Action Items

Masterclass Content and Delivery

• SPEAKER_00: Discuss the “why” behind her public life and career choices in the Masterclass.
• SPEAKER_00: Share personal stories of growing up and facing challenges in the Masterclass.
• SPEAKER_00: Emphasize being completely open and honest in the Masterclass to connect with viewers.
• SPEAKER_00: Ground her experiences in relatable, “nitty-gritty” examples for the Masterclass audience (e.g., public speaking fear vs. running for president).
• SPEAKER_00: Revisit and read the “would-be victory speech” for the Javits Center in the Masterclass.
  • Explain that this was a Masterclass request to be helpful to viewers.
  • Acknowledge that she was doubtful about revisiting it but wanted to be as helpful as possible.
  • Focus on her mother’s life and journey in the speech, as it was a significant theme during her campaign.
  • Describe the emotional difficulty of reading the speech due to the personal loss and the perceived impact on the country.
  • Highlight the specific story of her mother as a child on a train, connecting it to her lifelong work with children.
  • Emphasize the image of envisioning herself on the train with her mother as a reflection of her core values and career.

Personal Growth and Resilience

• SPEAKER_00: Share lessons learned from the 1993 healthcare reform task force experience, including the challenges of being a “lightning rod” and the difficulty of changing established systems.
• SPEAKER_00: Articulate the strategy of learning from setbacks to find alternative solutions, using the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as an example.
• SPEAKER_00: Reflect on the cathartic and intensely personal nature of the Masterclass experience.
• SPEAKER_00: Develop a system for dealing with criticism by taking it seriously but not personally.
  • Evaluate the source of criticism.
  • Dismiss outrageous or personal attacks.
  • Consider constructive criticism as valuable feedback for improvement.
• SPEAKER_00: Acknowledge that showing emotion as a woman in public life can be perceived differently than for men, and discuss the historical context of women leaders often suppressing emotion.
• SPEAKER_00: Reflect on the common experiences of women in the workforce and how her public life can help others navigate similar situations.
• SPEAKER_00: Discuss the importance of being the “first” through the door on an issue, even if personal success isn’t immediate, to pave the way for others (e.g., Lily Ledbetter).
• SPEAKER_00: Use walking in nature and being outdoors as a personally restorative practice.
  • Mention daily walks in forest preserves and parks north of NYC.
  • Recall a restorative walk the day after the 2016 election.
• SPEAKER_00: Encourage young women and girls to not give up hope and to fight for what is important, even in the face of setbacks.

