“Mamdani, MGP, and Buttigieg represent distinct corners of the Democratic tent. But their communicative successes all borrow from the same lesson.

In politics today, specificity is a superpower. Specificity tells voters: I care so much about your frustration that I’ve sought to deeply understand the details of what’s behind it. Specificity doesn’t just offer a story to grab people’s momentary attention. It promises agency. If we can name our problems, we can fix them.”