What will I learn about: Barack Obama's 2008 campaign succeeded largely because his authentic personal story perfectly embodied his political message of hope and change?

Barack Obama's 2008 campaign succeeded largely because his authentic personal story perfectly embodied his political message of hope and change.

What will I learn about: The decline of traditional journalism funding and the rise of engagement-driven platforms like Facebook created a sensationalist media environment that rewarded controversy over objective truth?

The decline of traditional journalism funding and the rise of engagement-driven platforms like Facebook created a sensationalist media environment that rewarded controversy over objective truth.

What will I learn about: Because outlets like Fox News operate as partisan propaganda machines, political campaigns must carefully bypass them by utilizing local media and direct-to-voter channels?

Because outlets like Fox News operate as partisan propaganda machines, political campaigns must carefully bypass them by utilizing local media and direct-to-voter channels.

What will I learn about: Twitter has fundamentally transformed political communication by allowing candidates to shape live conversations, bypass media filters, and control the narrative directly?

Twitter has fundamentally transformed political communication by allowing candidates to shape live conversations, bypass media filters, and control the narrative directly.

What will I learn about: The 2016 election proved that traditional rules of electability are dead, and that heavy reliance on campaign data cannot replace an inspiring narrative and a clear economic message?

The 2016 election proved that traditional rules of electability are dead, and that heavy reliance on campaign data cannot replace an inspiring narrative and a clear economic message.

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Yes We (Still) Can

Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump

Dan Pfeiffer

★ 4.0 / 5(20 ratings)

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Categories:

Politics

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Have you ever wondered what the secret 'no asshole policy' was that kept the Obama administration running smoothly while other campaigns crumbled under internal drama?
💡What if you knew the exact two-step strategy used by the White House to dismantle fake news rumors before they had a chance to fester and spread across the internet?
💡Are you curious about the five specific reasons why Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, and the three 'audacious' traits the next candidate must have to beat Trump?

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Key Takeaways from Yes We (Still) Can

✓Barack Obama's 2008 campaign succeeded largely because his authentic personal story perfectly embodied his political message of hope and change.
✓The decline of traditional journalism funding and the rise of engagement-driven platforms like Facebook created a sensationalist media environment that rewarded controversy over objective truth.
✓Because outlets like Fox News operate as partisan propaganda machines, political campaigns must carefully bypass them by utilizing local media and direct-to-voter channels.
✓Twitter has fundamentally transformed political communication by allowing candidates to shape live conversations, bypass media filters, and control the narrative directly.
✓The 2016 election proved that traditional rules of electability are dead, and that heavy reliance on campaign data cannot replace an inspiring narrative and a clear economic message.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Yes We (Still) Can

Mind Map

Yes We (Still) Can

Early Political Lessons+

Obama's Campaign Success+

Managing Press & Media+

Combating Fake News+

Handling Fox News+

The Power of Twitter+

Clinton's 2016 Defeat+

Future Advice & Reflection+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

What important political lesson did Dan Pfeiffer learn during a seventh-grade mock debate?

A. Memorizing facts is the most critical element of debate preparation.
B. A clear, compelling message can easily defeat a well-researched opponent.
C. Personal attacks are the only way to win over an undecided audience.
D. Extensive library research guarantees political success.

Question 2 of 8

According to Pfeiffer, what was a key aspect of the 'attitude' that contributed to Barack Obama’s successful 2008 campaign?

A. His aggressive approach to attacking political opponents.
B. His desperate desire for validation from the mainstream press.
C. His lack of fear of losing, as he was happy with his life in Chicago.
D. His insistence on micromanaging every campaign detail.

Question 3 of 8

How does Pfeiffer characterize the ideal relationship between a presidential administration and the press?

A. The press should be treated as an enemy to be defeated.
B. The press should be viewed as a close friend and political ally.
C. The administration should ignore traditional press and only communicate via social media.
D. It should be a healthy relationship based on mutual trust, professionalism, and honesty.

Question 4 of 8

Why did the Obama administration abandon the Clinton-era strategy of trying to 'win the news cycle'?

A. It was too expensive to constantly run positive television advertisements.
B. The 24-hour mobile news environment made chasing the cycle a never-ending distraction from long-term goals.
C. They believed the press would naturally report positive stories without administration intervention.
D. Conservative media outlets had completely monopolized the evening news broadcasts.

Question 5 of 8

What was Pfeiffer’s successful two-step strategy for handling the fake news surrounding Obama’s birth certificate?

A. Announce a prime-time television special and have Obama aggressively debate the conspiracy theorists.
B. Ignore the rumors completely until they naturally faded away from the internet.
C. Release the document unannounced to prevent media hype, and have Obama speak about it later to control the narrative.
D. Ban all reporters who asked about the birth certificate from the White House briefing room.

Question 6 of 8

Based on his experience in the White House, what does Pfeiffer recommend as the best way to deal with Fox News?

A. Go around them by using Twitter and local stations to reach viewers directly.
B. Ban them completely from the White House press briefing room.
C. Grant them exclusive interviews to prove the administration can handle tough questions.
D. Threaten to revoke their broadcasting license unless they provide unbiased coverage.

Question 7 of 8

What event convinced Pfeiffer that the White House needed to actively engage on Twitter?

A. The launch of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
B. The realization that Twitter was driving the live narrative during the 2012 Obama-Romney debates.
C. A viral tweet by Sarah Palin about bureaucratic 'death panels.'
D. A sudden drop in Obama's approval ratings among younger voters.

Question 8 of 8

According to Pfeiffer, what was one of the major reasons Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election?

A. She relied too heavily on an inspiring narrative and ignored campaign data.
B. She failed to raise enough money to compete with Trump's self-funded campaign.
C. She had an unclear, muddled message, whereas Trump had a clear, omnipresent message.
D. She spent too much time trying to win over Fox News viewers.

Yes We (Still) Can — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Dan Pfeiffer had early political experience but started his career at the bottom.
3Barack Obama was unlike other politicians, and five building blocks drove his successful campaign.
4A communications director delivers the president’s message and manages relations with the press.
5Shifts in the media landscape helped create the conditions for Trumpism.
6Fake news intensified the controversy over Obama’s birth certificate.
7Fox News is a Republican propaganda outlet that must be handled carefully.
8Twitter became a powerful and transformative tool in politics.
9Health problems and the wish for a normal relationship led Pfeiffer from the White House to podcasting.
10Five key issues contributed to the Democrats’ defeat in 2016.
11Final summary

Yes We (Still) Can Summary & Overview

Yes We (Still) Can (2018) offers a revealing look at the dizzyingly high-pressure life of a White House communications director. In addition to his personal experiences in the Obama administration, author Dan Pfeiffer is eager to share the knowledge he gained along the way, from how to deal with the press to how to handle political opposition.

Who Should Listen to Yes We (Still) Can?

Political junkies
Concerned Democrats
Students of political science and public relations

About the Author: Dan Pfeiffer

Dan Pfeiffer graduated from Georgetown University and then spent years on a number of political campaigns for Democratic candidates before joining Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. After working as a communications director for the Obama administration, he went on to become the cohost of the popular podcast Pod Save America.