Social Media, Technology, and Political Discourse

• SPEAKER_00: Acknowledge the existence of a significant problem with social media’s impact on young people, particularly regarding anxiety and depression.
• SPEAKER_00: Advocate for stronger regulation of social media platforms, expressing hope that the administration and Congress will take action.
• SPEAKER_00: Emphasize the need to “double down” on media literacy education in schools and families to help children discern truth and navigate online information.
  • Equip children to understand motivations behind criticism.
  • Teach children how to respond to criticism effectively.
• SPEAKER_00: Express concern about the potential for an Instagram for children and state a strong opposition to it.
• SPEAKER_00: Argue that the Democratic Party needs careful consideration of what wins elections, especially in competitive districts and states.
• SPEAKER_00: Highlight the Republican Party’s efforts in redistricting to reduce Democratic competitiveness.
• SPEAKER_00: Stress the importance of maintaining Democratic majorities in the House and Senate to achieve policy goals.
• SPEAKER_00: Analyze the outcomes in Virginia and New Jersey, suggesting a need to understand voter motivations and address anxieties effectively.
• SPEAKER_00: Discuss the historical pattern of Democrats facing backlash after implementing significant policies.
• SPEAKER_00: Analyze the 2016 election and the role of misinformation, including the impact of Jim Comey’s letter and foreign interference.
• SPEAKER_00: Critique Donald Trump’s presidency, his rhetoric, and his actions in trying to overturn the election.
• SPEAKER_00: Express concern about the Republican Party’s alignment with Donald Trump and the erosion of spines and consciences among elected officials.
• SPEAKER_00: Call for more efforts to fight against the organized effort to undermine elections and fair voting processes.
• SPEAKER_00: Warn against a “failure of imagination” in recognizing the severity of threats to democracy.
• SPEAKER_00: Criticize Fox News for spreading lies and creating a disconnect between their messaging and their own actions regarding vaccination.
• SPEAKER_00: Advocate for continued scrutiny and accountability of media outlets that spread disinformation.
• SPEAKER_00: Discuss the challenge of competing with right-wing propaganda on social media and the need to find more impactful ways to disseminate truth.
• SPEAKER_00: Express a strong concern that Donald Trump will run again and that if he is not held accountable, the country could be unrecognizable.
• SPEAKER_00: Acknowledge personal responsibility and feelings of guilt about not stopping Donald Trump and his allies, citing efforts to warn people through her book and campaign.
• SPEAKER_00: Express deep concern about the current political climate and the potential consequences of autocratic tendencies.
• SPEAKER_00: Address the phenomenon of politicians privately criticizing Donald Trump but publicly supporting him due to fear of their base.
• SPEAKER_00: Argue that the press and public need to continue calling out and holding accountable those who spread disinformation and undermine institutions.
• SPEAKER_00: Advocate for a stronger and more impactful way to communicate truth in the face of algorithmic and addictive disinformation.
• SPEAKER_00: Express worry about the potential for Donald Trump or someone of his ilk to be elected again and the resulting impact on the country, especially if they have a compliant Congress.
• SPEAKER_00: Emphasize that the impact of autocracy and corruption affects everyone, not just specific individuals.

Political Strategy and Party Dynamics

• SPEAKER_00: Advocate for a measured and incremental approach to political change, referencing the challenges of large-scale reforms.
• SPEAKER_00: Support President Biden’s current legislative agenda as consequential and incremental.
• SPEAKER_00: Support the passage of the infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better plan, highlighting their economic necessity.
• SPEAKER_00: Defend the current pieces remaining in the House’s version of the Build Back Better bill, stating they can be explained and defended.
• SPEAKER_00: Express hope that something will pass the Senate before Christmas, citing the important needs addressed in the bill for families and climate change.
• SPEAKER_00: Explain that the legislative process, including public negotiation, can be messy but is how democracy works.
• SPEAKER_00: Argue that the legislation in the passed and proposed bills is critically important for addressing climate change.
• SPEAKER_00: Identify a need for careful thinking about what wins elections for the Democratic Party, beyond safe Democratic districts.
• SPEAKER_00: Stress that the Democratic majority relies on winning in more difficult and “purplish” districts.
• SPEAKER_00: Advocate for vigorous debate within the Democratic Party but emphasize the ultimate need for a functioning Congress and a stable White House.
• SPEAKER_00: Acknowledge the historical pattern where Democrats often lose seats in the midterms following their election.
• SPEAKER_00: Discuss the phenomenon of voters wanting leaders to “fix things” and the potential dissonance created by the actions taken to achieve that.
• SPEAKER_00: Analyze the 2020 election, noting Joe Biden’s large popular vote margin but smaller Electoral College margin, highlighting the difficulty of winning campaigns.
• SPEAKER_00: Identify that the critical race theory debate in Virginia may have been a “stalking horse” for broader anxieties related to school closures, remote learning, and parental stress during the pandemic.
• SPEAKER_00: Suggest that Democrats need to find better ways to market their accomplishments, especially against a “tsunami of attacks and insults” amplified by social media and certain news outlets.
• SPEAKER_00: Encourage celebrating and publicizing accomplishments like the infrastructure bill through events and communication.
• SPEAKER_00: Express hope for seeing a woman president soon, acknowledging the ongoing challenges and the need to push back against stereotypes and unfair assumptions.