Jesus Will, this guy's been accused of assault by two women and makes/performs in porn movies - no wonder no Dem will go on his podcast! Can you imagine the field day a Repub oppo research guy would have with that?
"Trans rights beyond the pale"? Trans people are humans, humans have rights, so what rights are trans people asking for that other humans don't have?
He said of Kamala Harris that she is "one of the most detestable politicians in recent memory, in the opinion of a lot of my audience." I got nothing for this guy.
We'd be in a lot better shape if we'd stop listening to people like this. His own podcast is going broke, so what does that tell you?
"He said of Kamala Harris that she is "one of the most detestable politicians in recent memory, in the opinion of a lot of my audience." " I haven't heard any specifics about WHY. Is it vibes? Is it her one blunder in seeming to be ok with transgender surgery for prisoners? What???
I like Jefferies, but he still feels like a big nerd (as a nerd myself I mean it with affection).
I think it's less about looks and more about their ability to turn down the $5 words? There's not going to be a perfect formula, there's going to be a lot of trial and error.
Nerds are the ones who actually understand policy. They are the ones we need to be our representatives.
The ones who like to talk just to hear their own words make a splash but don't know what they are talking about. We have a president that is like this. We don't need any more of that type in DC.
Ok… re : Newsom’s comments on trans women in biological women’s sports Adam says - “ I saw the reaction where it’s like this this…horrifies a HUGE percentage of the left”
Really dude? Really? A HUGE percentage? Honestly I don’t know how we bring people onside when they are just making sh—- up. His perceptions aren’t real life. I’m so sick of these terminally online, pathetic, thin skinned douche bags. Sure I guess we have to “win” them to our side, but at what cost? These unserious dickheads are grifting us into a destroyed economy and unstable globe. The problem is that anyone is listening to them at all.
If you are only online maybe the response looked huge. The moderates aren't online blaring out their moderate viewpoints. In the world where people talk amongst themselves in person the response can look quite different from what it does online.
So I am all for dems getting further into reaching out to young men, but for me (38 y/o male), this Adam22 guy is not the way. As for the question as to what dems should do for youth male outreach, here'd be my recommendation:
- Get more dudes like Adam Kinzinger into your party (men who are in shape and can talk shit *well* about MAGA and be funny about it). They don't even necessarily have to be in great physical shape. Basically take the Bill Burr model of a dude who can be off the cuff offensive to MAGA in a funny way and find male politicians who can talk shit while being real like that.
- Have these male politicians point out how badly the MAGA men are getting conned by Trump while licking his boots. Make it a trend. Take the dudes like that MAGA guy whose Peruvian wife is being deported while he still supports Trump and make these guys into a fucking laughing stock poster child.
- Build an alternative pathway for men. Take the Tate-pilled assholes on directly and tell them that that kind of shit is not what being a man is about. Tell them that real men with strength protect the vulnerable. Point out that men like the Tates and the Trumps only give a fuck about themselves and have no idea what patriotism looks like because they've never made sacrifices for others and never put their own asses on the line for anything other than growing their own personal wealth. Show them that real men love and support women, they don't try to "dominate" them. Shit like that.
- Finally, be willing to publicly acknowledge that men who aren't in the top 10% of society *are* falling behind (record deaths of despair/suicide, plummeting college attendence and graduation rates) and deserve support from the rest of the country. Make a case for this and get women on board with it. It needs to happen because if we don't, then we're giving MAGA all the openings with these guys. Men need empathy from broad society in this moment, not a continuous beating them down because there aren't enough women CEOs or whatever the fuck.
- On trans shit specifically, don't back down from protecting vulnerable minority groups, but don't make it your everything. There are more trans flags hanging outside of blue city bars than there are American flags. That's a culture problem. Address it. We can defend trans rights without making it our name brand. Whenever the subject comes up it should be "Why does MAGA have trans derangement syndrome? Why are trans people living rent free in the minds of MAGA voters? There are way more important things affecting the country and men specifically right now like issues X, y, and Z."
I made my mom this deal when she told me the same thing the other day:
If I get illegally fired from my fed job I'll talk to the Run 4 Something people and see where that goes. Until then, I'm just trying to support my family with a stable job.
