About this Episode
In 2022, Americans defied polling, pundits and precedent to stave off the predicted Republican “Red Wave” takeover of Congress and battleground state governments. Despite economic challenges, low presidential approval ratings, and the perennial superior enthusiasm of out-party partisans, Democrats were able to hold the Senate, minimize House losses, and flip or retain key battleground state legislatures and governorships.
Two key events set the foundation for this unprecedented outcome: the Dobbs Supreme Court decision overturning our federal right to abortion care and the January 6th attempted overthrow of our government. These exposed and made visceral MAGA Republicans’ plan to take away freedoms from all but the wealthy, white few. However, it wasn’t enough to just have these events occur. Organizers and candidates needed to bring and keep them top of mind for voters, rendering this election a stark choice between protecting our freedoms or allowing an authoritarian faction to rule over us.
In this episode, we delve into why conventional wisdom about politics doesn’t just miss the mark – it actively impedes what we must do to prevail against right-wing efforts to seize and hold power against the will of the people. Hear about the research, ad making, organizing and strategy that helped deliver key Democratic victories by reminding us of the collective power we have to decide our own future.
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Meet Our Interviewees
Jenifer Fernandez Ancona
Jenifer Fernandez Ancona is the Co-Founder, Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer at Way to Win. Jenifer oversees Way to Win’s political strategy and narrative work and serves as an advisor to the Way to Lead PAC, which supports candidates with bold visions who reflect their communities. Prior to coming on full time to Way to Win, she served as Vice President at Women Donors Network, helping to run the national community of women donors who leverage their wealth, power, and community for a more fair, just, and sustainable world. She has a wide range of experience in communications, donor organizing, strategy development, grassroots organizing, and multi-racial coalition building. Jenifer has worked as Director of Strategic Communications at Citizen Engagement Laboratory, as a consultant to the Democracy Alliance, as a top legislative aide in the California State Assembly, and as a news reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
Michael Podhorzer
Michael Podhorzer has worked in the labor movement for the last thirty years, including ten years as Political Director of the AFL-CIO. His career in politics and organizing goes back to 1975, and has played a role in the last twelve presidential races. Podhorzer helped launch many of the Federation’s political programs, including Working America. He helped found and served on the Executive Committee of America Votes and For Our Future. Podhorzer was recognized as an early leader in evidence driven politics in the book, The Victory Lab. He founded the Analyst Institute, and the Polling Consortium, and helped found and served as Co-Chair of Catlist.
In 2020, he played an important role preparing for Trump’s attacks on the election and his attempts to overturn the results, including founding and chairing the Independent Strategic Research Collaborative (Research Collaborative) and the Defend Democracy Project. He is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. He publishes the substack, Weekend Reading.
Governor Josh Shapiro
Josh grew up in Pennsylvania, watching his parents serve their community — his father was a pediatrician, and his mother was an educator. Their example inspired Josh to enter into public service, and from a young age, Josh recognized that standing up for others was how he wanted to spend his career.
After marrying his high-school sweetheart Lori and welcoming their first child, Josh returned to his hometown and successfully ran for State Representative. As Representative, Josh helped write and pass some of the toughest ethics laws in state history.
In 2016, Josh successfully ran to be Pennsylvania’s Attorney General. As AG, he has restored integrity to an office badly in need of reform and taken on big fights for the people.
During the 2020 presidential election, Josh protected the right to vote and defended Pennsylvania’s election result, winning in court dozens of times before and after Election Day. He continues to call out the dangerous lies that undermine our democracy and provide steady, strong, and competent leadership to protect voting rights in Pennsylvania.
In January 2021, Josh was sworn in for his second term as Attorney General.
In November 2022, Josh made history as the highest vote-getter in Pennsylvania gubernatorial history. Alongside his running mate Austin Davis, Josh is ready to work with every Pennsylvanian to move our Commonwealth forward.
Josh and Lori live in Montgomery County with their three school age sons, and their eldest daughter attends the University of Pittsburgh.