Why do voters change sides—and what actually persuades them?
In How to Eat an Elephant, political strategist Sarah Longwell draws on hundreds of focus groups and thousands of conversations with Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters to examine how American politics has changed. Her central argument is that elections are shaped not only by policies, but by trust, identity, emotion, media, and whether voters feel that political leaders genuinely understand their lives.
Longwell explores the rise of MAGA, growing distrust in institutions, the influence of podcasts and social media, and the economic and cultural concerns driving persuadable voters. She also lays out her case for how Democrats could rebuild a broader coalition through stronger messaging, more authentic leaders, and a renewed focus on affordability, safety, and opportunity.
Read the Instaread summary of How to Eat an Elephant to discover Longwell’s strategy for changing American politics—one voter at a time.