I don't have the traditional kind of connections for politics. I'm not some successful lawyer with a deep former client list that I can turn into a donor list. I don't have any kind of following. My social circle is small and I'm off of social media. I'm just a vet with a fed job and a small family (immigrant wife + step daughter). I'm not in a position to get anything like that started for the most part. Frankly, I'm just trying to stay afloat in the current political environment and I'm worried for my family.
Fair enough, Travis. Care for your family absolutely does come first.
I wish you all good things in that regard.
Running for office is a high-risk way for sharing your wisdom and influence. But think about your fellow New Yorker, AOC: A waitress with one hell of an itch to scratch is a f'ing legend. For the future, perhaps.
In the meantime, start a small, local movement maybe? Look into the Barnraisers Project and The White Pages Substack. They are offering training in organizing this month. I'm doing it. Maybe I'll see you on the Zoom. 😉
That's why Run for Something is so helpful. They can get you email lists, give you training, set you up with other like minded people. A local office might cost you a few thousand- county or town office, perhaps?
This infuriated me. More men talking about manhood but never talking about responsibilities. Yes, I did not like it when the far left started using phrases like 'Pregnant People', it was dumb. But I am smart enough to look beyond that and vote for the party that represents me the most. Why do we demonize the trans community? Real men would protect. If men are listening to this hogwash, god help us. That being said, it was worth a listen as one needs to know what the hell is going on. Real men understand their responsibilities, real men would not be frightened of marginalized communities. Real men would stand up for what is right and just. They would not be afraid of the left, 'social justice' 'trans'.... I am in my mid 50's, I remember losing friends to aids in my teens, I remember the demonization of my gay friends. I see the scapegoating for what it is. This gentleman appeared to perpetuate it, not understand it. And he is in the porn business? Lastly my final gripe. Say Kamala's name right. Say her name right. I know who he is just from that. Thank you for indulging in my rant.
The pregnant people thing was an attempt to be inclusive...you know, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It was awkward and looks extreme but it "came from a good place."
This argument that it slights women never struck me as being in good faith. It was like the response to Black Lives Matter...All Lives Matter. Yeah no one was implying that all lives were insignificant. Why it angered people is something I don't understand. Just shrug and get on with life.
Hi Max, I think 'attempt' is a good word. I agree with you it came from a good place, but it was silly and it looked as though women disappeared. Language is funny like that. I will add, I was not offended by it, just thought it was dumb. I am deeply offended when people mispronounce Kamala's name.
The Bulwark needs to be more careful. You are in the big time now. Do not promote people and then have information come out that they are disruputable people. Get it together.
And you need more women who actually defend women's rights and more Black people. I know you started out as never Trumpers, but you have outgrown that. Get it together.
So one of the hosts is currently fighting a RICO charge and the complaint is democrats don’t appear macho enough. What the fuck? Maybe there is something wrong with this demographic. Perhaps if democrats blew up the world they’d be more popular.
This was definitely a good video to pair with Sommer's article about Adam88 earlier. At least he's honest as to why elected Dems would stay far away from him even if he's offering himself as a bridge to reach people who Dems had during the Obama years, but have lost to Trump. We (Dems) aren't even reaching enough people for them to hear our message, let alone whether what we should ditch or not in that message.
Jesus Will, this guy's been accused of assault by two women and makes/performs in porn movies - no wonder no Dem will go on his podcast! Can you imagine the field day a Repub oppo research guy would have with that?
Just scrolling through the Bulwark today...at a glance, I thought this was Jack Smith.
"Trans rights beyond the pale"? Trans people are humans, humans have rights, so what rights are trans people asking for that other humans don't have?
He said of Kamala Harris that she is "one of the most detestable politicians in recent memory, in the opinion of a lot of my audience." I got nothing for this guy.
We'd be in a lot better shape if we'd stop listening to people like this. His own podcast is going broke, so what does that tell you?
"He said of Kamala Harris that she is "one of the most detestable politicians in recent memory, in the opinion of a lot of my audience." " I haven't heard any specifics about WHY. Is it vibes? Is it her one blunder in seeming to be ok with transgender surgery for prisoners? What???
