About this episode
Progressive and centrist Democratic candidates had big wins in the 2025 elections. On this week’s On the Media, a data scientist fact-checks the claim that Democrats need moderate voters to win. Plus, an Arizona state senator shares how she’s reaching her constituents on TikTok and on the ground. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with G. Elliot Morris , a journalist, statistician, and author of the data-driven news website Strength in Numbers, to hash out what the data says about whether becoming more moderate is really the key to Democratic candidates winning more elections. [20:09] Brooke chats with Matt Bennett , co-founder of Third Way, a center-left think tank , about his view that Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City poses a “serious political problem” for the Democrats. [36:06] Finally, Brooke calls up Analise Ortiz , state senator for Arizona’s 24th district, to discuss how TikTok, old-fashioned door-knocking, and making tangible differences in peoples’ lives is the way for the Democrats to start winning again. Further reading: Moderation is not a silver bullet , by G. Elliott Morris Seven data-driven lessons from the 2025 elections , by G. Elliott Morris Was It Something I Said? by Third Way Debunking Myths About the Democratic Party, by Third Way On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today ( https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm ). Follow our show on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.