Episodes/Episode 105
You Can’t Meme Your Way to Votes, Alex Young on Gen Z Turnout, Emotion, and Cross-Aisle Wins
January 12, 2026 · 38 min · with Alex Young
Alex Young, a Gen Z political operator from Louisville, joins Mary and Josh to talk about why memes are not a turnout strategy and what earns young voters instead. He walks through the years-long fight that ended corporal punishment in Kentucky schools, the unpredictable allies worth courting, and why local races are where the next generation should start.
Show notes
Democrats don’t have a “young voter problem.” We have a messaging and trust problem.
In this episode of The Democratic Dilemma: Unfiltered Marketing for a New Generation of Candidates and Causes, we sit down with Alex Young, a Gen Z political operator who helped push policy change in Kentucky, served in the Biden-Harris administration, and now works in local politics in Louisville.
We get real about what actually moves people, how to build power without perfect conditions, and why “looking the part online” is not the same as earning turnout.
What we cover:
Why “memes” aren’t a turnout strategy (and what is)
How to use emotion without losing substance
Why taking a meeting is not an endorsement
Finding your most unpredictable allies (yes, even the Chamber of Commerce)
Building policy progress inside government and outside it
Why local races are the best training ground for the next generation