Page S. Gardner

The biggest story isn’t how much money is being spent — it’s where & how it’s being deployed across competitive races, TV, streaming & social media. This is what we uncover in Need to Know: Who's in Your Media Market newsletter: whosinyourmediamarket.substack.com/p/growth-and... What we're seeing 👇

@ifpg.bsky.social seeks to understand & address foundational challenges facing our country. Robert P. Jones of PPRI has done a magnificent job in "Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy" explaining the Christian Right & Christian nationalism's impact.

In our most recent #FirstMondaysWebinar, Corrie Hunt of Hart Research breaks down how to combat the Right's "Us vs. Them" strategy of othering, which is used to pit Americans against each other. Some research-backed ways to create counter-narratives ⬇️

Why do “us vs. them” narratives work so well — and how do we push back without playing “whack a mole?” During Monday's #FirstMondaysWebinar, we explored new research on “othering” — one of the Right’s most powerful strategies for pitting Americans against each other and gaining power.

Happening Monday! Register for PSG Consulting’s next #FirstMondaysWebinar, “No More Whack A Mole,” happening April 13 at 12pm ET. In this clip, Corrie Hunt of Hart Research gives a speak peak of Monday's discussion ⬇️ Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

PSG Consulting's newsletter — Need to Know: Who's In Your Media Market — shows ~95% of early advertising in House races is coming from outside groups — not campaigns, with 1–2 groups shaping almost all of the messaging in some races. Read the latest edition: open.substack.com/pub/whosinyo...

“Garbage in, garbage out.” I recently spoke w/ @beyer.house.gov on new research from PSG Consulting on ideological bias in AI training data, and why what goes in ultimately shapes what comes out.

I recently spoke with @beyer.house.gov on new research from PSG Consulting, @ifpg.bsky.social and Dewey Square Group examining ideological bias in LLM training data. As Congressman Beyer puts it: "You only have to go as far as Grok to see ideological bias smack us in the face."

As we prepare for the 2026 midterms, who ensures access to reliable information? In our #FirstMondaysWebinar, @jgo4justice.bsky.social warns: while AI companies draw trillions in investment, the burden of navigating misinformation is falling on the public. www.psgconsulting.com/videos/v/ame...

AI systems rely on web crawlers to gather training data from across the internet. But not all sites are equally accessible to these tools. Low-factual sites are the most open, while higher-factuality sources are the least — an “inverse funnel.” As @timothychambers.net explains 👇

Newsletter from PSG - Need to Know…

AI and large language models (LLMs) are increasingly shaping what voters understand to be true. In our latest #FirstMondaysWebinar, we ask: who is shaping the information that trains these systems?

What information is actually informing the AI large language models we use every day? New research from PSG Consulting, Innovating for the Public Good and Dewey Square Group finds a troubling "inverted funnel" in AI training data. ⬇️

In a recent discussion with screenwriter and political strategist @billyray5229.bsky.social, he highlighted some surprising data. When asked what percentage of the population was transgender, Americans polled said 21%. The actual number is >1%. The pattern holds for other minority groups as well.

We’re often told America is deeply divided. But on issues that affect daily life, many agree. As Billy Ray explains, voters support higher wages, climate action, infrastructure and taking on Big Pharma. The problem isn’t the issues — it’s that Democrats have failed to clearly say what they’re for.

Over the past year, PSG Consulting’s #FirstMondaysWebinar series on narratives brought together diverse voices to ask a shared question: How do we create narratives that strengthen our democracy? One thing became clear — we won’t rebuild America without stories rooted in everyday lived experiences.

A narrative to move us forward in 2026: “We the people — & we the people means all the people.” In this #FirstMondaysWebinar clip, Andy Bernstein describes America’s 250th as a chance to reclaim patriotism from the Right as something powered by everyday people. www.psgconsulting.com/videos/v/sha...

During our 2025 Narrative Series, one thing was clear: rebuilding America requires compelling stories rooted in core values. Voters need to hear narratives that acknowledge their everyday struggles in 2026 to elect candidates we support & strengthen democracy.

Democracy is only as strong as the people — and leaders — who believe in it. The latest Gallup/Kettering survey is a wake-up call. While most Americans believe democracy is the best form of government, 4 in 10 don’t think leaders are committed to it. That’s a leadership failure we can’t ignore.

Sobering news on the state of democracy ⬇️ Read more: apnews.com/article/us-d...

Too often, when we talk about shifting culture, we think in terms of single-issue campaigns. But real change demands a deeper strategy — one grounded in the values and narratives shaping who we are and how we see one another. ⬇️

Today we thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi — a brilliant, strategic leader with a heart as big as Mount Rushmore. She gave her heart to this country and to everyone she served. Thank you for your leadership, your care and your incredible legacy.

How did we reach a point where we must march in the streets to protest authoritarianism in America? Our latest #FirstMondaysWebinar explored how powerful interests spent decades reshaping culture, defining people’s realities and influencing how they vote. www.psgconsulting.com/videos/v/ret...

