2024 Election: Kamala and the left were defeated by the Conservative media system

So many people are still trying to make sense of the 2024 election.

You could argue that Kamala’s messaging and the targeting of that message were off. From a traditional political campaign perspective, it was an excellently run political campaign. The campaign had a robust field, communications, and digital strategy, combining tested campaign methods with emerging tools, media platforms, and strategies. When we look just at what one campaign does or doesn’t do, we are missing much of the broader context.

When training volunteers on a new digital platform this election cycle it became clear. Every election in a democracy is about information. Yes, you could argue with our voting laws combined with a flawed and racist criminal justice system, we do not have a full democracy. Acknowledging that element of reality. From the first elections in the United States, people were completing and printing stories in newspapers. This sharing information and shaping opinions. Even when we knock on doors we hope that the information we share will persuade someone to turn out for our candidate or cause.

At the end of the election, the Harris campaign had run an excellent, 100-day campaign. But they lost to a Trump, the perfect candidate to be at the head of a 30-year media campaign. For 30 years, conservative funders, their institutions, media networks, and think tanks have been driving consistent conservative narratives that have had a profound impact on the Americanprofound impact on the American psyche.

Part of the origin story of Fox News was so that conservatives would never have another Richard Nixon problem. Based on the idea that mainstream reporting on what he and his party had done is what did him in. It wasn’t the crime that mattered, it was how the public perceived the crime.

From the founding of Fox News through this current election, Conservatives have been building a 30-year media and narrative strategy that won.

Trump was the perfect candidate to match their long-term strategy. He is savvy in the reality TV attention-getting economy. He didn’t have deeply held political convictions. Ultimately, he was willing to adapt much of their messaging, not always on script, but also too bombastic to follow every detail. Conservative funders and strategists understand media, narrative setting, and storytelling in a way that very few leaders on the political and advocacy left understand.

Every issue you care about is being influenced by their narrative machine. They didn’t just launch Fox News, but since the early 2000s, they have truly invested in digital media, and it’s not just around the election. It is a 365-day-a-year, non-stop, 30-year strategic program.

Conservatives have turned to social media, blogs, and podcasts to spread their ideas and connect with like-minded individuals. Frame and reshape public narratives and conversations.

One of the earliest forms of online conservative activism was blogging. In the early 2000s, bloggers such as Michelle Malkin and Captain Ed Morrissey gained large followers by sharing their opinions on politics and current events. These blogs served as a platform for conservatives to express themselves freely, without the constraints of traditional media outlets.

Think tanks and funders didn’t just back the big names. They put money into hundreds, if not thousands, of small local blogs, talking about elections and issues.

As social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook rose to prominence, conservative influencers began to leverage these platforms to reach wider audiences. They used hashtags, memes, and viral content to spread their message and engage with followers. This shift towards social media allowed conservatives to bypass traditional gatekeepers and connect directly with their audience. Again, this is funded and fueled by wealthy conservatives and their operatives.

However, the rise of podcasting has taken conservative online activism to a new level. Podcasts have become an increasingly popular medium for conservatives to share their ideas, interview guests, and build communities around shared interests. Shows like “The Ben Shapiro Show” and “The Dan Bongino Show” have gained millions of listeners and have become influential voices in the conservative movement.

But what’s often overlooked is the connection between these online influencers and traditional media outlets like Fox News and One America News Network (OAN). Many of these podcasters and social media personalities have been featured on these networks, using their platforms to promote their shows and ideas. In turn, these networks have provided a megaphone for conservative voices, amplifying their message to a wider audience.

Furthermore, many of these online influencers have also received funding and support from conservative foundations and think tanks. Organizations like the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, and the Koch Brothers’ network of libertarian groups have provided financial backing and resources to help amplify conservative voices online.

According to a report by The New York Times, the Koch Brothers’ network has spent millions of dollars on digital media initiatives, including funding for conservative podcasts and social media influencers. Similarly, the Heritage Foundation has launched its own podcast network, featuring shows hosted by prominent conservatives like Ben Shapiro and Sebastian Gorka.

The connection between online influencers, traditional media outlets, and conservative foundations is not just limited to financial support. Many of these organizations also provide ideological guidance and resources to help shape the conservative message online.

The rise of conservative influencers and podcasters has also led to increased scrutiny from liberal critics. Some have accused these figures of spreading misinformation and promoting divisive rhetoric. However, proponents argue that they are simply providing an alternative perspective to the dominant liberal narrative in mainstream media.

As the conservative movement continues to evolve online, it’s clear that blogs, social media, podcasts, traditional media outlets, and conservative foundations will all play a significant role in shaping public discourse. Whether you agree with their views or not, it’s undeniable that conservative influencers have become a force to be reckoned with in the digital age.

We have a complete confluence of their strategies across these media networks. There isn’t an easy fix. It is going to take a fundamental shift in the way institutional funders and organizations of every size take their media and narrative strategy more seriously. Without organizations and funders getting serious about this their causes will fall behind. The 2024 election will not be a fluke. The 2024 election will be a a very clear point marking the shift in America becoming a more radically conservative country again.

It’s not too late, though. The story can fork, and it can be the high watermark of conservatism. This moment can be a clarion call to institutions, funders, and activists. We must create a system that combines narrative, storytelling, and messaging in a way that connects with more people.

Sources:

• “The Rise of Conservative Influencers” by The New York Times (2020)
• “Conservative Podcasts Are Having a Moment” by The Atlantic (2020)
• “The Conservative Media Machine” by Mother Jones (2019)