The Old Playbook of Power and Influence Is Different Now

The Kicker · May 14, 2026 · 57m

When Ronald Reagan won the presidency, in 1980, it was a victory long in the making. For almost half a century, conservatives had plotted ways to cut taxes and undo workers’ rights. Their playbook for political influence went something like this: create a think tank, publish reputable reports, build relationships with journalists and politicians, and disseminate free-market ideas to the public, creating a new common sense. Today, the art of political influence is rather different. Think tanks no longer claim the power they once did and, since the rise of social media, newspapers and…