TikTok Elections & How The Algorithm Might Run Our Government
Conversations with Kat Tenbarge on Passing the Torch Podcast
TL;DR
Cringe kills: Among young voters, avoiding cringe often matters more than “being right.”
Compression wins: The messages that move are simple, visual, and loopable in 7–12 seconds.
Persona > policy: Characters scale; white papers don’t. Build the myth, hang policy on it.
Teach without scolding: “Here’s the cheat code” beats “Here’s why you’re wrong.”
Gatekeepers are now black boxes: Algorithms privilege reaction over quality—design for that reality without feeding the outrage machine.
Pull-Quotes You Can Steal
“Political TikTok is mostly brand maintenance, not persuasion. It reminds your fans you exist; it doesn’t convert.” — Kat
“When politics goes short-form, the lowest common denominator wins. Simpler beats smarter in the scroll.” — Kat
“If you’re constantly educating, you risk making people feel dumb. They’ll bounce to content that validates them.” — Kat
“Gen Z hates cringe more than they hate ‘wrong.’ Humor that lands will beat a flawless brief.” — Jasper
What Kat Made Crystal Clear
1) Platforms reward vibes, not paragraphs
Political accounts rarely change minds; they signal belonging. Treat your feed like brand maintenance: consistent persona, repeatable bits, high clipability.
2) The right’s current edge is compression
Not higher IQ—tighter packaging. If your point needs three steps, it dies mid-scroll. Distill to one claim, one image, one beat.
3) Progressives who win act like creators
Think AOC/Mamdani: combative when needed, clear, native to platform. Ditch the “respectable press release” tone that reads as corporate or try-hard.
4) Character scales farther than content
Audiences attach to archetypes—fighter, coach, neighbor, watchdog. Build the myth of the persona; then attach policy to that story spine.
5) Algorithms are the new gatekeepers
We replaced editors with black boxes tuned to outrage. Assume selection bias toward heat. Your job is to generate relevance without cheap rage.
Playbook: Do This, Not That
DO lead with a hook → claim → proof-in-one-beat → human beat.
DON’T start with context/caveats/history (you’ll lose the clip).
DO use native humor and visual grammar (duets, stitches, green-screen receipts).
DON’T over-polish into ad-agency gloss—reads as state-approved cringe.
DO frame as “here’s the name for what you already feel.”
DON’T posture as the lecturer. Make the audience the co-author, not the pupil.
DO design for 7–12s loopability (first and last seconds matter).
DON’T bury the turn line at 0:13.
Fast Tactics for Young Reporters & Consultants
The 10-Word Test: Your thesis must fit in 10 words and still sound confident.
Cringe Check: Ask a digital-native under 25: “Would you share this unprompted?” If not, cut it.
Clip Ladder (ship 4 versions):
1 macro take, 1 “aha” receipt, 1 human story, 1 clapback. Let the market pick the winner.
Thanks for reading & now go ahead and run for president—you’ll surely win soon, compliments of Jasper and Emile Digital Political Consultancy Agency (JEDPCA).
—J&E