Ari Rabin-Havt spent more time with Bernie Sanders over the past few years than virtually anyone. Ari served as the Sanders' 2020 Deputy Campaign Manager, traveling with Bernie almost 24/7. He recounts much of this time in his new book The Fighting Soul: On the Road with Bernie Sanders...and in this conversation talks about the personal side of Bernie, the major strategic decisions within the campaign, both what he thinks the campaign got right as well as mistakes they made, and much more from one of the operatives closest to the Sanders' campaign and and active participant in almost all of the critical moments of the 2020 Democratic primary.
IN THIS EPISODE
Ari’s motivation to get involved in politics…
The prominent Senator who connected Ari to Bernie Sanders…
Why Bernie warmed up to Ari so quickly…
Ari’s front row seat into the Sanders’ decision process on whether to run in 2020…
The most important factor that determined whether Bernie ran in 2020…
Ari talks “the biggest mistake” the Sanders’ campaign made…
Ari on the Sanders’ alter ego of “Bernie” vs “Earl”…
The most difficult job on the Sanders’ campaign…
Ari demystifies his role as “deputy campaign manager”…
“Beer track” candidates vs. “wine track” candidates…
Ari’s most memorable celebrity encounters from the 2020 race…
Why the campaign decided to handle its paid media internally instead of using an established media consultant…
The Sanders’ campaign confusion over the lack of Iowa TV spending from the Elizabeth Warren campaign…
The moment Ari was afraid an opposing campaign was going to “knock out” Sanders pre-Iowa…
Ari gives a quick lesson in real-time, presidential campaign budgeting…
The “moment of utter transcendent perfection” on the campaign…
Ari breaks out his famed Bernie impression…
Why Bernie didn’t go harder after Joe Biden in the debates...
Ari’s take on whether there’s a scenario of another Sanders runs for President…
Ari on how Democrats should engage with Fox News…
Ari’s 101 on what makes a good advance staffer…
AND 59th Street Bridge, ACDC, AOC, anti-hunger activism, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, budget sinks, Pete Buttigieg, Daytona Superspeedway, DML Media, Warren Gunnels, insane endeavors, Jewish grandfathers, Arianna Jones, kismet, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Longabaugh, Ed Markey, Media Matters, Josh Miller-Lewis, Outback Steakhouse, Jean-Michel Picher, policy staff, Queensbridge Park, Harry Reid, relative viscosity, restrictor plate races, Chuck Rocha, Jane Sanders, Faiz Shakir, Sirius XM, Rene Spellman, starting the train, Ted Strickland, tactile politics, Tim Tagaris, Nina Turner, Eddie Vedder, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Weaver, Cornel West, & more!