Will should have done a follow up, because he didn't really specify.
So if Hakeem Jeffries put on a hoodie and has some visible tattoos in an online interview or podcast would the young men take him seriously?
I like Jefferies, but he still feels like a big nerd (as a nerd myself I mean it with affection).
I think it's less about looks and more about their ability to turn down the $5 words? There's not going to be a perfect formula, there's going to be a lot of trial and error.
Nerds are the ones who actually understand policy. They are the ones we need to be our representatives.
The ones who like to talk just to hear their own words make a splash but don't know what they are talking about. We have a president that is like this. We don't need any more of that type in DC.
I think this interview needed to be longer. With follow up questions. Dear God, did we ever need follow up questions here.
Agreed. For example, what is someone like Hakeem Jeffries supposed to say to sound more authentic to this guy and his audience?
Ok… re : Newsom’s comments on trans women in biological women’s sports Adam says - “ I saw the reaction where it’s like this this…horrifies a HUGE percentage of the left”
Really dude? Really? A HUGE percentage? Honestly I don’t know how we bring people onside when they are just making sh—- up. His perceptions aren’t real life. I’m so sick of these terminally online, pathetic, thin skinned douche bags. Sure I guess we have to “win” them to our side, but at what cost? These unserious dickheads are grifting us into a destroyed economy and unstable globe. The problem is that anyone is listening to them at all.
If you are only online maybe the response looked huge. The moderates aren't online blaring out their moderate viewpoints. In the world where people talk amongst themselves in person the response can look quite different from what it does online.
THANK YOU!! Yee gods, when practically the first words out of his mouth were "The Democrats will never win for DECADES" told me all I needed to know.
So I am all for dems getting further into reaching out to young men, but for me (38 y/o male), this Adam22 guy is not the way. As for the question as to what dems should do for youth male outreach, here'd be my recommendation:
- Get more dudes like Adam Kinzinger into your party (men who are in shape and can talk shit *well* about MAGA and be funny about it). They don't even necessarily have to be in great physical shape. Basically take the Bill Burr model of a dude who can be off the cuff offensive to MAGA in a funny way and find male politicians who can talk shit while being real like that.
- Have these male politicians point out how badly the MAGA men are getting conned by Trump while licking his boots. Make it a trend. Take the dudes like that MAGA guy whose Peruvian wife is being deported while he still supports Trump and make these guys into a fucking laughing stock poster child.
- Build an alternative pathway for men. Take the Tate-pilled assholes on directly and tell them that that kind of shit is not what being a man is about. Tell them that real men with strength protect the vulnerable. Point out that men like the Tates and the Trumps only give a fuck about themselves and have no idea what patriotism looks like because they've never made sacrifices for others and never put their own asses on the line for anything other than growing their own personal wealth. Show them that real men love and support women, they don't try to "dominate" them. Shit like that.
- Finally, be willing to publicly acknowledge that men who aren't in the top 10% of society *are* falling behind (record deaths of despair/suicide, plummeting college attendence and graduation rates) and deserve support from the rest of the country. Make a case for this and get women on board with it. It needs to happen because if we don't, then we're giving MAGA all the openings with these guys. Men need empathy from broad society in this moment, not a continuous beating them down because there aren't enough women CEOs or whatever the fuck.
- On trans shit specifically, don't back down from protecting vulnerable minority groups, but don't make it your everything. There are more trans flags hanging outside of blue city bars than there are American flags. That's a culture problem. Address it. We can defend trans rights without making it our name brand. Whenever the subject comes up it should be "Why does MAGA have trans derangement syndrome? Why are trans people living rent free in the minds of MAGA voters? There are way more important things affecting the country and men specifically right now like issues X, y, and Z."
Anyway, that'd be my $0.02
Definitely worth more than .02 cents!
Travis, you need to run for office!
Too busy?
I understand.
Can you lead a movement in some other way?
You have got to get this stuff out there!
I made my mom this deal when she told me the same thing the other day:
If I get illegally fired from my fed job I'll talk to the Run 4 Something people and see where that goes. Until then, I'm just trying to support my family with a stable job.
