This episode I talk to Josef Lentsch, co-founder of Partisan.community and organizer of the Political Tech Summit, about how European elections actually work. We cover why there isn’t one "European system," how public financing shapes campaigns, and what U.S. strategists get wrong about the EU. Josef explains the rise of small parties, GDPR and data limits, and why relational organizing is still underused in Europe. We also dig into the German Left’s digital comeback, the growth of political-tech vendors, and the future of campaign innovation across Europe.

In this episode of The Art of Campaigns, I sit down with Michael Cohen, a longtime campaign strategist, pollster, and author of Modern Political Campaigns. Together we unpack how AI is reshaping the campaign landscape from top to bottom.We cover:1. How down-ballot campaigns are leveling up with generative AI2. Why AI is better as a strategist’s tool, not a voter-facing gimmick3. The power (and limitations) of sentiment analysis in modern campaigns4. What campaigners should be tracking beyond polling numbers5. Why the “contact stack” might be the future of integrated outreachWhether you're a field director, digital lead, or just someone trying to make smarter moves in political strategy, this conversation is a must-watch. We’re talking real, tested insights from inside the campaign war room.Check out Michael's updated edition of Modern Political CampaignsSubscribe for more episodes with campaign pros and political tacticiansJoin the newsletter for behind-the-scenes takes and strategy deep-dives============Caitlin Huxley:https://huxleystrategies.com/ / caitlinhuxley Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns - https://amzn.to/3XefpAn============Michael Cohen: / michaeldavidcohen Modern Political Campaigns - https://amzn.to/3ETgjMa

In this episode, I spoke with Elijah Day and Madisyn Pettit from Patriot Grassroots about running smarter field operations. We talked through canvassing timelines, data integrity, volunteer burnout, and what actually works on the ground.Strategy 1: Start EarlyStrategy 2: Treat Volunteers WellStrategy 3: Outreach Works Best When CombinedBonus: The Louisiana Field Test============Chapters

⁠00:00⁠ Introductions

⁠01:21⁠ The importance of starting early

⁠03:23⁠ Issue-ID petitions

⁠04:48⁠ Poor decision making

⁠06:37⁠ Don't make assumptions

⁠08:25⁠ Treating your volunteers right

⁠13:13⁠ Efficacy of different types of canvassers

⁠16:13⁠ Patriot Academy

⁠18:19⁠ Combating Burnout

⁠19:49⁠ Ensuring Quality Control

⁠23:22⁠ Reaching "Unwalkable" Voters

⁠25:14⁠ Integrating a Field Program into Your Plan

⁠30:14⁠ Software Recommendations============Caitlin Huxley:https://huxleystrategies.com/ / caitlinhuxley Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns - https://amzn.to/3XefpAn============Elijah Day:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijah-day-a14033ba/Madisyn Pettit:https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisyn-pettit-7410151a6/

In this conversation, Justin Nudo & I discuss fundraising strategies, where folks go wrong, and why it's so hard to find a good fundraiser these days. We dive deep into the personal nature of campaigns, how to expand your network organically, and the secret to breaking into those PAC piggy banks.

In this conversation, Mike Yelovich & I discuss campaigning, focusing on data strategies, voter targeting, and the importance of understanding low propensity swing voters. We explore the balance between data-driven decisions and intuition, the significance of polling, some positive indicators of a successful campaign, and much more.============Caitlin Huxley:https://huxleystrategies.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinhuxley/Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns - https://amzn.to/3XefpAn============Mike Yelovich:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-yelovich/https://x.com/mikeyelovich

In this, I sit down with Michael Cohen to discuss my book, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns, and how Sun Tzu’s The Art of War offers valuable lessons for modern political strategy. We explore key principles—like knowing your battlefield, leveraging strengths, and outmaneuvering opponents—and how they apply to winning elections today. Whether you’re a candidate, strategist, or just fascinated by the mechanics of campaigns, this episode unpacks timeless insights with real-world applications.============Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Sun Tzu and Political Campaigns02:00 About Caitlin Huxley03:17 Writing the book05:07 "The general who makes many calculations..."06:05 "Know your enemy, and know yourself..."06:53 Independent Expenditures09:33 What does war have to do with politics?11:45 Communicating on the battlefield12:35 Victory or death... of your ideals14:15 Iterating on your plan16:19 "Let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns..."20:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts21:47 You should read the book.============Caitlin Huxley:https://huxleystrategies.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinhuxley/Ancient Wisdom for Modern Campaigns - https://amzn.to/3XefpAn============Michael Cohen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldavidcohen/Modern Political Campaigns - https://amzn.to/3ETgjMa