Political Engagement in the Digital Age with Elizabeth Losh

In this episode, Elizabeth Losh, Professor of English and American Studies at William and Mary, joins us to explore the transformative role of digital technology in politics, from past presidents' strategies to the present-day campaigns shaping our future. We dive into Kamala Harris’s first presidential run, examining her use of Instagram Live and how her social media presence has evolved since then. We also discuss her approach to engaging with voters this election cycle in public spaces, creating a dynamic connection between candidate and community.

We dissect the phenomenon of the memification in the election cycle, revealing how viral moments can shape narratives and influence public perception. Plus, we look at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s savvy social media tactics to galvanize voters.

Finally, we ask the question: if Kamala Harris secures the presidency, how can the momentum of youth engagement and enthusiasm cultivated through social media be sustained? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the future of political engagement in the digital age!

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Selfie Democracy: The New Digital Politics of Disruption and Insurrection by Elizabeth Losh

Obama administration’s We The People platform

Obama addressing the interest in legalizing marijuana at the first ever White House online town hall

“Kamala is Brat” / Coconut tree tiktok

Vance’s Epic Egg Fail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5BWPmIfFKo&t=70s

“Eating the dogs” remix from tiktok 

Tim Walz car repair video clip 

Jon Lovett on Survivor 

Kamala Harris is reclaiming what it means to be a "woman in the kitchen" (Salon.com)

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris/Walz on Instagram

Trump Uses AI for Church Photo https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/03/23/donald-trump-shares-fake-ai-created-image-of-himself-on-truth-social/

US Representative Mike Garcia https://mikegarcia.house.gov/

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Music:
“In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X.
In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet  https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet
Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental
Free Download / Stream: