Representative Gil Cisneros (D-CA 31) and Max Katz sit down with Cenk Uygur, founder of The Young Turks and co-founder of Justice Democrats for a conversation about political messaging, media bias, and building a winning progressive movement. They dive into why "Defund the Police" backfired, how to frame issues like immigration and policing to actually persuade voters, and the dangers of falling into right-wing media traps. Cenk shares his experiences with activism, coalition-building, and the need for real economic populism through efforts like Rebellion PAC. They also discuss the fractured media environment and the importance of keeping hope alive heading into 2026 and beyond.
Chapters:0:00 - Introductions2:00 - What Rebellion PAC stands for9:00 - Challenges with media coverage and visibility14:00 - Different styles of political fighting18:00 - Civil disobedience and “leaders eat last” story24:00 - Building a diverse political coalition28:00 - Winning in purple and red districts32:00 - Business experience and progressive values36:00 - Damage caused by “Defund the Police” messaging42:00 - Fixing policing without abolishing it47:00 - Media narratives and messaging traps50:00 - Radical purity tests vs popular progressive ideas55:00 - Right-wing media and unpopular wedge issues1:00:00 - How militarization is changing police culture1:07:00 - How counterproductive activism hurts movements1:10:00 - Social media distortion and bad messaging1:14:00 - Reframing the Israel-Palestine debate1:20:00 - Rebellion PAC’s approach to internal disagreement1:25:00 - Fighting Trump through patriotism and persuasion1:30:00 - Winning over Trump voters with better framing1:36:00 - How to get involved
Thank you for tuning into the ‘Who Dem?’ Podcast! We bring on Democratic leaders, candidates, personalities, and more with a goal of truly getting to know the person beyond politics. Hosted by Representative Gil Cisneros (D-CA 31) and Mat Katz.
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