Real Beats Fake: How Authentic Democrats Are Breaking Trump’s Spell

Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of the political potency of dumpy, silicon-based life form TACO Trump.

The 37% approval man has Marjorie Taylor Greene barking at him, keeps burying the Epstein files—dude must've never seen Pet Sematary—and has elegant splotches of purple on his stub-hands that really ties the orange face-paint together nicely.

But his problem, and the good news for all of us who haven’t really taken to fascism or Trump-fellatio, is a new crop of charismatic, tech-savvy Democrats are—finally!—emerging. Ones that don’t poll what toilet paper to use, endure a panic attack every chance they get to message and actually know how to use “the Tik Tok.”

The truism is true, the medium is the message, and those who know how to use it are the messengers we need.

Trump is authentic. Sure, in the same way any semi-sentient, serial-lying, mega-splash of pig vomit assaulting your senses would be. But his shoot-from-his-likely-broken-hip style has made him seem real, in an age of reality tv and real war-zone footage arriving via cell phone in seconds from across the world.

Democratic leaders in DC…are anything but authentic. They’re still so impotent in challenging Trump, possess so little clue about inspiring the base (a round of subsidies and tax credits on the House!) and can’t seem to remind big donors that income inequality at our current level usually ends with public guillotines.

For other examples, just translate that into Russian. Or German. Or Confederate.

Thankfully, many Democrats across the country, are no longer listening to the “we can return to pre-Trump times, but a little better” crowd of Democrats, who have no understanding of the moment, and how it will shape the next century.

We’re seeing more of our candidates talk like they’re hanging out on a livestream rather than reading off a prompter. They crash into cameras, riff live on social platforms, and let their personalities bleed through the script.

State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has utilized this strategy all the way to a likely blowout victory tomorrow, when he will become New York City’s next Mayor. The video at the top of this post gives you an idea how he’s done it.

Mamdani’s mix of subway-riding authenticity, marathon tees reading “Eric Adams Raised My Rent!” and unapologetic calls for city-run grocery stores and fare-free buses are the combo of personality, policy and be-your-own-press needed in this age.

[Ed Note: I’m only discussing Dem strategy, charisma & digital media. I strongly believe at some point Mamdani must address his “both sides” take on Oct 7. But that’s for another day].

In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger—former CIA officer and three-term Congresswoman brings that same off-script feel. She talks in plain language to audiences beyond the beltway and deploys digital tools with a genuine voice, not a stiff campaign-video face.

I spoke to ad maker Will Robinson, who’s screamed from the rooftops about Democrats’ trailing Republicans in connecting with communities they wish to reach, embracing local influencers and being genuine in communications efforts.

Will pointed out Spanberger, in her Virginia Governor race, “shook up her campaign budget” to do fewer tv ads and “put significantly more into digital and streaming.” In fact, she ran a $1 million ad campaign specifically for digital and streaming platforms.

Spanberger also targeted key groups, hammering how she’d crush Trumpflation—“The Affordable Virginia Plan”—and using social media to respond to the usual late-great-Hannibal-Lecter lies GOPers tell about Democrats on crime.

This has been crucial, as many of these kinds of lies were not answered in 2024. And seemingly it’s all working, as Spanberger is up by double digits in polls, on her way to a rout.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, former Navy officer and federal prosecutor Mikie Sherrill speaks as though she’s seen the world, been in the trenches, and calls ‘em like she sees ‘em. Her authenticity is not borne of flashy stunts.

But the conviction that her story matters, and how she tells it in real-time, including social-media moments, underscore who she really is, what values drive her.

Per Robinson, she did an “excellent job integrating her campaign with local influencers (always more trusted messengers), including teachers, labor and environmental groups.” Will noted this was crucial, as “New Jersey is a news dessert.”

She also used digital ads to tie her despicable opponent to the even more despicable Trump, and defend herself from flying Republican monkeys smearing her military record. Luckily for Sherrill, they often just give up because of the bone spurs.

In any case, Sherrill is also up, and set to win by a solid margin. Or, what you’d call a clean-MAGA-ass kicking when looking at all three headline races. When Democrats win them all tomorrow night, it’ll be only the 5th time that’s happened in U.S. history.

Some candidates already running in statewide and other targeted races next year seeing what’s working and are running with it, also preparing to skewer some elected-GOP derriere.

In Texas, [U.S. Sen candidate] James Talarico’s viral takes on faith and policy show he’s comfortable mixing sincerity with social-media savvy. On No Kings Day, Michigan [U.S. Sen candidate] Mallory McMorrow did impromptu chats with protesters, quizzing them, laughing with them and having the time of her life.

Voters have tired of candidates who sound like talking mannequins. They’ve tired even more wrinkly, orange-tinted dingus. You know, the Epstein-file eliding, cantaloupe-colored Ceaușescu with the Chuck Grassley dead-deer aura and approval rating of rheumatoid arthritis.

So, we will win next year. Big.

But do we want big, or FDR big? Because only the latter can provide the reforms and new institutions that ensure the safety of our republic. And it’s all sitting right there for the taking, if we’re willing to be bold.

In this environment, authenticity is a strategic virtue. The cultural script has changed: Gen Y, Gen Z, even older voters, aren’t buying the “I-love-this-country” mask anymore—they want the voice that acknowledges “you’ve been screwed by the system,” “I’ll fight for you,” and “I’ll tell you the truth, even when it hurts.”

In fact, we recently talked to three we we strongly support on Amped Up. All with incredible personal stories informing their values—fighting for us through real change to our democracy and economy, and by battling Trump and his billionaires.

Fred Wellman is running for Congress in a swing seat in Missouri. Greg Landsman is running for reelection to Congress in Ohio—and they just made his seat harder to win with a cheap last-minute gerrymander. And Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrest is running for Governor of Michigan. All three are what we’ve been talking about here!

Folks, Democrats are undergoing a reboot, with new stars less about “we promise everything” and more “here’s who I am, here’s how I got here, and here’s what I’ll fight for.” They lean into their backstories—housing counselor, Navy prosecutor, educator-legislator—and mix policy with personal narrative via social channels.

If the old political adage was “message discipline,” the new one is “message authenticity.” They show it in how they talk, how they post, and how they show up.

Tomorrow and next year they’ll show it in how they kick MAGA a** and take our country back.