Democratic strategists find themselves grappling with the seismic rightward shift of the electorate that unfolded in last year’s election, where President Donald Trump not only captured the popular vote but also clinched victories in all seven pivotal swing states—an achievement that will surely be discussed in political science textbooks for years to come.
The New York Times recently launched an in-depth examination of the Democrats’ attempts to diagnose and remedy their electoral missteps, a defeat that the publication characterized as both a political and cultural repudiation.
One major hurdle for the party is regaining the allegiance of young men who have drifted toward Trump. As reported by Shane Goldmacher, this has led to a proposed $20 million initiative aimed at dissecting the “syntax and language” that resonates with this demographic—essentially an anthropological expedition into the psyche of young male voters.
Excerpt from the Times report:
Currently, Democratic donors and strategists are convening in upscale hotels to brainstorm how to win back the working-class electorate, launching projects that often resemble studies of distant tribes. One ambitious project, codenamed SAM—“Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan”—is designed to counteract the decline of Democratic support among young men, particularly in online spaces. This initiative proposes investments in understanding the type of language and content that garners attention and virality, even suggesting advertising within video games.
“Above all, we must shift from a moralizing tone,” the proposal suggests.
In a moment of bemusement, CNN reporter Andy Kaczynski observed the Democrats’ struggles, prompting Donald Trump Jr. to share a classic meme depicting Steve Buscemi as a bewildered high schooler, asking, “How do you do, fellow kids?”
Democrats after spending $20 million trying to figure out how to talk to guys. https://t.co/VZuGO2noBq pic.twitter.com/zkIXR0BVm2
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 25, 2025
In a separate article, Goldmacher reported on Trump’s successful maneuvering of the electorate toward the right (excerpt):
Remarkably, Mr. Trump has increased the Republican Party’s share of the presidential vote in nearly half of America’s counties—1,433, to be precise—according to an analysis by The New York Times. This achievement is particularly striking considering that Trump lost in one of those three elections, in 2020.
In contrast, Democrats have managed to expand their vote share in only 57 out of more than 3,100 counties during the same electoral cycles.
These counties, which we are dubbing “triple-trending,” provide a unique lens into the ongoing realignment of American politics in the Trump era, starkly illustrating the shifts in political coalitions within both parties.
The magnitude of Trump’s growing support is noteworthy. Roughly 8.1 million voting-age Americans reside in triple-trending Democratic counties, while approximately 42.7 million are found in Republican ones.
Even more concerning for the Democrats is the demographic and economic makeup of these counties: their scant areas of expansion are largely confined to the wealthiest and most educated segments of the population.
Goldmacher shared visual representations of this political shift:
All told, Trump has improved every election in 1,433 of the nation’s 3,100+ counties — even as he lost in 2020.
Democrats have expanded their vote share continuously in only 57 counties.
But the demographics are even more revealing…
Gift link:https://t.co/KINfJds7X5
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) May 25, 2025
Earlier in the week, Times reporter Teddy Schleifer reported on the Democrats’ extravagant spending to “find the next Joe Rogan” (excerpt):
Just six months after the Democratic Party’s major defeat in 2024, the party’s wealthy donors are bombarded with proposals to invest tens of millions into creating a cadre of left-leaning online influencers.
At donor retreats and within various pitch documents reviewed by The New York Times, liberal strategists are imploring affluent backers to reopen their wallets for a series of initiatives aimed at helping Democrats, as the current saying goes, “find the next Joe Rogan.” These proposals, which have not been previously disclosed, are intended to invigorate disheartened donors and convince them that cultural competition with Trump is achievable—if only they can pour enough money into it.
In a playful jab, Fox News host and former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany ridiculed the Democrats’ plans, highlighting that many influential podcasters who now support Trump were once part of the Democratic fold:
Democrats are reportedly planning to spend tens of millions of dollars trying to “find the next Joe Rogan.”
They have a spreadsheet with 26 different proposals!
Here is what they miss – what my friend @alexbruesewitz told me: “All of the podcasters that Trump sat with were… pic.twitter.com/DiZT5ncQO2
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) May 22, 2025
As a bonus aside, it’s worth recalling the Kamala Harris campaign’s own missteps in trying to appeal to men by pairing Vice Presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to discuss politics over a game of Madden NFL—a strategy that seemingly backfired when it aired on a Sunday afternoon during real NFL games:
Gov. Walz and @AOC are playing Madden and talking about Trump’s Project 2025https://t.co/YgblzmPLbO pic.twitter.com/26NcMzlukl
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 27, 2024
