Political Trade Secrets: Winning Campaigns | Elections | Politics

Dustin Olson
  • 4.9 (53)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Political Trade Secrets goes behind the scenes of campaigns, elections, and media strategy to reveal how American politics really works. Join host Dustin Olson as he pulls back the curtain on campaign strategy, political messaging, and voter persuasion—offering insights used by top consultants from both sides of the aisle. Whether you’re a political professional, media strategist, or engaged citizen, you’ll get actionable takeaways on how power, strategy, and communication shape modern politics.

  1. 4H AGO

    📊 Polling Club Strategy Session: Designing a Poll of America’s Political Strategists

    🗳 Political Trade Secrets: An exclusive Polling Club Strategy Session, designing our Study of America’s Political Strategists. What do the professionals who actually run campaigns think is coming in 2026 and 2028? Join Dustin Olson and American Pulse partner Sean Bartley as we build a first-of-its-kind study of political strategists on both sides of the aisle. This episode captures the real-time process of crafting a national survey on how strategy, tech, fundraising, and defining issues will shape 2026 and 2028. And we’re not just designing it ourselves—we’re asking you what America’s political consultants should be asked. Your input will directly shape the survey questions we field. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at: 💡 What strategists may be watching for 2026 💡 How methodology choices tilt the results of media polls 💡 How AI is reshaping political advertising, targeting, and persuasion 💡 How polling narratives are being used to spur Congressional retirements What should we ask America’s political consultants? Drop your ideas in the comments or join the Polling Club to help shape the survey. 👉 Unlock the full Strategy Session and join our next LIVE session: PollingClub.com

    1h 25m

  2. FEB 10

    📰 Breaking the News: Clicks, Chaos & Censorship—How Business Media Really Works

    Political Trade Secrets: Breaking the News: Clicks, Chaos & Censorship—How Business Media Really Works — Join host Dustin Olson for a wide-ranging and candid conversation with legendary business journalist Dennis Kneale, host of the What’s Bugging Me podcast and author of The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk. A former anchor at CNBC and Fox Business Network, Kneale also held senior editor roles at The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on how modern business media actually works—and how it’s changed over the past three decades. From the decline of traditional journalism to the rise of click-driven headlines, social media censorship, and the cultural battles shaping public perception, this is a behind-the-scenes look at the incentives, pressures, and players driving today’s information war. The episode digs into: 💡 Why today’s newsrooms chase clicks, not truth 💡 What business journalists get wrong about business 💡 The unseen battle to dominate the public’s perception of issues 💡 Why Elon Musk broke the media—and what it means for free speech 📘 Buy Dennis Kneale’s book: The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk—Available wherever books are sold. 🔹 Join our new Polling Club for exclusive insights: PollingClub.com 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to Political Trade Secrets for your front-row seat to how politics actually works

    56 min

  3. FEB 4

    🪖 Life After the Military—The Challenges Veterans Face

    Political Trade Secrets: Why Some Veterans Struggle After Leaving the Military—Join host Dustin Olson for a candid and deeply personal conversation with veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and founder at VetClaims.ai Lukas Simianer, as they unpack what really happens when service members leave the military, and why the systems designed to help them so often fail. From combat injury and homelessness to navigating a six-year VA benefits battle and building a mission-driven organization, this episode explores Lukas’ personal story, and pulls back the curtain on the policies, bureaucracy, and realities that veterans face as they transition from military to civilian life. … The episode digs into: 💡 Why the VA claims process is so difficult to navigate 💡 The biggest mistakes veterans make when transitioning 💡 How to reverse-engineer your ideal life and job post-military 🔹Join our new Polling Club community to get more polling and insights on public opinion: PollingClub.com 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to Political Trade Secrets for your front-row seat to how politics actually works.

    53 min

  4. JAN 27

    Legal Battles Shaping American Politics with Chris Murray

    Political Trade Secrets: Legal Battles Shaping American Politics — Join host Dustin Olson as he sits down with top Republican Constitutional and election law attorney Chris Murray, founder of First & Fourteenth, for a wide-ranging and candid conversation on how the law, politics, and power collide in today’s America. From immigration enforcement in Minneapolis to redistricting, election-day operations, and more, this episode pulls back the curtain on the legal strategies and incentives shaping modern campaigns, and why lawyers now sit at the center of nearly every major political fight. The episode digs into: 💡 How census rules and redistricting drive political power in blue states 💡 The hidden legal constraints that shaped GOP election security operations for decades, putting them at a disadvantage 💡 How a shadowy dark money group on the left is targeting Republican lawyers for disbarment, and the differing legal operations and strategies of the political parties 🔹Join our new Polling Club community to get more polling and insights on public opinion: PollingClub.com 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to Political Trade Secrets for your front-row seat to pull back the curtain on how politics actually works.