Our latest #FirstMondaysWebinar explored how culture shapes our understanding of democracy — and why that understanding is key to protecting it. We discussed 4 forces pushing us toward authoritarianism: othering, distrust in institutions, distortion of facts, and religious & nationalist movements.

In our recent #FirstMondaysWebinar, Dori Howard shared how entertainment has shaped culture & policy at the highest level. From Will & Grace influencing views on marriage equality to The Day After impacting nuclear policy, stories have real-world consequences. www.psgconsulting.com/videos/v/ret...

During our recent #FirstMondaysWebinar, Mathew Littman of Howlitt shared how the entertainment industry has shaped real-world behavior and social norms — and the ripple effect these stories have on our culture and politics. www.psgconsulting.com/videos/v/ret...

ICYMI: 50 legal experts — including former AGs and U.S. attorneys — were surveyed about Trump’s second term. Their consensus: DOJ guardrails have eroded, serving the politics of intimidation over law. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...

Thomas Edsall’s recent column in @nytimes.com capsulizes what is happening in our country and highlights a core tactic of the Trump Administration: othering, or the demonization of out-groups to gain power. I break it down in the video below. Read Edsall’s column: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

A century ago, America faced eerily familiar threats: Crackdowns on dissenting speech, public distrust, political violence, wealth inequality & more. But Americans didn’t retreat; they experimented boldly. To meet today’s threats, we need bold action at an even greater scale. tinyurl.com/m5y6b23n

Our democracy faces threats that demand immediate action & long-term solutions. Operating as if the once-normal rules of the game still apply is no longer viable. Learn about Innovating for the Public Good’s plan in this recent webinar & hear from CEO Omar Parbhoo: www.linkedin.com/posts/innova...

For good reason, the Big Betrayal Bill isn't supported by the majority of Americans. Historic cuts to Medicaid & SNAP will leave millions without basic necessities. And now, many of those who stand to gain the most from the bill oppose it. ⬇️ www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Our democracy relies on public trust and people’s belief in their power to shape policy. After the LA fires, 2.6M tons of toxic ash were dumped in landfills. Families tried but failed to protect their communities — and even the wealthiest couldn’t stop it. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/m...

As students return to class, recall Trump's attacks on education & research — slashing agency staff, freezing grants & driving American scientists abroad. These attacks undermine schools & science, while undercutting the American Dream & our competitiveness. pagegardner.substack.com/p/the-trump-...

I spoke with @tiffanymuller.bsky.social, President of @endcitizensunited.bsky.social, about its new survey of likely 2026 voters in battleground districts. The findings are striking: 80% of voters believe we need either to completely rebuild the system or make big, big changes.

I spoke with @tiffanymuller.bsky.social on @endcitizensunited.bsky.social's survey of likely 2026 battleground voters. Independents were highly persuadable on anti-corruption messaging, shifting 15 points toward Democrats (52-37), while traditional Democratic messaging left them evenly split (45-45)

An @endcitizensunited.bsky.social survey shows that 53% of voters want Congress to make reducing corruption a “very big priority.” Yet, many believe Republicans — even when they disagree on policy — represent change, while Democrats are seen as defending the system.

I recently spoke with @tiffanymuller.bsky.social, President of @endcitizensunited.bsky.social, about sobering new research revealing that 89% of voters believe addressing government corruption should be a priority for Congress. Winning back voters’ trust in this area isn’t going to be easy.

Innovating for the Public Good’s new research details how the Big Beautiful Bill (AKA the Big Betrayal Bill) doesn’t just slash funding for vital social programs — it adds a maze of bureaucratic red tape that will leave millions at risk of losing essential benefits.

During the latest PSG Consulting webinar, @geoffgarin.bsky.social and the @hartresearch.bsky.social team highlighted new research on how younger voters are more likely to see Trump as divisive and to disapprove of his othering tactics. A few key findings from the research on young voters:

Othering is a classic tactic to divide and distract. New research from @hartresearch.bsky.social & PSG Consulting shows how it's being used in politics — and how shared values are being overshadowed by division. Learn more & watch the discussion: www.psgconsulting.com/videos/v/the...

Why is othering so powerful — and so dangerous? Our brains are hardwired to categorize, stereotype and determine whether we need to fight or flee. We organize by "in-groups" and "out-groups" — with "out-groups" being potentially threatening to our sense of identity and status.

PSG Consulting’s latest webinar explores research with @hartresearch.bsky.social on othering — the dehumanization of groups of people based on who they are. Othering is a driver of authoritarian ambition and success, and it’s now being framed in the context of American patriotism & protectionism.

Let’s call the BBB what it is: The Big Betrayal. This bill guts Medicaid, SNAP, rural hospitals, clean energy & education — and adds more red tape just to access what’s left. It punishes those who need help most, while the ultra-rich keep cashing in.

@mmfa.bsky.social analyzed 320 popular ideologically-driven online shows, and 9 out of 10 are right-leaning. These 9 shows had a combined following of over 480M people across platforms — nearly 5x as many as left-leaning shows. www.mediamatters.org/google/right...