Twitter. TikTok. Instagram. Facebook.
Love them or hate them, they have a lot of influence.
We have a plan to work the refs, spread the word, and persuade the persuadable.
Note: there are ways you can help that don’t require you to post on social media at all.
Whether you want to: 1) be active on social media, 2) help with the database, 3) help with the creation of content pieces, or 4) help identify great existing content in the focus areas that we talk about below, please fill out the form below so we’ll know where your interests lie.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. We hope you will be, too.
Interested? But not comfortable with social media? That’s okay, we can help with that!
Basic Social Media Training Starts Next Week
Basic social media training starts next week if you want to be participate in focused action on social media. Or just attend the training because you might learn something interesting.
If you don’t already use social media, MomSense will teach you how to get started with any or all of the major platforms. If you already know how to use them, please come to the first training anyway – if you’re willing to mentor newbie, that would be great. In the second training, we’ll focus on how to leverage the algorithms to maximize our impact. And we’ll show you how to find and download from our new sharable content library!
Training dates: Monday 4/11, Wednesday 4/13, and Thursday 4/14. Start time is 8 pm Eastern.
Read on to learn about our initial goals, the 5 areas we think offer the biggest bang for our buck, and details about the training.
Social Media Goals
Work the refs
Spread the word
Persuade the persuadable
Focus
1. Insurrection
2. Jan 6 Committee
3. Republican corruption, with emphasis on Russian money and influence
4. Election subversion / anti-voting as attacks on democracy
5. Key States / big picture rather than individual races (e.g. 5 seats in PA can flip the senate)
GET INVOLVED!
You can help populate the database of social media contacts, you can be involved in identifying & creating social media content, and you can promote content in the identified Join the Fight focus areas.
You can be involved in just one area, or in all of them . Opportunities are broken out in more detail below.
Social Media Database
A. Help identify influential voices on Twitter and google for their social media accounts to help populate the database
Social Media Content
A. identify great existing content that has a focus on any of items 1-5 above
B. work with state teams to identify content for a shareable state-specific information piece for social media
C. suggest / identify content we might want to create
D. help create or produce video or “print” pieces
Be a Join the Fight Social Media Promoter / Amplifier
A. share content from the Join the Fight SHAREABLE CONTENT area
B. commit to cover one or more “beats” to identify things, related to that entity, that we want to promote
C. follow the lead of what is being promoted by other Join the Fight social media team members
Training Session Details
Suggested reading:
How Libs Can Stop Owning Themselves Online
by Dan Pfeiffer
The Challenge of the Democratic Communications Chasm
by Dan Pfeiffer
Training zoom 1: let’s get started training – set up account, profile, follow people. For folks who know all that, you can be a resource for the novices. We will try to pair each social media newbie with an experienced person for followup how-to questions & social media engagement practice.
Training zoom 2: Digital dow-low for Join the Fight specifically – details of what is needed / expected. Rules of the road, when posting for Join the Fight: language, terms of service, hashtags, don’t give clicks, screen cap vs. engagement. How algorithms work and how that should influence how we work. How to download our shareable content.
Database of Social Media Contacts
Click this link and then scroll down to see the social media contacts that have been identified so far. We need your help in identifying strategically important contacts and entering their social media accounts into the database.
Remember, our goals are to work the refs, spread the word, and persuade the persuadable.
Click Here to sign up, tell us what you’re interested in, and tell us which training dates work for you.
Whether you want to be active on social media, help with the database, help with the creation of content pieces, or just help identify great existing content in the 5 focus areas, please fill out this form so we’ll know where your interests lie. And tell us all the training dates next week that will work for you.
Acts of Kindness: The H of G
MomSense
Today we lost one of the brightest lights – Eric Boehlert. He was unmatched in his ability to push back on the media nonsense and hold journalists accountable. It will take all of us to fill the void he has left.
I know that jackals will be sooo good at this. You are the most clever, witty, funny, decent, vitriolic bunch evah!
