David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021.



In that role, he was engaged in numerous fights and extensive litigation over voter suppression and election laws in the Buckeye State. Stemming from that work, David appeared in “All In”—the documentary highlighting Stacey Abrams’ nation-wide fight for voting rights.



Pepper has written four novels that bridge real-world politics and fiction—including A Simple Choice (released in August 2022)). His first novel, The People’s House, earned praise for having “predicted the Russia scandal.” The Wall Street Journal named Pepper "one of the best political-thriller writers on the scene.” 



Born and raised in Cincinnati, David is a fifth-generation Cincinnatian. David earned his B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and later earned his J.D. from Yale Law School.

204: #1 Win in Ohio with David Pepper

Brought to you by Jill Wine-Banks and Victor Shi, the Intergenerational Politics Podcast tackles the issues facing our nation, asks the questions you want to be answered, and most importantly, engages all generations in politics. Jill Wine-Banks is the only woman to have served on the Watergate prosecution team, is an MSNBC Legal Analyst, and is the author of "The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President." Victor Shi is a sophomore at UCLA, the youngest delegate for Joe Biden in Illinois, former organizer on the Biden for President campaign, and an advocate for democratic reform.

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Jill Wine-Banks and Victor Shi reflect on their intergenerational podcast, iGen Politics, and the highlights of their four-year journey. They discuss their favorite episodes, including interviews with Madeline Albright and Billy Ray, and the growth of their audience and community. They also mention the challenges of recording during the pandemic and the future of the podcast. They emphasize the importance of intergenerational conversations and the upcoming election. They conclude by thanking their listeners and encouraging them to stay tuned for future episodes.



Takeaways:

iGen Politics is an intergenerational podcast that aims to engage listeners of all generations in political discussions.

The hosts reflect on their favorite episodes and guests, including Madeline Albright and Billy Ray.

They appreciate the growth of their audience and the support they have received.

They emphasize the importance of intergenerational conversations and communication in bridging political divides.

They encourage listeners to stay engaged and informed, especially in the upcoming election.










237: Bidding You Adieu / We'll Be Back

In this episode, the hosts discuss messaging and what Democrats must do to win big in the upcoming elections. They are joined by Billy Ray, an Emmy award-winning writer and political advisor. The conversation covers various topics, including the messaging and tone of President Biden's State of the Union speech, the impact of cultural issues on Democratic messaging, and the importance of establishing a new frame for Democratic messaging. They also discuss crafting messages for undecided independent voters, enhancing the production and storytelling of presidential speeches, and reframing Democratic messaging on key issues like guns, climate change, and abortion. The episode concludes with a discussion on messaging to young people on Israel and Gaza and the importance of establishing a frame in messaging. In this episode, Simon Sidi interviews Billy Ray, a successful screenwriter and political messaging consultant. Billy shares his experience training Democratic candidates in effective messaging and storytelling. He emphasizes the importance of emotional connection and locating the audience's emotional state. Billy also discusses the messaging advantage of Republicans and the need for Democrats to focus on long-term planning. He provides examples of reframing political issues and appealing to values like freedom. The episode concludes with a celebration of Simon's graduation from college.



Takeaways:

President Biden's messaging focuses on making people feel that they matter and that they matter to him specifically.

Democrats should focus on the core issues that have broad support among the American people, such as minimum wage, abortion rights, gun control, and protecting social security and Medicare.

Democrats need to rebrand themselves as the antidote to chaos and emphasize their ability to govern and solve problems.

Breaking the frame in messaging involves rejecting the premise of a question and reframing the conversation to focus on the issues that matter to voters. Effective political messaging requires emotional connection and storytelling.

Democrats should focus on long-term planning and messaging to counter the Republicans' advantage.

Reframing political issues and appealing to values like freedom can be persuasive.

Young people interested in writing, politics, and communication should follow their passion and be willing to work hard.







Learn a new language or take your skills to the next level with 55% off a Babbel subscription when you go to Babbel.com/igen


236: How to Outsmart Republicans with Billy Ray

The conversation with Noah Shachtman covers the misuse of prescription medications in the White House, particularly during the Trump administration. The White House Medical Office was found to have sloppy handling of prescription medications, including the use of military-grade stimulants like modafinil to keep up with the pace of dealing with Donald Trump. The White House doctor, Ronnie Jackson, was known for his eccentric behavior and abuse of power. The conversation also touches on the difference between being a writer and an editor in journalism, the future of magazines in the digital age, and the media's coverage of Biden and Trump.

204: #1 Win in Ohio with David Pepper

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