    55 min

  5. 12/24/2025

    🎄 Ghosts of Christmas Past - Christmas & New Year’s in American History w/ Historic Storyteller J. Mark Powell

    🎙️ Political Trade Secrets: Join us for a special holiday episode w/ historic storyteller J. Mark Powell. What can Christmas & New Year's moments in American history teach us about media, persuasion, and strategy? Stay tuned to find out—from Valley Forge to the modern age, these stories helped forge patriotism and national unity, still shaping how we think today. 📘 Powell’s new book Witness to War is out in February—pre-order now on Amazon. 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE

    59 min

  6. 11/26/2025

    🦃 Surprising History & Politics of Thanksgiving w/ Author J. Mark Powell

    Political Trade Secrets: Join us as we explore the surprising history and politics of Thanksgiving—from the Pilgrims and the first feast in 1621, to Lincoln’s proclamation, and FDR's “Franksgiving” folly. We discuss: — What the first Thanksgiving was actually like, and how the menu has changed over time — How presidents, wars, and politics shaped Thanksgiving into the national holiday we know today — The backstory of Mark's new book, Witness to War: The Story of the Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It Whether you’re a history buff, or just love a good story behind tradition, this is one you won’t want to miss. 📚 Pre-order Witness to War: The Story of the Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It by J. Mark Powell on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Witness-War-Story-Civil-Those/dp/0811777693 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to Political Trade Secrets for your front-row seat to how politics really works.

    47 min

  7. 10/30/2025

    🗳 2025 Off-Year Elections Preview: NYC, Virginia, New Jersey, & More!

    Political Trade Secrets: Join us as we break down the most interesting and important 2025 elections across the country: New York City, Virginia, New Jersey, and California—and why they matter for 2026 and beyond. PLUS, who’s winning the Shutdown in polling? We unpack: — Which races to watch next week & what they tell us about America’s political future — How redistricting and political violence are reshaping the map — Why Democrats are underperforming in blue territory Whether you’re a campaign pro, strategist, or political junkie, this is one you won’t want to miss. 📊 Get full polling insights at PollingClub.com 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to Political Trade Secrets for your front-row seat to how politics really works.

    1h 9m

  8. 10/07/2025

    Government Shutdown Showdown... PLUS NYC Mayor's Race

    Political Trade Secrets: Strategy, Polling & the Shutdown Showdown — Join host Dustin Olson for a revealing look at the forces driving Washington’s budget battle, PLUS who's winning the MEME War? PLUS a shake-up in the New York City Mayor's Race (we predicted here) and a look at Mamdani and Cuomo's new ads 😱. And we remember the victims of October 7th, look at how Public Opinion has evolved over two years. We break down: — Who’s really winning (and losing) the government shutdown: Trump, Vance, Schumer, AOC or the American people — Hints from public opinion polling about how the Shutdown will go, and polling on Medicaid, and why Democrats are losing both the messaging and meme war — The real-world impacts Americans need to know: what stops, what continues, and who feels it first — In NYC, Eric Adams is out, Cuomo and Mamdani roll out new (and head-scratching) ads — and our polling hints at where the race goes next Whether you’re a campaign pro, strategist, or political junkie, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 🔹 Join us LIVE and post your Questions/Comments! 🔹 Catch the replay and get more insights at PollingClub.com 👉 LIKE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to Political Trade Secrets for your front-row seat to pull back the curtain on how politics really works.

    57 min
See All (64)

4.9
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

Political Trade Secrets goes behind the scenes of campaigns, elections, and media strategy to reveal how American politics really works. Join host Dustin Olson as he pulls back the curtain on campaign strategy, political messaging, and voter persuasion—offering insights used by top consultants from both sides of the aisle. Whether you’re a political professional, media strategist, or engaged citizen, you’ll get actionable takeaways on how power, strategy, and communication shape modern politics.

Information