Almost Retired
Yes, I need the training. I can already do Facebook, which is kind of the social media gateway drug for tech amateurs and is useful for tracking the fate of High School ex-girlfriends. But I honestly don’t understand Twitter and hashtags and how to interact with twitter users. So I look forward to MomSense’s Social Media 101.
Same with Instagram, which my sons refuse to let me join. But once I am trained I will do so just to spite them. And to protect democracy and all that. But also to embarrass my sons.
TikTok, I don’t get at all, but MomSense will explain it for me, I hope. I sort of assumed it was just a site for posting your twerking videos, which I don’t think I will do. But evidently it’s more than that.
MomSense, I still have an AOL e-mail address, so you are clearly training the marginally trainable! Can’t wait to learn and participate. You have your work cut out for you. But no one should feel they don’t have the basic knowledge to join social media, ’cause I’m in one of the lower percentiles in grasping this concept. This training should fix that!
WaterGirl
@MomSense: I was thinking something similar. We are going to have to work that much harder.
We only had 4 media critics in the social media contacts database, and it was sad to delete him from that today.
FelonyGovt
I want to be part of this, but I’m a bit confused on how to complete the form. I’m on Twitter but have very few followers, and also would prefer not to spend TOO much time on Twitter because it rots my brain. I’m on Facebook under my real name and can’t post political content there for professional reasons.
I guess I could work on identifying influential voices and possibly help create content while not necessarily posting myself?
MomSense
@WaterGirl:
I was devastated when I heard the news. I started following him during the Clinton impeachment days.
Al Nichols
@FelonyGovt: Like yourself I have zero twitter followers, I also have zero twitter patience. I’ll find some other way to make myself useful so if any of the choices on that form seem right to you, please feel welcome to do the same.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt:
Are you clicking on this?
Click Here to sign up, tell us what you’re interested in, and tell us which training dates work for you.
It should take you to a google from with a lavender colored background. Is that what you are seeing?
If you have a green background, you have clicked on the link to the database.
MomSense
@Almost Retired:
We are going to have fun with this! There are a lot of jackals who are on social media and crushing it. MaryG had a great presence on Twitter.
Twerking while talking politics sounds like it could be fun ?
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt:
You could absolutely do that! We need that right away, so the folks who actually want to be the warriors on social media have a good list of strategic social media contacts.
As I said up top, we are looking to work the refs, spread the word, and persuade the persuadable. We will be ignoring the Marge Greens and the Ted Cruz types.
We also need folks to look at the big picture strategies for each of our key states and to come up with ideas for a short video or a “print” sheet for each state.
There are lots of ways to contribute without having to tweet a single tweet. :-)
MomSense
@FelonyGovt:
Content creation is critical.
WaterGirl
@MomSense: Al, Curt and I are developing the first piece of our original shareable content now. Once we identify the content and ideas for images, we’ll send it along to ruemara who will write the actual script and make it happen.
I am hoping that Almost Retired will say more about what we have in mind for this one.
mjl (formerly Judas Escargot (formerly, elsewhere, gaspacho))
“Unleash the Jackals!”
RIP, Eric Boehlert.
RIP, Mary G…
FelonyGovt
@WaterGirl: OK, I submitted the form with what I think I’m good doing. Identifying voices, possibly creating content and working with state specific folks.
@Almost Retired: If you do post your twerking videos, I will join TikTok for that reason alone.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt:
You are not alone in that.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt:
Yay! You won’t need the MomSense training, then, but anyone is welcome to attend.
MomSense
@FelonyGovt:
Ha!! If Almost Retired twerks on tik tok – I will twerk on tik tok.
Challenge accepted!
MomSense
@WaterGirl:
Ooh I forgot to add Rachel Bitecofer. She is a messaging guru and posts excellent content every day.
FelonyGovt
@MomSense: This is getting exciting! ?
WaterGirl
@MomSense: I can’t remember if you have your database login yet. If you do, you can head here and add her.
Click this link and then scroll down to see the social media contacts that have been identified so far.
If you don’t, I can get you one ASAP. Let me know?