I don't have the traditional kind of connections for politics. I'm not some successful lawyer with a deep former client list that I can turn into a donor list. I don't have any kind of following. My social circle is small and I'm off of social media. I'm just a vet with a fed job and a small family (immigrant wife + step daughter). I'm not in a position to get anything like that started for the most part. Frankly, I'm just trying to stay afloat in the current political environment and I'm worried for my family.
You have a grateful following among the Bulwark commentariat!
I suppose that's a good place to start haha
Fair enough, Travis. Care for your family absolutely does come first.
I wish you all good things in that regard.
Running for office is a high-risk way for sharing your wisdom and influence. But think about your fellow New Yorker, AOC: A waitress with one hell of an itch to scratch is a f'ing legend. For the future, perhaps.
In the meantime, start a small, local movement maybe? Look into the Barnraisers Project and The White Pages Substack. They are offering training in organizing this month. I'm doing it. Maybe I'll see you on the Zoom. 😉
Thanks for the info, I'll def look into it.
That's why Run for Something is so helpful. They can get you email lists, give you training, set you up with other like minded people. A local office might cost you a few thousand- county or town office, perhaps?
Well said.
This infuriated me. More men talking about manhood but never talking about responsibilities. Yes, I did not like it when the far left started using phrases like 'Pregnant People', it was dumb. But I am smart enough to look beyond that and vote for the party that represents me the most. Why do we demonize the trans community? Real men would protect. If men are listening to this hogwash, god help us. That being said, it was worth a listen as one needs to know what the hell is going on. Real men understand their responsibilities, real men would not be frightened of marginalized communities. Real men would stand up for what is right and just. They would not be afraid of the left, 'social justice' 'trans'.... I am in my mid 50's, I remember losing friends to aids in my teens, I remember the demonization of my gay friends. I see the scapegoating for what it is. This gentleman appeared to perpetuate it, not understand it. And he is in the porn business? Lastly my final gripe. Say Kamala's name right. Say her name right. I know who he is just from that. Thank you for indulging in my rant.
The pregnant people thing was an attempt to be inclusive...you know, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It was awkward and looks extreme but it "came from a good place."
This argument that it slights women never struck me as being in good faith. It was like the response to Black Lives Matter...All Lives Matter. Yeah no one was implying that all lives were insignificant. Why it angered people is something I don't understand. Just shrug and get on with life.
Hi Max, I think 'attempt' is a good word. I agree with you it came from a good place, but it was silly and it looked as though women disappeared. Language is funny like that. I will add, I was not offended by it, just thought it was dumb. I am deeply offended when people mispronounce Kamala's name.
The Bulwark needs to be more careful. You are in the big time now. Do not promote people and then have information come out that they are disruputable people. Get it together.
And you need more women who actually defend women's rights and more Black people. I know you started out as never Trumpers, but you have outgrown that. Get it together.
As others have already pointed out, you maybe should have done a little more research into Adam22 before lifting him up. You know?
Pretty shoddy work, Will. Lazy too.
Please do research on ppl you have on the show! Not only is this host involved in some sexual assault charges, he has arguable exacerbated violence within the hip-hop scene- see interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ms6ifgELLM&ab_channel=NoJumperClips
Andrew from Channel 5 on YouTube would be a way better person to have on the show.
Dems should DEFINITELY go on Adam22's podcast. No brainer.
The name of the podcast is No Brainer? Sounds about right.
So one of the hosts is currently fighting a RICO charge and the complaint is democrats don’t appear macho enough. What the fuck? Maybe there is something wrong with this demographic. Perhaps if democrats blew up the world they’d be more popular.
Great conversation. We need more of this. Deplatforming and not reaching out to those with different views and even interests is a recipe for failure.
This was definitely a good video to pair with Sommer's article about Adam88 earlier. At least he's honest as to why elected Dems would stay far away from him even if he's offering himself as a bridge to reach people who Dems had during the Obama years, but have lost to Trump. We (Dems) aren't even reaching enough people for them to hear our message, let alone whether what we should ditch or not in that message.
Always interesting out there.