streaming, livestreams and influencers as the new election-night coverage, and what Lula’s WhatsApp operation in Brazil tells us about 2028 and 2029. The second half is audience Q&A — on federal vs. state regulation, data centers and local pushback, long-form content and fundraising burnout, algorithms and extremism, James Talarico’s digitally native campaign, and why I wrote the book: from the 2000 election to the tech CEOs at the inauguration in 2025, helping campaigns get online in the early days of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, a decade at Facebook running global elections, and what the social media era taught us heading into the AI era. Disrupting Politics is out now in print and ebook. The audiobook, narrated by me, arrives November 10. * My newsletter from this morning: https://anchorchange.substack.com/p/what-the-midterm-results-mean-for * More on the book: https://anchorchange.substack.com/p/disrupting-politics-book We’re living through a moment where AI, politics, media, and technology are all crashing into each other at once. Anchor Change is where I connect the dots, share what I’m noticing, and help people panic responsibly about what comes next. Subscribe for grounded analysis and strategic insight from someone who’s been inside the rooms where these decisions get made. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anchorchange.substack.com/subscribe

Voters are using AI to research candidates. Campaigns are using AI to write fundraising emails. Platforms are updating their policies — and their enforcement is lagging behind. But what does the data actually show? ​This is a replay of the webinar I hosted on AI and the 2026 midterms — pulling from original polling with 1,010 likely voters (conducted with the Rainey Center), a survey of 68 campaign professionals on how they’re using AI inside their operations, and her ongoing analysis of how major platforms are preparing for November. ​This isn’t a recap of the AI discourse. It’s an interpretation of what the data signals — the partisan splits, the governance gaps, and the transparency questions that are going to matter when it counts. ​The last 20 minutes will open for Q&A and discussion. The format mirrors Anchor Change’s monthly Briefing Network calls, so you’ll also get a live preview of what membership looks like. For more information on the poll and survey: * Voters are using AI to fact-check. The tools are wrong 90% of the time. * What Campaign Professionals Told Us About AI in Politics * The partisan divide in campaign AI use: Republicans generate more content, Democrats govern it more We were also joined by Luis Lozada, the CEO of Democracy Works, to talk about their work with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. To learn more, visit their website. Click here to view the slides presented. The private room for senior practitioners in tech, politics and democracy There’s no shortage of newsletters covering this space. What’s missing is a place where the people closest to it — trust and safety leads, policy professionals, campaign strategists, Hill alumni — can actually think it through together. The Anchor Change Briefing Network is that room. Private memos twice a month. A live monthly peer conversation under Chatham House Rules. 38 founding seats at $400/month. Once they’re gone, pricing moves to $500. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anchorchange.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Katie talks with Charley Johnson about his leap into independent work through his newsletter, Untangled, and what it takes to build a life and career outside traditional structures. Charley breaks down how power actually moves through technology, why many leaders still misread the systems they operate within, and how imagination—not just strategy—shapes better futures. He shares the blind spots he sees most often in tech and policy, the role community plays in sustaining meaningful change, and how AI fits into the broader landscape of systems transformation. Charley closes with an honest reflection on success—what he’s letting go of, what he’s moving toward, and why metrics alone will never tell the full story. Learn more about Charley’s upcoming workshops: 1) Mapping Your System: How to Navigate Power, People & Change in Uncertain Times and 2) Beyond the Principles: How to Make Responsible AI Real, A 3-Part Intensive for Tech & Society Leaders. Takeaways * Independent work can be both disorienting and deeply energizing. * Power in tech often operates invisibly, yet shapes outcomes everywhere. * Building community is essential for meaningful, sustainable change. * Many leaders misinterpret data as neutral rather than value-laden. * Technology must be aligned with a clear, intentional vision of the future. * Cynicism limits possibility; curiosity expands it. * AI is a tool—not an answer to systemic problems. * True success is grounded in fulfillment and relationships, not just scale. * Understanding systems is essential to influencing them. * Imagination is a critical—yet underrated—skill in tech and policy. Chapters * 00:00 Mapping Power and Technology * 22:45 The Journey of Independence * 27:39 Navigating Content Creation * 33:02 Defining Success and AI Perspectives * 38:30 Building Businesses with Purpose * 39:00 Looking Ahead: Technology and Future Planning Anchor Change with Katie Harbath is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anchorchange.