WaterGirl
@MomSense:
I think that could fall under the category of “persuading the persuadable”, right?
Sure Lurkalot
Filled out the form. I hope to help populate the data base (data entry grunt work, love it!) and identify content and social media accounts to read and follow. Looking forward to the training…fully expect to be inspired by all the talent and enthusiasm!
ETA Twitter accounts that focus on Fox lies…Aaron Rupar, Acyn. I don’t know how they do it, I assume some sort of mind altering drugs are involved.
MomSense
@FelonyGovt:
@WaterGirl:
Ha! Hopefully not off putting!
Geminid
@MomSense: Re content: every state and Congressional District will benefit from Infrastructure bill spending, whether by Superfund cleanups, car charging stations, mass transit ($10 billion for NYC’s MTA, $60 billion for AMTAK, and more), bridge repairs, and so. There is opportunity there to promote Democratic candidates, and also to call out the lies of Republicans trying to take credit for what they voted against..
WaterGirl
@MomSense: I was just teasing. You and Almost Retired are young enough and cute enough to be able to pull that off. :-)
FelonyGovt
@MomSense: Not at all! Off putting would be me doing it!
WaterGirl
@Geminid: That’s a good idea!
As President Biden likes to say ” They vote no, and take the dough.”
We also really like the idea of creating some thing basic that can work in a lot of places, and then being able to tack on something that makes it work for a certain key state.
Almost Retired
So we’re putting together our first original shareable content piece as sort of a beta project, highlighting the Republican fascination with authoritarianism and their undermining of democracy. Historical analogies will be drawn.
The idea is that the first part of the video will be relatively generic, so that it can be shared and adapted to specific races (“see this? Your congressperson also voted against Nato or praised Putin,” etc.). This is a work in progress (all of this is), which is why we totally welcome input. But once we get the basics to ruemara, it’s going to be totally professional! The power of BJ experts like MomSense and ruemara!
btw, I am the “Curt” referenced above. I sort of float in and out between my nym and my IRL identity. And that’s only because I want to get as many eyeballs as possible for my twerking videos.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: Ha! We both replied with essentially the same thing.
WaterGirl
@Almost Retired:
oops.
FelonyGovt
@WaterGirl: Just sent you an email with yet another question. If you think it has wider application I will post it in comments.
MomSense
@Geminid:
Like Pres Obama said yesterday – we have a story to tell. We just need to tell it.
Part of our challenge is that media do the lazy ‘people are saying’ and then repeat BS Republican talking points.
The latest polling is discouraging. Majorities think we are heading in the wrong direction, think we have lost jobs, disapprove of Biden’s handling of Ukraine. I attribute this to media coverage and it makes our goal to work the refs all the more important.
FelonyGovt
I’m starting a list of contacts I might want to add. A couple questions (sorry, I feel like the dumb kid in class tonight):
Would “influential voices” include people like Ragnarok Lobster (@eclecticbrotha) on Twitter, who have tons of followers and post good Democratic content?
What about someone like Randy Rainbow? I know he’s comedy- but he’s one of us.
Geminid
@MomSense: I think you are right about media coverage and “working the refs.” Effective social media outreach can also work around the refs and cut out the middleman, so to speak.
MomSense
@FelonyGovt:
Ragnarok definitely yes. There are a few things about RR that have come out recently that may be cause for caution.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: I would say yes and yes on Ragnarok Lobster and Randy Rainbow.
For everything we do here, we want to stay focused:
Measure each possible contact against that criterion. Neither one is a “ref” by which we mean the big media people who maybe be pushing “both sides”, like Chuck Todd. Or Jennifer Rubin who is now on the right side. But she has a big audience, and if we could get her to share one of our pieces, that would be a big win because she can push that issue. So that fits, too, under work the ref.
Spread the word? I think yes to both of them on that. Plus they both have a ton of followers, so if they retweeted some of our focused content, then that’s great. They can spread the word and it might help persuade the persuadable.
