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How Twitter Became Real Life

Geordan Neinstein

Campaign staffers always debate how much Twitter (or X, ugh) influences real life. Does what goes viral online actually reflect how the Democratic base feels?


Many credit Gen-Z Democrats on Twitter and TikTok for Tim Walz’s unexpected rise to join Kamala Harris on the ticket. In fact, our focus group showed that most Democratic donors like you wanted Harris to pick someone else:

After the announcement, however, Tim Walz had an approval rating of 77% in our follow-up focus group, even though only 27% of donors knew even a little bit about him before Harris started vetting potential running mates.


He was nowhere near the top of the shortlist when he called republicans ‘weird’ on MSNBC and went mega viral.

But then began a race among Twitter users to find the next viral Tim Walz clip. Smiling with a pig. Taking selfie videos at the state fair with his daughter Hope (contrast that with J.D. Vance, who wants to ban the medical miracle that brought her into this world).


And when the pick was finally announced, it felt like Twitter had become real life. Thousands cheered as Walz made a subtle nod to the infamous couch. Then millions more saw, liked, and shared. Again and again.

How did all this happen? The common link seems to be cable news.


Crooked Media has a great tech podcast called “Offline,” and something they said on a recent episode stuck with me: “Twitter is the assignment Desk of the national news media.”


In other words, the media decides what to cover based on what's trending. But with Elon Musk now openly endorsing and promoting Trump on Twitter/X, we as Democrats need to make sure our message isn’t lost in the noise of right-wing propaganda.


So New. Digital. Now. is building the nation’s largest Democratic donor focus group to provide local candidates and news outlets with informed, data-driven messaging. Powered by our new technology, your input will shape a better future for Democrats online.


If you’re reading this, thank you for supporting our movement. Whether you donated, joined the focus group, or even just took the time to read all this, we couldn’t do any of it without you. Stay tuned to learn more!

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