What can Sun Tzu teach us about winning political power in 2025?

In this new episode of The Campaign Strategist, I talk with Eric Hensal—veteran progressive strategist, author of A Progressive Art of War and host of the podcast Progressive Conjecture—about applying timeless military strategy to modern political challenges.

We explore:

• Why progressives often lose not because of the opposition, but because of strategic missteps
• How to think like an organizer and a general
• The importance of deception, clarity, and preparation in narrative and coalition work
• Why “knowing the ground” matters more than moral certainty
• What Biden, rural outreach, and “melting ICE” can teach us about smart campaigns

Eric’s approach is provocative, practical, and rooted in decades of experience across labor, government, and political campaigns.

#PoliticalStrategy #CampaignStrategy #Advocacy #ProgressivePolitics #NarrativeStrategy #MovementBuilding #TheCampaignStrategist

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Messaging maven and strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio joins Pete to unpack the mechanics of narrative, the seductive power of repetition, and why too much progressive messaging sounds like it came from a law school textbook. From “Florida fascism facilities” to “start how you want to finish,” Anat brings clarity and conviction to the question of how we talk about political danger—and what we should say instead. This is a sharp, funny, and necessary conversation about how to build power through language. 

Follow Anat's Substack Words to Win by and check out her firm's work: ASO Communications.

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Durrell Johnson helped lead the campaign to stop Mark Robinson’s run for governor in North Carolina—and in doing so, created a roadmap for defeating far-right extremism. 

In this episode, he explains how local groups built trust, centered impacted communities, and reached even conservative voters who felt the danger. “This wasn’t just about what Robinson said—it was about what would happen if he held power.” A must-listen for campaigners and communicators heading into 2026. 

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Liz Kazal of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy joins The Campaign Strategist to talk about why Republican members of Congress are starting to feel real political risk over their support for Trump’s tax and budget bill—and how her team is keeping the pressure on. From Medicaid cuts to economic messaging, Liz shares how organizers can turn pain into power—and why being “relentless” is the only path forward in today’s political climate. 

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Nick Ahamed, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA, joins Pete to break down the changing media landscape and what progressives must do to keep up. From the emotional resonance of abortion ads to why YouTube is essential for reaching young and diverse voters, Nick shares sharp insights on message testing, digital strategy, and long-term infrastructure. “You can’t talk to gamers and beauty YouTubers the same way—our messaging has to match the niche.”

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Pete talks with Dani Negrete, National Political Director at Indivisible. Dani shares why “we don’t have four years to fix things,” drawing on lessons from recent campaigns and historical trends in authoritarian movements. They discuss how grassroots movements can sustain resistance, why cultural organizing is essential, and how to build power at the local level. A must-listen for anyone interested in advocacy, movement-building, and progressive political strategy.

Find all episodes at substack.tcspod.com or https://www.youtube.com/@TheCampaignStrategist

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Pollster and strategist Saeed Mousavi joins The Campaign Strategist to explain why Democrats are losing emotional traction—and what it takes to reconnect. From risk-averse messaging to outdated research models, Saeed makes the case for a new, emotionally resonant strategy built for today’s media landscape.

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Michael Podhorzer joins host Pete Altman to talk about what really happened in the 2024 election—and why the fight ahead isn’t about restoring the old order, but building a new one. From the failures of civil institutions to the importance of unions and organizing, this is a powerful conversation for anyone trying to navigate the Trump Era with clarity and strategy.

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Rich Schrader and Kate Sinding Daly take us inside the eight-year campaign that led New York to ban fracking—making it the first state with significant gas deposits to stop the practice. Rich is the Director of New York Government Affairs at NRDC. At the time, Kate was Senior Attorney and Deputy Director of NRDC’s New York Program. She is now Vice President of Law and Policy at the Conservation Law Foundation.

They share how their team, alongside grassroots allies, built public pressure, commissioned polling the state couldn’t ignore, and demanded scientific and moral accountability from their own movement.

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky

What happens when clean energy jobs face a political headwind—and how can business leaders fight back? In this episode of The Campaign Strategist, Bob Keefe of E2 joins Pete for a two-part conversation. First, they discuss how the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy are stalling billions in investment and job creation. Then, they rewind to Bob’s original interview about the strategies E2 uses to mobilize unexpected messengers—businesspeople—for climate advocacy. If you want to understand how economic arguments win policy fights, this one’s for you.

Learn more about E2: https://e2.org/

Find and subscribe:
Substack and your favorite platforms.
Contact: [email protected]
Find us on LinkedIn and Bluesky