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2. The Poll Trap: Leadership is about leading, not following. Instead of simply echoing polls, Democrats must also guide the polls. Remember: “Republicans don't follow polls, Republicans try to change the polls.”

3. The Laundry List Trap:: Voters base their choices on values, connection, authenticity, trust, and identity, not lists of policies.

Policy matters, but it must always be framed in terms of moral values.

4. The Rationalism Trap : Reason is not conscious, literal, logical, universal, or unemotional.

It’s a big mistake to assume that hard facts alone will persuade voters.

5. The 'No-Framing-Necessary' Trap : The notion that "truth doesn't need to be framed" or that "facts speak for themselves" ignores the FACT that people use frames to understand facts.

Truths need appropriate moral framing to be recognized as truths.

6: The ‘Policies are Values’ Trap: Confusing policies for values is a mistake. Policies are based on values like empathy, responsibility, fairness, and justice, but are not values themselves.
Policies must always be framed in terms of their moral values.

7: The 'Centrist' Trap: The belief in a consistent ideological "center" is flawed. The "center" comprises people who are conservative in some aspects but progressive in others.
Addressing them through their progressive identities is crucial. Stop “moving to the right”!

8: The ‘Misunderestimating’ Trap: Viewing Republicans voters as simply uninformed or “voting against their self-interest” misses the point.
Conservative populism is cultural and based in a distinct moral worldview. Understand, don’t underestimate.

9. The Reactive Trap: Democrats usually let Republicans frame the debate, reacting in ways that inadvertently reinforce conservative frames.
We need proactive policies and long-term campaigns to convey our values.

10: The Spin Trap: Winning with clever spin or slogans is insufficient. Deep framing, grounded in our moral convictions and principles, is necessary for making truths visible and values clear.

11. The Policyspeak Trap: Avoid legislative jargon and bureaucratic terms. Speak in terms of the common concerns of voters. Make it tangible. For instance, talk how a policy will let you send your daughter to college, or how it will let you launch your own business.

12. The Blame Game Trap: Yes, Republicans lie and use Orwellian language to distort the truth. Yes, the media helps them.

This does not excuse Democrats' failure to communicate clearly on the level of moral values.