Look ma, I'm in Axios!
Plus, a quick plea ...
Capping off the weekend with a rare request:
Our motley crew of readers has more than doubled in size since we last snuck into your inbox — hat in hand — asking you to fill out a quick survey. In the spirit of Benicio del Toro’s Sensei, it is only a feeeew small questions (seven, multiple choice, to be exact).
Two things in return:
A comped trial to the paid tier
A peak under the hood at a recent extracurricular of mine below …
AXIOS: 🤳 The rise of the candidate creator
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited, professionally, than when Kerry Flynn from Axios hit me up to ask for some guidance into the sick and twisted (half kidding) world of content-crazed candidates.
The result is abbreviated in the newsletter version and in full behind a paywall — it’s totally worth the cost. BUT because you are all being so kind and filling out my survey (stares at you intensely through the screen) ………… you deserve some juicy tidbits to chew on.
On AOC’s recent pivot to vlogging:
“This vlog felt like a natural next step in her progression of nationwide communication rather than just regressing to what candidates have done forever and look for a friendly profile,” Weinstein tells Axios.
On Sec. Rubio’s 2028 announcement tease (imo):
“Social media allows politicians and candidates to tease and play with and hint and build tension towards something in a way that they can’t do in traditional media when you’re asked for the news and the top line lead of ‘Are you running?’” Weinstein says.
On candidates’ online brand longevity:
“Your dunks or your roasts or your jokes have to be the warhead on a larger nuke,” Weinstein says. “There has to be a long-lasting impact beyond just the roast.”
So much more in the full report, which also features incisive voices like Adam Mockler, RocaNews, The Daily Signal, Washington Reporter, and more.
Talk to you Tuesday! 🤗