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Katie talks with Clare O’Donoghue Velikić about the shifting landscape of political advertising in Europe—and what’s driving those changes. They trace how Brexit, the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and rising public scrutiny of tech platforms set the stage for today’s regulatory environment. Clare breaks down the stark differences between U.S. and European campaign practices, the ripple effects of GDPR and data rules, and how policymakers are thinking about political communication in a post-scandal world. They also unpack Meta’s recent decision to ban political ads in the EU, exploring why it matters, who it affects, and what transparency risks emerge when legitimate political messaging is pushed out of public view. The conversation offers a grounded look at the future of digital campaigning in Europe—and the tradeoffs ahead as platforms, regulators, and political actors navigate a rapidly changing system. Takeaways * Regulation intended to increase transparency can lead to less transparency. * Europe’s political advertising landscape is significantly different from the US. * Data protection laws in Europe limit campaign strategies. * The early days of Facebook were marked by excitement and innovation. * The Cambridge Analytica scandal raised serious concerns about data use in politics. * Building political ad transparency tools was a complex process. * The current political ad ban in Europe poses risks to democratic discourse. * Extremist content may thrive in the absence of regulated political ads. * Finding a compromise between tech companies and regulators is crucial. * The removal of political ads silences moderate voices in social media. Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to Political Advertising in Europe * 03:38 Differences Between US and European Political Campaigning * 06:12 The Early Days of Facebook and Political Campaigning * 08:56 The Impact of Cambridge Analytica and Foreign Interference * 11:14 Building Political Ad Transparency Tools * 13:59 Challenges in Regulating Political Advertising * 16:49 Personal Experiences in Political Campaigning * 19:02 The Role of Data and Privacy in Political Advertising * 25:43 Political Ad Authorization and Campaign Dynamics * 29:29 Challenges of Political Advertising in Europe * 33:08 Meta’s Political Ad Transparency Initiatives * 39:05 Impact of New Regulations on Political Advertising * 44:12 The Future of Political Advertising and Social Media * 48:53 The Role of Moderation in Social Discourse * 52:15 The Evolution of Political Advertising on Facebook * 52:44 Challenges of Transparency in Online Ads Anchor Change with Katie Harbath is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anchorchange.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Katie Harbath sits down with Michelle O’Grady of Team Friday to unpack how culture, identity, and technology are transforming the way brands and civic leaders connect with younger generations. They explore the rise of mixed-race identities, the fluid ways Gen Z and Gen Alpha see themselves, and what this means for marketers who want to stay relevant. Michelle shares how her work at the intersection of academia and brand strategy helps companies understand shifting consumer behavior—and why long-term thinking matters more than ever. The conversation also reflects on how politics and pop culture are colliding, and what authenticity really looks like when engaging the next generation. Takeaways * Understanding generational change is essential for modern marketing * Mixed-race identities are rapidly reshaping the demographic landscape * Brands must break out of siloed thinking to stay relevant * Gen Alpha’s worldview will drive the next wave of consumer expectations * Civic engagement is shifting alongside cultural and identity trends * Younger audiences expect authenticity from political and cultural leaders * Cultural fluidity demands nuanced, adaptive marketing strategies * Long-term, relationship-driven approaches outperform quick fixes * Effective engagement starts with meeting people where they already are * Complex, multifaceted identities require more sophisticated brand storytelling Chapters * 00:00 Journey from Academia to Marketing * 04:45 Understanding Mixed Race Identity * 07:48 Merging Academic Insights with Brand Strategy * 12:38 The Rise of Gen Alpha * 16:40 Civic Participation and Political Engagement * 20:05 Changing Dynamics of Civic Participation * 23:50 Engaging the Younger Generation in Politics * 29:40 The Courage to Start a Business * 31:38 Complexity in Consumer Behavior * 38:24 Understanding Demographic Shifts * 40:49 Authenticity in Connection Points * 43:32 The Importance of Listening in Communication * 44:00 Long-Term Planning in Marketing and Communication Anchor Change with Katie Harbath is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anchorchange.substack.com/subscribe