Adnaan Muslim has been a leading player in Democratic direct mail for more than 20 years, initially helping start Mission Control mail and now as a partner at Deliver Strategies. In this conversation, Adnaan talks his path to working in politics, how he gravitated to direct mail, importance races in his career like electing Elizabeth Warren, Jared Polis, and Raphael Warnock, and the passion he has for campaign speechwriting. Great stories, insight, and advice from one of the most unique voices in politics.
IN THIS EPISODE
The member of Congress that made an impression on Adnaan at age 10…
The Congressional internship and specific moment that led Adnaan to a life in politics…
Adnaan’s talks the value of starting a political career by working in campaign fundraising…
Adnaan gives his perspective as a staffer of color in a historically white business…
Adnaan tells the story of building the Democratic mail firm Mission Control…
The early races that Adnaan cut his teeth on as a strategist…
Adnaan talks his approach to designing effective mail pieces…
Adnaan joins his current firm Deliver Strategies…
Adnaan’s role in Elizabeth Warren’s first campaign in the 2012 Massachusetts Senate race…
Adnaan talks one of the most important inflection points in the Elizabeth Warren 2012 win…
Adnaan’s best practices for political speechwriting…
Adnaan’s talks through two of his favorite political speeches…
Adnaan talks about his passion for writing screenplays and being involved in filmmaking…
Adnaan talks some of the creative tactics behind Raphael Warnock’s Georgia Senate win…
Adnaan’s travel tips and hacks…
Adnaan’s strangest work habit…
Adnaan’s unconventional relationship with one of his competitors…
AND Gabby Adler, Advent calendars, bad packers, Scott Brown, Rob Burch, Maryanne Connelly, checkered reputations, crescendos and decrescendos, Mario Cuomo, Happy Fernandez, Gema, Mandy Grunwald, Jesse Jackson, joining a supergroup, Tim Johnson, Elena Kagan, Ted Kennedy, Haroon Khan, kitchenettes, Mack Sumner, Betsy McCaughey Ross, the Mujahideen, Mindy Myers, Newburgh NY, Bob Ney, photocopies of business cards, George Pataki, Ed Peavy, Jared Polis, Larry Pressler, Ayanna Pressley, Ronald Reagan, roleplaying, Marla Romash, Antonin Scalia, screenplays in a drawer, Sony Walkman, speeches only a Dad could love, unforced errors, Sujata Tejwani, Vernon CT, Raphael Warnock, Charlie Wilson, Michelle Wu, & more!