Kamala Harris’s deputy campaign manager, Rob Flaherty, deserves some credit for his rare moment of honesty during a Harvard politics panel: the Democratic Party’s media strategy is failing, and failing hard.
His admission is as refreshing as it is damning, especially coming from someone embedded in the party’s establishment machine. But let’s be clear—this isn’t a recent problem. The Democrats’ inability to connect with everyday Americans through anything other than tired corporate media and celebrity endorsements has been painfully obvious for years.
Flaherty’s comments were brutally on point: the Democrats are, in his words, “the party of institutions” at a time when people “really hate institutions.” Well, no kidding. For a party that clings to legacy media outlets like CNN and MSNBC and relies on the glittery endorsements of Hollywood elites, it’s not shocking that they’re failing to reach voters outside their bubble. The Democrats have hitched their wagon to platforms and personalities that most Americans either ignore or actively distrust. And it shows.
Let’s not forget his candid critique of the left’s so-called “amplification ecosystem,” which he admits is hopelessly out of touch with the anti-establishment, alternative media vibe of the moment. Flaherty lamented that “mainstream media and Hollywood don’t really mess with us,” which, if true, is hilariously ironic given how much Democrats have pandered to both. It seems the party that once marketed itself as the champion of the underdog has fully transformed into the gatekeeper of the establishment, and the voters they need most aren’t buying it.
The truth is, the Democratic Party has become the political equivalent of that one social media influencer who just won’t stop posting cringe. They’re desperate for attention but completely oblivious to what resonates with normal people. It’s like watching an aging pop star try to stay relevant with TikTok dances—they’re painfully out of their element, and it’s obvious to everyone but them.
Even Flaherty’s rare self-awareness couldn’t hide the deeper issue: the Democrats are stuck in an echo chamber so thick they might as well be shouting into a void. Hollywood endorsements and cable news spin don’t connect with everyday Americans who are paying more attention to podcasts, independent journalists, and alternative platforms than they are to legacy media. These voters aren’t watching MSNBC, and they’re certainly not hanging on Diddy’s every word. Yet the Democrats continue doubling down on strategies that worked 20 years ago, hoping for different results.
Here’s the real kicker: Flaherty knows the strategy is broken but offers no real solution. Sure, he hints that the Democrats would need to overhaul their approach to win back the media moment, but that would mean abandoning their cozy relationship with corporate media and their obsession with celebrity culture. Fat chance of that happening anytime soon.
Kamala’s deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty just straight up admits the left’s “amplification ecosystem is the mainstream media and Hollywood.”
“[They] don’t really mess with us.” pic.twitter.com/EGnREiFPds
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) December 8, 2024
Meanwhile, the Republican Party, especially under President-elect Donald Trump, has mastered the art of reaching voters where they are—through alternative media, grassroots movements, and a sharp critique of the establishment. While Democrats cling to the sinking ship of institutional trust, Republicans are riding the wave of anti-establishment sentiment straight to victory.
So, what’s next for the Democrats? More flailing, more self-congratulation, and more lectures from celebrities who think they know what middle America needs. Until they wake up to the reality that voters don’t trust their institutions—or their messengers—they’ll remain stuck in their out-of-touch bubble, talking to themselves while the rest of the country tunes them out.
