41 Comments
User's avatar
Susan R's avatar

You’re a good man doing a good thing, Dan Pfeiffer. We are here for it. Keep going.

Expand full comment
Tony Brunello's avatar

That's all there is to say. Thanks Susan. And yes--thank you to Dan, everyone in PSA, and their vision.

Expand full comment
Jane Kauer   she/her's avatar

Thank you, Dan... and for the sense of relief when I got 2/3 of the way through reading and could finally reassure myself that you were not ending this project. Phew! We are all better off for your thoughts. Have a great day!

Expand full comment
MARTHA ESKEW's avatar

Your "guide" to how to talk about Biden was important and useful. I was able to share it with many when they ask, what do we do? I got it down to just 5 phrases that I could remember. It is up to us, please keep helping us, we are the 'new media' and we have to do this. Thank you for helping us.

Expand full comment
Jason's avatar

Message Box was my first Substack and the first I subscribed to. As Biden says, all of us are the heroes of the story. Your part is arming us with the best information.

Expand full comment
Jackras's avatar

Happy to hear you will continue to be offering insights and guidance. I also appreciate the snark you bring along to the commentary. Adds a needed element of levity to terrible situations :).

Expand full comment
Lisa's avatar

I value your insights. You give me a lot to think about and I learn so much. Thanks for all you do .

Expand full comment
Valerie Schultz's avatar

Grateful for your hard work on behalf of democracy. This is the best 7 bucks a month I spend. I am the mother of a trans adult, and I know that giving transphobes and homophobes political power puts our LGBTQ+ loved ones in mortal danger. That's my personal worry, on top of concern for climate crises, gun violence, racism, sexism, women's health restrictions, court misconduct, cruelty at our borders, book banning, etc etc etc. I vote, write postcards, serve my jury duty, write opinion columns, and share the Message Box on all social media platforms. When we vote, when we get the non-voters to vote, we win at least a few years for sane government.

Expand full comment
Tony Brunello's avatar

Absolutely. You took the words--thoughts--right out o my mouth Valerie. Perfect.

Expand full comment
Amy Horne's avatar

I am not a political pro, just an ordinary citizen who cares about politics and democracy. Thanks to you, I now understand how the progressive David is up against a right-wing media Goliath. You've made me smarter about what's going on and how to talk about it. You are putting the theory of the power of communicating through networks into practice, which I admire from afar. I'm not ready to fly alone. Please keep it up., and heartfelt thanks!

Expand full comment
Ken A Grant's avatar

Thank you, Dan! Message Box is the only Substack that I subscribe to, and it is worth every penny. Your posts engage, challenge, and inform - and I share them regularly.

Like the Thursday PSA, the Message Box is a crash course in communications - strategy as well as content.

Keep up the great work!

Expand full comment
Gerry lazzareschi, MD's avatar

Hey Dan; I ran into Tommy at his wedding in my home town of Healdsburg. I must have seemed a bit unhinged because both my wife and I fawned at him telling him how much you all meant to us ;) At any rate, PSA has been a saving grace in this trying time and I can't tell you how much I appreciate listening to your intelligent discourse on a subject which I, until 2016, was woefully ignorant of....

Expand full comment
Sheila Brady's avatar

Thanks Dan! Very grateful for your thoughtful guidance in The Message Box and in the books you have written. So very helpful to have learned also about the other various insightful and clever "messengers of democracy" like Anat Shenkar-Osorio. I have even been inspired to try to make little videos myself of "why your votes matter", or "someone you love will need reproductive healthcare" none of which have ever actually made much difference, but maybe someday I will get some traction from some clever idea. And what I feel is that I am contributing to a river, which starts as a stream, or even as just a trickle... and that gives me hope. That is huge, Dan. Thanks!

Expand full comment
Amy G's avatar

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Dan.

Expand full comment
Jacob Maness's avatar

Dan, I appreciate everything you do, along with the guys on The Pod. I always look forward to listening to you guys on my way to work. You guys inform me and give me some chuckles, too:)

Expand full comment
Judy B's avatar

I value your experience, knowledge, genuineness, and your sense of purpose. I saved up till I was able to buy into your subscription. This is the first full post I have read: I am grateful for people like you who are in politics

Expand full comment
Adam W. Barney's avatar

Thanks, Dan. This is part of my essential reading to help shape my own mind, keep me inspired, and help to change others minds. And thanks for being key to leading me to become more involved in the VSA community!

Expand full comment
Suzanne Marilley's avatar

A thousand thanks, Dan Pfeiffer, for sharing your sober, levelheaded insights on power politics and especially “what sells” to the Republican base. I hope you also read Kareem Abdul-Jabber’s commentaries because he opens eyes and hearts to what really matters. Unsurprisingly, he saw DeSantis and Ramaswamy as clear losers in last week’s debate, and he spells out why.

Expand full comment