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Morris Katz, ad-maker at the Fight media firm, is the lead media strategist for Zohran Mamdani's insurgent campaign that secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City in a decisive upset over the long-favored Andrew Cuomo. In this conversation, Morris talks his NYC roots, coming from an artistic family, his accidental path into politics, and a deep dive into the Mamdani campaign's monumental win. We discuss the candidates, the overarching strategy, important tactical decisions, inside the memorable viral and paid media content, the role of outside groups, what is misunderstood about the race, what is replicable for others and much more with a lead operative on one of the most impressive and innovative campaigns in recent memory.

IN THIS EPISODE

Morris grows up in downtown Manhattan in an artistic household...

What diverted Morris from focusing on screenwriting to a career in politics...

How a stint in North Carolina politics shaped Morris' trajectory...

What is unique about Morris' firm, Fight...

How Morris entered the world of Zohran Mamdani & his first impressions of the candidate...

Morris breaks down the 3-phase strategy of the Mamdani mayoral campaign...

The role the DSA-NY and Working Families Party played in the rise of Zohran Mamdani...

How the Mamdani field operation fundamentally changed the race...

Was the Free Palestine movement integral to the Mamdani ascent...

Inside the Mamdani digital program and why it caught fire...

A communication strategy the Mamdani campaign "unlocked"...

Technical aspects that made Mamdani video and ad content stand out...

What makes Zohran Mamdani an effective political communicator?

The paid-media strategy undergirding the campaign's rise...

How the Knicks playoff run impacted Mamdani media decisions...

Why the campaign invested in :15 second ads...

Parallels between Zohran Mamdani and Barack Obama...

How Morris views the attacks on Mamdani of anti-semitism and defunding the police...

The influential role played by mayoral candidate Brad Lander...

Unpacking the winning Mamdani coalition...

Morris' most surreal post-election moment...

What is most replicable for other campaigns from the Mamdani success?

AND AOC, Elle Bisgaard-Church, Eric Bogosian, Jamaal Bowman, Adam Carlson, Josh Charles, Andrew Cuomo, Bill de Blasio, Bob Dylan, Andrew Epstein, eyebrows, halal-flation, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rebecca Katz, Brett Leonard, Willy Loman, manic energy, Tommy McDonald, Matt McLaughlin, Melted Solids, Arthur Miller, Julian Mulvey, the new brunch, Trey Nix, the politics of sighs, Antonio Reynoso, Katie Riley, Sam Rockwell, John Shanley, Erica Smith, Nydia Velazquez, Yul Vasquez, villains...& more!

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Mike Nellis is the founder of Authentic, a digital fundraising firm that's raised over $1 billion for it's clients including Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff and numerous Governors, Senators, and high profile organizations. He was also a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign, the co-founder of White Dudes for Harris in the 2024 presidential campaign, and an active thinker and leader on how progressive politics has to evolve in a changing world.

IN THIS EPISODE

Growing up in a conservative, middle class home in Omaha...

Anti-Iraq War protests draw Mike into political activism...

Mike's time as an Obama volunteer and fellow in the '07-'08 Iowa Caucus...

On the campaign trail from Nebraska to North Carolina to Connecticut and more...

Mike's connection to the 2016 Bernie Sanders' campaign...

Mike's take on why a full primary would've helped the Kamala Harris' 24 presidential effort...

Mike founds Authentic, a firm focused on online fundraising...

Mike's time as a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential bid...

Behind the scenes of designing the Harris' 2020 logo...

Mike's recent focus as a General Consultant for campaigns...

Why Democrats have become so risk-averse?

Mike co-founds the White Dudes for Harris 2024 group...

What Democrats must do to better appeal to younger men...

The right balance of economics vs culture in Democratic campaigns...

Should messaging and governance go big or go small?

Where do Democrats need to move to the center?

Mike's encouragement for those working in politics to stay healthy...

AND...90s pro wrestling, AKAs, Avon, Brene Brown, George W. Bush, Pete Buttigieg, Carter Lake, James Carville, Bob Casey, Shirley Chisolm, Bill Clinton, John Fetterman, Flagrant, Scott Galloway, Jared Golden, Al Gore, Nikki Haley, hollowed-out banks, John Kerry, Larry King, Jane Kleeb, Scott Kleeb, Dan Malloy, Joe Manchin, Elaine Marshall, Ross Morales Rocketto, Morningside University, Elon Musk, music appreciation class, Trevor Noah, Martin O'Malley, Orange Theory, Ben Ostrower, Jordan Peterson, Ro Khanna, Chris Rock, Joe Rogan, Pat Ryan, Adam Schiff, Lis Smith, Tim Tagaris, Andrew Tate, Vampire Weekend, Theo Von, Tim Walz, Paul Wellstone, Wide Eye Creative & more!

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Congressman Mike Quigley is in his 9th term representing Chicago's North Side and Lakefront as a Democrat in the House. He made waves last year after the first presidential debate as one of the first elected Democrats to publicly urge President Biden to step aside as the party's nominee. In this conversation, we talk through what led him to speak out, the reaction from the White House and his colleagues, and why he believes it's an important conversation for the party to have now. We also discuss his path in politics as a staffer, as a reformer on the Cook County Board, winning a 20+ candidate '09 special election to replace Rahm Emanuel in the House, favorite moments during his tenure, what he's learned visiting Ukraine, and what Democrats need to do to better connect with voters.

IN THIS EPISODE

Growing up in a conservative, blue-collar household in in the Midwest...

The teacher who made an impression on his politics and the advice he continues to quote today...

Learning both theory at the University of Chicago and practical politics while cutting his teeth in Cook County politics...

Why he lost his first race for office and how he turned a loss into a win a few years later...

A decade on the Cook County Board as a reformer taking on the Chicago machine...

How he won a 20+ person special election in 2009 to replace Rep. Rahm Emanuel in the House...

Initial impressions and surprises in his early days in Congress...

Two members who served as his mentors...

Some of the work he's done in the House he's most proud of...

Why Ukraine matters and what he's learned by traveling to the country several times...

Why he was one of the first Democratic elected officials to call on President Biden to step aside as the '24 Democratic nominee in the aftermath of the debate...

Reactions from colleagues and constituents after going public with his concerns about President Biden...

Do Democrats have a larger problem of too many older Democrats refusing to retire and make way for younger leaders?

Thoughts on how Democrats can better connect with voters...

His favorite Chicago Blackhawks' memory and excitement for the new Chicago Pope...

AND John Anzalone, big cats, Rod Blagojevich, burning your mortgage, cannon fodder, Frank Capra, Carol Stream, Forrest Claypool, Walter Cronkite, Paul Ehrlich, Sara Feigenholtz, John Fritchey, William Fulbright, Mary Gatey, Gabby Giffords, Newt Gingrich, Bernie Hansen, Kasie Hunt, Mark Kirk, John Lewis, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Vladimir Putin, Robert Redford, Branch Rickey, FDR, Paul Ryan, Helen Schiller, Glenn Schneider, Michael Sheahan, Adam Smith, spring chickens, John Stroger, Larry Suffredin, Studs Terkel, Harry Truman, The Weiner Circle, Gary Williams, working for the pension...& more!