Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda

Hosted by Karen jagoda

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Digital Politics with Karen Jagoda is a non-partisan podcast featuring thought leaders and industry pioneers with insights about innovative approaches to political campaigns, voter engagement, mobilization, fundraising, persuasion, and GOTV. Topics include the power of mobile devices, leveraging social networks, message testing and targeting, cross-media advertising, grassroots organizing, and big data.

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60 recent

August 14, 2026Episode 3225 min

Inside the Fight for Secure Auditable Voting Systems with Susan Greenhalgh Free Speech for People

Susan Greenhalgh, Senior Advisor on Election Security for Free Speech for People, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to pull back the curtain on the security of voting machines and how election results can be manipulated. Having paper ballots provides physical verification of votes and enables post-election audits and recounts when necessary. Still, a broader focus is needed to ensure all votes are counted and reported accurately, with proper protective measures in place. Deepak and Susan talk about Critical vulnerabilities in the US voting system Post-election audits and validation of election results Federal interference threats to mail-in voting and voter eligibility Maintaining confidence in the election system #TheDemLabs #FreeSpeechforPeople #ElectionSecurity #CampaignStrategy #PaperBallots #ElectionProtection #VoterIntimidation #PoliticalCampaigns #PostElectionAudits #GOTV FreeSpeechforPeople.org TheDemocracyLabs.org

August 12, 2026Episode 3125 min

We Are the Power to Win the Future with Gary Lucks

Gary Lucks is an environmental attorney, activist, and author of We Are the Power: To Win the Future, a book designed to mobilize citizens across all districts for the 2026 midterm election. Drawing on extensive campaign experience, Gary presents practical strategies, tools, and tactics for grassroots activism, including community outreach at farmers' markets and transit stops, as well as virtual fundraising events. Emphasizing that everyday people possess untapped potential to defend democracy, the book encourages readers to get involved and includes a list of activist organizations and groups that support local activism. We talk about: Viewing civic participation as a fundamental duty Providing a toolkit for individual activists Pacing activism efforts across two-year election cycles How campaigns can step up their volunteer recruitment and mobilization #GaryLucks #GrassrootsPower #2026Elections #VolunteerMobilization #DigitalPolitics #CampaignStrategy #ProDemocracy #Indivisible #PartiesForDemocracy We Are The Power GaryLucks.com

August 6, 2026Episode 3023 min

Mobile Voting App Lets Verified Voters Weigh In on Legislation with Ramon Perez Digital Democracy Project

Ramon Perez, Executive Director of the Digital Democracy Project, describes the use of a secure mobile voting app that enables verified voters to provide real-time feedback to legislators, showing constituent preferences on bills. This platform leverages AI to summarize complex legislation into accessible language and provides updates on voting records, creating accountability and transparency. This mobile voting technology was originally designed for military use and has been adapted for digital civic engagement. We talk about Value of providing citizens continuous opportunities to influence government policy decisions Harvesting real-time polling data from verified constituents about pending legislation How technology is bridging the gap between constituents and elected officials Need to identify voter preferences that transcend two-party divisions #DigitalDemocracyProject #CampaignTech #MobileVoting #CivicEngagment DigitalDemocracyProject.org

August 5, 2026Episode 2921 min

Political Advertising Marketing and Branding in the Digital Age with Zach Adams VDX.tv

Zach Adams, Director of Client Partnerships for Politics and Public Affairs at VDX.tv, shines a light on the critical distinctions between advertising and marketing in political and advocacy campaigns and how these campaigns are still, for the most part, one-way conversations. Traditional broadcast TV ads may build name awareness but are not effective for building relationships with voters, gathering real-time feedback, or motivating them to take action. A diversified media strategy that reaches voters across multiple digital and traditional channels can be effective in strengthening emotional connections, tailoring messages to voter engagement levels, and spending campaign resources more effectively. We talk about: Differences between advertising and marketing in politics What drives brand loyalty of consumers and voters What is the brand and lessons learned from MAGA Strategic advantages of real-time feedback from interactive digital engagements #VDXTV #PoliticalAdvertising #PoliticalMarketing #PoliticalCampaigns #DigitalVoterOutreach #VoterEngagement #PoliticalBranding #AIinPolitics #ProgrammaticAds #CampaignStrategy VDX.tv

July 28, 2026Episode 2821 min

Trends Revealed in the 2026 Defending Direct Democracy Report with Chris Melody Fields Figueredo BISC

Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Executive Director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, discusses the BISC's recently released 2026 Defending Direct Democracy Report, which highlights that the seemingly isolated policy fights driving ballot initiatives are, in fact, part of a broader authoritarian playbook. Ballot initiatives have become very popular as a way to address genuine public priorities beyond partisan divides but are seen by many as a threat to established political power. We talk about: Using ballot initiatives to restrict rights How the ballot initiative process is being undermined through signature requirement changes, confusing language, and raising thresholds for passage Cross-partisan appeal of ballot initiatives Strengthening direct democracy #BallotInitiativeStrategyCenter #BISC #BallotInitiatives #Organizing #LocalOrganizers Defending Direct Democracy: Attacks on the Ballot Measure Process and the Rise of Authoritarianism Ballot.org

