Bulwark Takes Sarah’s Little Secret is Out | Bulwark on Sunday
Mar 8, 2026
Sarah Longwell, a political strategist and communications expert, previews her new book How to Eat an Elephant. She discusses persuading voters, building a communications playbook for Democrats, the role of communities in modern media, and how messaging choices shape public opinion on war and leadership.
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Community Stickiness Turns Audiences Into Mobilized Supporters
- Independent media communities create sticky parasocial bonds that mobilize real-world actions like book sales and event attendance.
- Sarah Longwell credits the Bulwark community for showing up repeatedly and turning audience trust into measurable support for projects.
Live Shows And Comments Show Audience Trust Despite Disagreement
- Sarah reads Bulwark comments and recounts listeners pulling over to preorder the book or celebrating bestseller success.
- She describes live shows where disagreement coexists with trust because the audience knows the hosts' genuine positions.
Treat Communications As A Core Strategic Priority
- Do prioritize communications strategy as centrally as policy when trying to change voter behavior.
- Longwell wants her book to be a practical kick in the butt showing Democrats how to run meaningful offensive messaging.