That’s a long way of saying that if someone can help with one of those three, they are a good choice. If they fit two out of three, then that’s even better But one is enough.
Geminid
@MomSense: Never mind….
WaterGirl
@MomSense: I have not heard anything about RR. What’s up? Or would you rather explain privately?
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: You have your Join the Fight login, correct?
Sure Lurkalot
@MomSense: We do need to shout out the accomplishments and push back on the media’s narrative. As much as it’s satisfying to respond to trolls, there’s the hazard of amplifying their voices. I like how some Twitterers post screenshots of trolls’ posts so their threads aren’t followed.
FelonyGovt
@WaterGirl: Yes! I had it saved.
MomSense
@WaterGirl:
He made some racist and transphobic comments – and has since apologized.
WaterGirl
@Sure Lurkalot:
That kind of thing is part of our training. We don’t want to do anything that ups the engagement factor for any of the bad actors.
Along the same lines, the two articles I linked to above have some great information in them.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: Yay!
WaterGirl
@MomSense: Not sure how it’s possible to accidentally say something racist, unless something is unintentionally phrased poorly. Clueless, yes, but not racist.
It’s similar to people who say mean things if they are fighting with their partner and try to say “I didn’t mean that, I was just mad.”
Sorry, but if you think to say to someone that she is fat or ugly or a bitch or a whore or a cheapskate or whatever, that doesn’t come out of nowhere. Same thing with racists or trans or homophobic comments.
You can be sorry you said something out loud that you wished you hadn’t said, but saying you’re sorry that you said some hateful thing doesn’t really cut it because you apparently actually thought the hateful thing.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: Then you are welcome to start adding contacts that you think match the criterion.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Miss Bianca
Oh, this looks cool…I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make the trainings in real time, tho…pardon me if this is covered up above, but is there any chance the trainings can be recorded for later consumption?
WaterGirl
@Miss Bianca: I think we can probably arrange to record the training. Probably a smart idea, actually!
I hope you’ll sign up using the form that’s up top. There’s a spot where you can type free-form text, just make a note in there that you don’t think you can make the trainings in real time.
schrodingers_cat
@WaterGirl: Why do you our real name?
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: Can you clarify your question? i think there’s a typo or a missing word and I don’t understand what you are asking.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: I think the question was “Why do you [need] our real name?” Not an invalid thing to wonder.
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: Can you clarify your question? i think there’s a typo or a missing word and I don’t understand what you are asking
Oh, I just clicked on the @WaterGirl to see what you replied to, and I’ll bet you are asking why we are asking for a real name. I will answer that in case that’s it.
I get email a zillion times a week from someone where neither the email address nor the way their sign their name in the message matches their nym, and they don’t include their nym in the message. So I don’t know who is writing. Or somebody might go by Susie sometimes and by Spitfire other times, and it helps to be able to match that up.
That’s the reason.
But if you want to participate and you don’t want to share your name, you’re welcome to make up a name if you like.Update:
Without a real name, you will be able to participate in the project on a more limited basis. We are going to require a real name in order for security reasons before a person can have access to the database.
schrodingers_cat
@Omnes Omnibus: Thanks for the correction. That was indeed my question.
schrodingers_cat
@WaterGirl: I am not a fan of Bitcofer or the Obama Bro mentioned in this post. I will look forward to the content before I decide to join.
I am sure you guys will do a great job. I am needed else where.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: I was apparently typing as you posted at #50.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: That’s why I try for pithy. And, no, I do not have a lisp.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Ha!
In all fairness, I was typing the answer and you were only typing the question.
Taphozous
I am only a very occasional commenter here, but this sort of thing (and the Adam Schiff book club) are gradually getting me more active here. I am somewhat active on Twitter and FB. I’ve signed up and am looking forward to this project.
Jeffro
@MomSense: I saw the news and my heart sank…and then, it rose, and made me want to help take up some small (or large!) part of the fight that Eric was carrying out many times daily.
I’m in!