July 16, 2026Episode 2724 min

Reshaping Primaries to Include Growing Number of Independent Voters with Chad Peace the Independent Voter Project

Chad Peace is the legal advisor to the Independent Voter Project and partner at Peace and Shea LLP with experience unlocking choke points in the primary election process. He highlights the barriers that the increasing number of independent and third-party voters and candidates face. Some of the advantages of non-partisan primaries include increasing voter engagement and turnout, and fostering more robust competition among candidates. We talk about: Lessons from the California top-two non-partisan primary system Why closed primaries, like in New York, produce minimal voter turnout Structural barriers that reinforce the two-party system Why election reform must include treating all voters and candidates equally, regardless of party affiliation #IndependentVoterProject #IndependentVoters #OpenPrimaries #NonPartisanPrimaries #ElectionReform #VoterRIghts #NonPartisanReform #MoreChoiceVoting #IVP #PrimaryReform #VoterEngagement #LetAllVotersVote #TopTwoPrimary IndependentVoterProject.org

June 24, 2026Episode 2621 min

Influencer Disclosure and Value of Authentic Voices in an AI-Saturated Media World with Ryan Davis People First

Ryan Davis, CEO of People First highlights how influencers and content creators have become an increasingly important component of a political campaign strategy. The value of an influencer's trusted voice is becoming even more relevant as voters are bombarded with AI-generated ads and content. Transparency and disclosure of paid influencer relationships strengthen credibility and are essential for ensuring compliance with local legal requirements and broader community standards. We talk about: Prioritizing authenticity and why real people stand out compared to AI-generated content Effectiveness of content creators and building modular content Role of Influencers as a core media channel When covering up partnerships with influencers becomes the story #PeopleFirst #PoliticalStrategy #DigitalCampaigns #InfluencerMarketing #CivicEngagement #GOTV #CampaignTech #MediaMix PeopleFirst.cc

June 16, 2026Episode 2532 min

New Liability Approach to Pay for Gun Violence Without Limiting Gun Rights with Joseph Harrington

Joseph S. Harrington, CPU, an independent business researcher and writer specializing in property/casualty insurance, joins Deepak Puri, Founder of The Democracy Labs, to discuss the real costs of gun violence and who is most likely to use a gun for violence. Joseph explains that most gun deaths are suicides, and most shootings are intentional, which makes gun owners uninsurable. This leaves the victims of gun violence to shoulder the burden of a shooting. A focus on the gun sellers is a possible path to protect gun rights, better manage safety programs, and provide compensation to victims. Deepak and Joseph talk about Why traditional liability insurance is not a workable solution for gun violence How gun manufacturers and dealers are shielded from liability Costs of violence include medical care, rehabilitation, and societal costs Creating financial incentives for the gun industry to engage in gun safety and monitoring #TheDemLabs #StateTreasurers #PoliticalActivism #Democracy #Accountability #GunRights #GunControl #GunViolence #GunPolicy #CampaignStrategy #PublicSafety #RIFLAct #Liability TheDemocracyLabs.org

June 9, 2026Episode 2421 min

Gerrymandering in the Age of Real-Time Redistricting and the Impact on Voter Targeting with Andrew Tavani Aristotle

Andrew Tavani, EVP Data at Aristotle, discusses the unprecedented volatility of mid-census redistricting and how Aristotle can quickly update voter files with new district lines, enabling campaigns to target voters accurately. Changes to the Voting Rights Act have resulted in a lack of ethnic data in voter files, adding to the challenge of targeting specific voter demographics. The emerging role of AI in campaign analytics, trends in early voting, and court decisions on gerrymandered districts make the 2026 midterm election highly unpredictable. We talk about: Keeping voter files accurate in a time of rapid changes in district lines that are often challenged in court Impact of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down part of the Voting Rights Act giving states more autonomy not to include ethnicity data in voter files Using AI to provide predictive models of voters in specific districts How campaign strategies have evolved from moving to the center for general elections to a focus on mobilizing the base #Aristotle #PoliticalData #Redistricting #Gerrymandering #VoterFile #EarlyVoting #AIinPolitics #EthnicTargeting #CampaignStrategy #DigitalPolitics #AristotleData Aristotle.com

June 5, 2026Episode 2318 min

Using App-Based Primaries to Crowdsource Candidates to Counteract Gerrymandering with Tom Joseph America's Main Street Party

Tom Joseph is the Treasurer of America's Main Street Party and is intent on counteracting gerrymandering. Tom describes a new system for nominating political candidates through a multi-round, app-based contest that operates separately from the traditional public primary system. The goal is to produce more popular, centrist candidates by making them accountable to constituents rather than chosen by party leadership and wealthy donors. We talk about: Driving constituent endorsements based on a candidate's position on key issues Creating an election app where candidates compete over five rounds, advancing based on endorsements rather than financial contributions Designing a model that avoids traditional candidate ads and rallies during the nomination phase Need to leverage voters from minority populations in heavily gerrymandered districts to help select more moderate nominees #AmericasMainStreetParty #PoliticalTech #CampaignInnovation #Gerrymandering #DigitalOrganizing #PrimaryReform #CivicTech #Elections MainStreetParty.org