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 <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gelliottmorris.com">G. Elliot Morris</a>, 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 <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thirdwaymattb.bsky.social">Matt Bennett</a>, co-founder of Third Way, a center-left think tank<a href="http://democrats.he">, about his view that</a> Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City poses a “serious political problem” for the Democrats.[36:06] Finally, Brooke calls up <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/senanaliseortiz.bsky.social">Analise Ortiz</a>, 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:<ul><li><a href="https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/moderation-is-overrated">Moderation is not a silver bullet</a>, by G. Elliott Morris</li><li><a href="https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/seven-data-driven-takeaways-from">Seven data-driven lessons from the 2025 elections</a>, by G. Elliott Morris</li><li><a href="https://www.thirdway.org/memo/was-it-something-i-said">Was It Something I Said?</a> by Third Way</li><li><a href="https://www.thirdway.org/memo/debunking-myths-about-the-democratic-party">Debunking Myths About the Democratic Party, </a>by Third Way</li></ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

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