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In an electoral process that is improbable, sinister, and unsettling for any fan of democracy, every Democratic and Republican public appearance is scrutinised by the second and by the soundbite. From social media posts to well-calibrated speeches, every word can be worth one less or one more vote.

From populist communications to new media and new political realities in the 2024 US election

From a communications point of view, Trump's strategy — marked by questioning electoral results, rejecting scientific data, and spreading disinformation — has followed an increasingly dangerous and populist path, hand in hand with Elon Musk.

• This bromance has resulted in viral publications and controversial interviews with both YouTubers and journalists, all flirting with a semi-anarchic and anti-democratic vision for the USA. These mostly digital soundbites cater to a public increasingly drawn to populist rhetoric, which has also contributed to the polarisation of the electorate. If you're in X (formerly Twitter), you'll know what I'm talking about.

Meanwhile, the Democratic campaign has also veered into uncharted waters, a prime example being Kamala Harris' appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast on 6 October.

• Hosted by Alex Cooper, a 30-year-old with no formal political background, this is not just any podcast. Call Her Daddy is one of Spotify's most valuable properties — Cooper secured a $60 million deal in 2021, which ballooned to $125 million by 2024, and will change platforms next year — and widely recognised as the most popular podcast among women in English-speaking countries.

• The podcast typically delves into unfiltered conversations about sex, relationships, and lifestyle (no politics allowed for the most part), and Cooper has quite literally built an industry empire around the Call Her Daddy brand.

Adapting political communication to the Digital Age

Why it matters: Sitting a Democratic campaign on a sofa where fetishes and ideal partners are usually discussed, while that same campaign has avoided more traditional media outlets, wasn’t in anyone’s 2024 US election bingo.

• The 45-minute conversation was a huge success. Harris was genuine, prepared, and charismatic as she discussed both her personal life and critical political issues like the rollback of abortion rights, the burden on families, and Republicans’ attacks on other basic rights. It's well worth a listen.

• This untraditional avenue of political communication was clearly designed to appeal to a specific audience — namely, women who may feel distant from traditional politics or the GOP. Critics have labeled it an attempt to reach “childless cat ladies” and other women who are undecided or disenchanted with voting.

• Harris’s presence on Call Her Daddy should not be underestimated. In an age where traditional media caters to an already politically engaged public, the importance of reaching out to more disengaged audiences through new platforms like podcasts, YouTube, and TikTok cannot be overstated. As new careers (like YouTubers and podcasters), new debates (like climate change and memes), and new platforms (like TikTok) force political campaigns to adapt, institutional politics and politicians alike must navigate the fine line between modern outreach and institutional tradition.

The rise of new media has redefined political communication in the 21st century. Kamala Harris — despite her more traditional, albeit liberal, political demeanour —recognises the need to embrace these new megaphones.

• By appearing on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, she tapped into a different, less politically active demographic, a move that should be viewed not as counterproductive, but as savvy – serving as a reminder that the future of political communication lies in embracing the platforms that are shaping the conversations of everyday citizens.

• In a new reality marked by digital transformations, politicians who fail to adapt to these new channels risk friction on the road to the ballot box.

Growing in and out of your 9 to 5

• Here’s the Excel template I’m using to view and plan my 2025 @ Google drive

• Event: Challenges and Opportunities Posed by AI in International Peace and Security @ UNIDIR

• Report: an update on disrupting deceptive uses of AI @ OpenAI

• We Can Do Better Than ‘Positive Masculinity @ The New York Times

• Melinda French Gates on Why “Being Yourself” Doesn’t Always Work for Women @ Cosmopolitan

• Look at this photo of Ursula von der Leyen’s new team – and tell me the EU doesn’t have a diversity problem @ The Guardian

• The new top youth official at the UN talks about what’s in it for young people @ AP

• We watched 20 Trump rallies. His racist, anti-immigrant messaging is getting darker @ POLITICO

• Careerism Is Ruining College @ The New York Times

Jobs for diplomats at heart

• Project Assistant, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative @ Atlantic Council

• Call for proposals: Navigating gender equality and class-based divisions in politics @ ODI ALIGN platform

• Political Administrator – Africa and MENA Directorate @ General Secretariat of the Council GSC

• Research Associate @ United Nations University

• Intern @ Swisspeace

• Policy Analyst on Climate and Environment @ FEPS

• International Consultants on Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership Capacity Development @ UN Women

• Diplomatic and Development Economics Fast Stream 2025 @ UK Civil Service

• Partnerships Officer @ World Food Programme

• Policy & Coordination Officer (Political Affairs) P3 @ UN Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding

• UN Advocacy and Network Officer @ CIVICUS

• Ukraine Response Project Manager @ War Child

• External Affairs Officer @ World Bank

• Research & Writing Associate/Officer @ International Crisis Group

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