Deadline for Responses: Mon, Feb 17, 2025 8 PM PST
Facilitator: @mggbwmn8
SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE:
Operation Hope is securing endorsements from politicians, thought leaders, and public figures to bolster support for the Populist Plank.
A tracking system (Google Sheet, internal access only) monitors outreach efforts. Several endorsements have been secured (Ro Khanna, Nina Turner, JD Scholten, Marie Newman), but follow-ups and assignments remain.
There’s an ongoing debate between prioritizing inclusivity versus maintaining a high ethical standard for endorsements.
To streamline efforts, power mapping will help:
- Identify the most strategic outreach targets based on existing relationships.
- Leverage key network connections for more persuasive outreach.
- Assess the impact of making declined endorsements public.
- Establish a clear policy on controversial and unsolicited endorsements.
KEY QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS:
- How do we streamline follow-ups to avoid outreach gaps or duplication?
- Should we publicly track politicians who decline to endorse, or keep that internal?
- What new outreach targets should we prioritize next?
- Power Mapping:
- Who in our network can influence high-priority endorsement targets?
- Which allies can help broaden our support?
- How can we use current endorsers’ connections to enhance outreach?
- What criteria determine when an endorsement is harmful? Should we set a rejection threshold (e.g., 80% voting alignment)?
- How should we handle unsolicited endorsements from controversial figures—ignore, acknowledge, or distance ourselves?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION & CONTEXT:
Current Status:
- Secured several endorsements; follow-ups needed for pending outreach.
- Internal tracking system in place (Google Sheet).
- Outreach email template awaiting final approval from TYT.
- Debate ongoing: Does agreement with the plank outweigh past actions (e.g., Matt Gaetz, RFK Jr.)?
- Power mapping will guide target priorities and key relationship leverage.
If you need access to the outreach tracking sheet, contact Maggie.
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PROPOSED OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:
- Option A: Assign clear follow-up leads for all pending outreach.
- Option B: Make declined endorsements public (to increase pressure) OR keep that info internal.
- Option C: Expand outreach to new high-impact targets (suggest names in replies).
- Option D: Use power mapping to identify the most influential relationships for securing endorsements.
- Option E: Establish a vetting process with clear criteria and a decision threshold (e.g., 80% agreement needed to reject an endorsement).
- Option F: Set a policy for handling unsolicited endorsements from controversial figures.
Feel free to propose alternative ideas in your response!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- Share your thoughts by Feb 17.
- Tag relevant stakeholders who should provide input.
- Contribute connections that could aid outreach efforts for power mapping.
- Suggest additional endorsement targets or recommend outreach strategy adjustments.
NEXT STEPS:
- Feb 18: Facilitator will summarize key takeaways before our 2/19 meeting.
- Feb 19: Unresolved issues will be flagged for live discussion.
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Maggie , you have done a fantastic job ! Kudos . My two cents would be to add Robert Reich , former Secretary of Labor. He regularly posts on X and the Guardian the perils of autocracy and the current administration. Also , nobody has mentioned Michael Moore ; he’s been very outspoken on the same context as we. Can I also add : Max Blumenthal, Aaron Maté , Norman Finkelstein , and Jeffrey Sachs who is very knowledgeable of current events being a diplomat. Thanks again for everything , Jack
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We also are going to need a plan for if/when someone turns down/refuses to endorse/sign the plank:
Turn Their Refusal into an Organizing Opportunity
1. Expose Their Priorities
- These policies have mass public support—their refusal serves donors, corporations, or party leadership, not the people.
- Frame it as a litmus test: Are they with the people or the elite?
- Demand a public explanation and make them own their excuse.
2. Mobilize Public Pressure
- Use social media, grassroots organizing, and town halls to amplify their refusal.
- Encourage constituents to demand answers: Why oppose what most Americans want?
- Host public forums and debates where pro-populist candidates challenge them directly.
3. Make Them Pay Politically
- Primary challenges: Support candidates who will sign the Populist Plank.
- Strategic endorsements: Deny backing to those who won’t commit.
- Public scorecards: Track who stands with the people vs. corporate interests.
4. Expose Performative Politics
- Refusing to sign isn’t about party lines—it’s power vs. the people.
- Call out fake populists who talk change but won’t act.
- Highlight cross-partisan populist solidarity.
5. Build Power Beyond Politicians
- If politicians won’t sign, get unions, activists, and community groups to.
- Shift the fight: If they won’t fight for us, we’ll fight for ourselves.
- Use their refusal to fuel direct action—protests, mutual aid, labor organizing.
Their resistance clarifies the truth: this isn’t about policy—it’s about power.
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Tim Walz’s people and I have been emailing and will let you know anything as soon as I know. We’re discussing getting him on a Town Hall Meeting with Cenk. No promises (obviously). 
I would argue that inclusivity and maintaining ethical standards are not mutually exclusive. We should make the Populist Plank open to anyone to sign and have a consensus for who we endorse as having signed should an issue arise. The idea of 80% after an honest discussion seems fair. In terms of preventing people from endorsing the plank themselves publicly, I think it’s better to leave that alone. Actively opposing an endorsement seems like a bad idea to me. Also, I think it’s way too early to out people for not choosing to endorse. After time passes and more people sign on, we should appeal again to those who chose not to endorse and return to the idea of outing again. In terms of multiple appeals to one person, well, I think that’s a good thing.
Is that everything you wanted us to answer? If not, please let me know. Remember, everyone, it’s easy to want this to rush and get ahead of ourselves, but slow and steady wins the race, so it’s better to ensure we are all on the same page and understand everything we have done so far and what needs to be done before plowing ahead.
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