Democrats don't need a 'left-wing' Joe Rogan, they need to win back the real one

It was hard to concentrate in my congressional office because I could overhear a lively interview with conservative media host Glenn Beck through the thin wall You might assume I work for a Republican but I m chief of staff to progressive California Congressman Ro Khanna What if I notified you it was one of our best interviews in contemporary months They disagreed on President Trump s deportation efforts and USAID funding but they agreed on revitalizing manufacturing and leading against China The headline for the interview read Progressive Democrat sits down with Glenn Beck despite disagreements We re all Gang America We agreed he d return soon ROGAN MOCKS DEMOCRATS FOR 'NOT CURRICULUM CORRECTING AT ALL' IN MONTHS AFTER LOSS TO TRUMPThere s debate about whether Democrats need a stronger message or more robust left-wing media But what Democrats really need is to relearn the art of persuasion not just crafting a compelling message but figuring out how to make it cut through in the present day s crowded media landscape Democrats don t need a left-wing Joe Rogan We need to persuade the real one along with Americans nationwide that we share common ground and are worth supporting I know it s achievable because I saw Ro begin that process with Glenn Beck They didn t agree on everything but the conversation opened a door That s persuasion not instant conversion but showing up listening and finding places to start Our leaders are too often surrounded by chattering consultants obsessed with poll-tested messages and terrified of ruffling feathers Every morning I get dozens of emails urging me to tell Americans that MAGA Republicans are trying to take away their healthcare I believe it But it takes more than one line to convince people We need specifics facts and a clear vision of what Democrats stand for Ro has been building this foundation for years He s traveled to dozens of states partnering with Silicon Valley to expand tech opportunities and since the ballot held town halls in Republican districts not to preach but to listen At a latest Allentown Pennsylvania event Ro spoke with the Trump supporters protesting outside about his bipartisan bill to lower prescription drug costs By the end they came inside and applauded Having a message is just the first step The next challenge is latest through in contemporary times s media ecosystem can it go viral on social media get picked up by the press or reach broader audiences and still land Amplification matters equally CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONIt s undeniable that Republicans have invested significantly more time and information into building a powerful online ecosystem to reach voters To overcome that right now Democrats need to be fearless Flood the zone reach people where they are win them over Download TikTok hire a talented chronically online -year-old to post on subreddits and create a Substack Talk to Mehdi Hasan in the morning and Laura Ingraham in the evening Write an op-ed for Fox News Digital It s not about giving anyone a platform or legitimacy their platforms already exist and their audiences view them as legitimate It s about using those platforms to share our message and tailoring how we communicate to different audiences without compromising our values We also need to balance between viral moments with nuanced messages about complicated issues Ro s prescription drug bill has gained traction on X and Reddit But his core vision a new economic patriotism focused on st century solutions for the economic success of every public including new factories and AI academies hasn t taken off online the same way Yet in longer-form interviews and podcasts it s met with enthusiasm Both messages matter and we need to find the right time and place for each After all Joe Rogan supported Bernie Sanders in the presidential electoral contest When he drifted toward Donald Trump we shrugged and declared he was gone for good Why not try again with a tailored message and an eye toward persuasion Joe if you re reading this I have a pitch for you