Is 2025 the moment for more of the same stale strategies or something totally new?

Do any of us honestly believe the Democrats should be recycling the same old tired playbook in 2025? Because this moment isn’t calling for something timid — it’s calling for something big, something bold, something that meets the scale of the challenge. It’s calling for YOU.

What if Democrats weren’t just playing defense — but leading with wild, brilliant, can’t-look-away ideas that energize progressives, excite moderates, and maybe, just maybe, even have Republicans saying, “Wait...that’s actually pretty smart.”

By Mike Reid | July 2025

Eight years ago — right after Trump won the first time — I quit my bougie political consulting job, and I launched a scrappy startup to help Democrats running for the U.S. House raise as much money as possible as quickly as possible.

And what did I recommend?

Call time. (A LOT of calling rich people.)

And fundraising events. (Usually with a $500+ price tag.)

And then, obviously, a barrage of fundraising emails. (Written in a personal tone from the candidate raised a lot more money.)

More of the same.

Something completely different.

But that was eight years ago, my Democratic friends!

Here we are in the year 2025.

And a LOT has changed since 2017, hasn't it? And what worked in the past isn’t working very well anymore, is it?

Is it???

And is ANYONE who works in politics having ANY fun right now?

And yet, it’s the strangest thing, isn’t it?

We all know it’s time for something completely different — and yet despite everyone’s desperation for fresh ideas, nobody seems to be offering anything new.

There is a huge demand for new ideas.

And yet there is no supply of new ideas.

And that, my Democratic compatriots, is the golden snitch-sized opportunity just floating right there — waiting for the first brave political pioneers (like you?) with the guts and the vision to dive in.

Step 1:

90 minutes of storyline development

Step 2:

Create a website in three days

Step 3:

Raise $500,000+

Step 4:

Recruit leadership team

Step 5:

Create jobs that pay $50/hour

Because here’s the thing: if you’ve got a bold new (political) idea, you’re probably better off launching a PAC than running for office.

Running for Congress? That’s so….2017.

Okay, yes, we do need good people in Congress. But running for Congress is kind of miserable. And you probably won’t win. And even if you do win? Congratulations — you now have a job that is also kind of miserable.

And if you're "lucky" enough to be a member of Congress right now, you're undoubtedly miserable — so what you should probably do is announce you're not running again in 2026 and then launch a PAC and use it to help empower a new generation of leaders, right?

Because isn't that what George Washington would have done?

Storyline Development:

Villain: A broadly disliked thing (not a person)

Goal: To defeat the villain

Why: Because we ALL hate the villain

How: An exciting and energizing plan

Heroes: Numerous roles available

And here's another cool thing about PACs: their income comes from donations, and they spend that money on political action — so you don’t have to stress out about becoming a "profitable" enterprise if you're a PAC, because there’s no such thing as “profit” at a PAC.

And PACs aren't boxed in by contribution limits either.

Want to raise $500,000? You just need ONE early believer (who also happens to be a millionaire or billionaire) to click that red donate button and boom — you’re financially thriving!

Compare that to raising $500,000 for a congressional campaign with a $7,000 per person giving limit. You’d need 71.4 donors, and you’d have to hope every single one of them maxes out.

Or, you’d need 100,000 people to each chip in five dollars.

Ugh. What a headache.

So if you’re serious about saving democracy — stop thinking like it’s 2017. Start thinking like you're a PAC founder in the year 2025.