PULSE POINTS
WHAT HAPPENED: Hillary Clinton expressed concerns over Democrats falling behind conservatives in digital communication strategies, particularly in social media and podcasting.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hillary Clinton, Stephen K. Bannon, and the Democratic and Republican Parties.
WHEN & WHERE: Clinton made these remarks during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday.
KEY QUOTE: “Right now, most people get their news from social media. So if they’re getting their news from, you know, 15-second videos, three-second takes, three-hour podcasts where people are just kind of unplugged and saying whatever, then Democrats had better compete in those arenas.” – Hillary Clinton
IMPACT: Clinton’s remarks highlight the challenges Democrats face in reaching younger voters and competing in modern digital platforms against conservatives.
IN FULL
Hillary Clinton is warning that Democrats are lagging behind conservatives in the digital space, particularly in the realms of social media and podcasting, which she says are shaping political engagement among younger voters. Speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the former First Lady and Secretary of State said her party has “stopped being effective communicators in modern communications” and credited former Trump White House Chief Strategist and WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon with recognizing early on how to engage young men online through “unplugged” podcasts.
“The Republican Party, I have to say, has done a much better job dominating social media, dominating the podcast ecosystem, getting messages out and aiming, particularly at young men,” Clinton remarked, adding that Democrats are still trying to “catch up.” She went on to note that Bannon, specifically, recognized that “young men who were into gaming” and “on the Internet a lot” could be “persuaded to be political supporters of the Republican Party, if the Republican Party actually engaged and talked to them in the right way.”
Clinton emphasized the importance of competing in online “arenas,” noting that most people now get their news from social media and short-form content. “Right now, most people get their news from social media. So if they’re getting their news from, you know, 15-second videos, three-second takes, three-hour podcasts where people are just kind of unplugged and saying whatever, then Democrats had better compete in those arenas,” she stated.
She also warned that the audience watching MSNBC live represents only a “small portion” of voters, underscoring the need for her party to expand its reach.
Image by Gage Skidmore.
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