And thanks x a million for this post and all these links, WG. I will read ’em all and get involved a.s.a.p. =)
WaterGirl
@Taphozous: I’m so glad to hear it. In a way, this social media initiative grew out of the book club conversations after the zooms with Adam Schiff.
I have reached out to Adam Schiff’s chief of staff to let them know about this new effort and to let them know that a big part of our focus will be on the Jan 6 committee and to let them know that if we can be useful in any way in getting that information out… to please let us know.
WaterGirl
@Jeffro: I really believe we are fighting against autocracy here at home, and Republicans are getting more brazen by the day.
We need to win this fight.
WaterGirl
We really appreciate the interest that some of you guys have shown tonight.
I am headed to bed but will check first thing tomorrow in the hopes that a whole lot more people chime in overnight.
Geminid
@WaterGirl: I skimmed the social media data base and these people all seem sound. They also lead to other good “citizen journalists.” For instance, @eclecticbrotha (aka Ragnarok Lobster) introduced me to Mangy Jay, Susan Vermazen, Kenneth House of Pfizer, Lynn V, Wonderking82 and other ardent, articulate Democrats that I learn a lot from. And I find encouragement from all the like-minded Democrats who chime in on these people’s timelines with their own witness.
I think that bringing new specific information to these sites- for instance, that Republican Congressmant X is trying to take credit for bridge renovation that he voted against- can be positive contributions that are impactful when amplified. More general arguments may not have as great an effect just because we’ll be “preaching to the choir” more or less.
I would suggest looking into two other areas:
1) Social media accounts of local and state reporters, and of TV stations. Reporters like the Washington Post’s Laura Vozella, who covers their Virginia beat, keeps up an informative Twitter feed with a good number of viewers and commenters. The New Republic’s Capitol Hill correspondent (whose name I forget) does similarly, and there are many like them. Some TV stations seem to have lively Twitter accounts where their local news is discussed. While there are hundreds of such sites, when I consider that there may be just ten or fewer close Senate races, and 30 to 40 battleground House Districts, it could be possible to pick out a few dozen promising journalist venues on social media.
And 2) there are the #?*%$*! Republican candidates. Their social media outlets might be good to hit on the principle, “Tell the truth and shame the Devil.”
And now I think of 3) Twitter accounts of Democratic candidates. These attract trolls who need pushback.
Geminid
@Geminid: The New Republic Capitol Hill correspondent I was thinking of is Grace Segars.
The Oracle of Solace
I would like to help, but I’m not sure if I have anything useful to contribute. For two and a half years I’ve been making videos on the history behind our current troubles (in fact, I was going to send WaterGirl an Artists In Our Midst email before my blogging schedule got curtailed), but in that time I haven’t learned how to use BookFace or the Horrible Twitter Machine effectively.
On the plus side, I’ve accumulated a decent amount of experience writing scripts, and I’ve ended up reading a lot to research my video topics (The Mueller Report, the uselessness of third-party voting, QAnon and its roots, the past & future of the Republican Party, the venal opportunism of the anti-abortion movement, the political & partisan nature of SCOTUS, et al.). So perhaps I could be part of a writing team…?
Anyway, I’m up past my bedtime on a sleepless night. I can probably comment more clearly tomorrow, but I wanted to place my marker.
La Nonna
I submitted the form, great to know I can do something besides donate money. Being in Italy makes training sessions impossible, pretty sure a 4am session will not stick, but having at least 2 platforms will help. I see myself more as an amplifier and spotter, hope it’s needed. Ciao
FelonyGovt
Good morning all (at least it’s still morning here in CA). I have added the following people you’ve suggested:
Rachel Bitecofer (suggested by MomSense comment #17)
And the following suggested by Geminid:
Ragnarok Lobster
Magdi Semrau (Magi_Jay)
Susan Vermazen
Kenneth of House Pfizer
Lynn V
Mr. Weeks (Wonderking82)
Laura Vozella
Grace Segars
I also added a bunch on my own, including PopeHat, Brooklyn Dad Defiant, Virginia Heffernan…
Will try to keep up with the thread and add any other suggestions you have.