Politics, Punchlines, and Personality: Finding Your Voice in a Noisy World
The language around political campaigns is shifting.
Post-Obama, many politicians used the theme of HOPE–and voters feel a hope hangover from the very overused word and overall theme.
And then there is the stream-of-consciousness style from President Trump, who has a voter base that genuinely appreciates his crazy-uncle-with-no-filter vibe.
And President Trump knows what he’s doing—he may increase tariffs one day and then adjust them the next, taking our country for a wild bull ride. I think the kids call it rage-baiting.
Zohran Mamdani—a representative from Queens who recently won the bid for Mayor of New York—flipped the normal political script using humor (really good humor)—and it worked.
Humor is very tough to get right. And if you don’t hit the mark, the only other categories are cringe or, even worse, a disaster. I had a boss once tell me “if you have to question if it’s funny, it’s probably not funny” (and for those of you who know me, 90% of my jokes are funny-to-me-and-me-only).
Mamdani, the child of brilliant filmmaker Mira Nair, has a head start when it comes to media. His videos have perfect comedic timing. And all of us Broad City fans are rejoicing to see comedian Ilana Glazer as one of his supporters—and maybe even a writer for his brilliant campaign.
Chicago’s mid-term election
Here in Chicago, I’ve attended a couple of political events as there are 18 people running for the Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th Congressional District on March 17, 2026
Some candidates are riding Mamdani’s coattails and parroting the anti-establishment undertone. Others have a more quiet, my proof-is-in-the-pudding style of presentation.
Whatever side you’re on politically, or if you’re leading an organization, everything you say and how you say it matters. Have you decided your tone? Is it humor, is it serious? And better yet, is it fresh, is it your own, and is it authentic to who you are?
Going for what works versus who you are can be tricky. Take James Telerico, a pastor in Austin who is using his conservative background, but liberal politics to define his messaging. We are all an audience to his powerful messaging (or shall we call them sermons). Or maybe it’s Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco who is using social media to point out all the wondrous and beautiful things about San Francisco (and not just focusing on its problem solving the housing crisis). Even though his tone might be a little more flat, he’s found a way to take what’s in his heart and make it shine through his messaging.
At the end of the day, Mamdani proved what happens when you commit to your own voice. He found his, and it carried him across the finish line.
Tips to ind your voice
So what’s the takeaway here—especially if you’re a candidate, a nonprofit leader, or anyone trying to move people in a noisy, distracted world?
Find the story to match your message. Most audience love to have a picture painted for them. If you believe in immigrants rights, talk about your own experience or someone you know who and share their truth. If you are talking about a new app, talk about the one subscriber who used it and how it impacted their life. People need help visualizing what you are offering.
Don’t just do what’s working and start owning what’s yours. If you have to perform your message, people will feel it. The most effective communicators sound comfortable in their own skin, not like they’re auditioning for someone else’s success.
Choose what you’re willing to repeat. Repetition isn’t lazy when it’s rooted in belief. Saying the same thing consistently builds trust, especially when the world feels unpredictable.
Say it out loud before you post it. If it doesn’t land in conversation, it won’t land on camera. If it feels awkward to say, it will feel awkward to hear. Your voice should sound like something you’d actually say to a real person. You can use tools like Yoodli.AI to give you real-time feedback.
Be specific, not broad. Vague language disappears. Specific stories, observations, and well-placed humor stick. Authenticity doesn’t mean you need to overshare, but rather it’s about letting people see how you make sense of what’s happening.
Mamdani didn’t win because he found the perfect tone. He won because he committed to a voice that matched his values and trusted voters to meet him there. In a political moment crowded with a lot of noise, clarity and authenticity is a super power and ultimately builds trust.
What’s your tone? If you don’t know yet and would like to work with The Good Word, please send us a note at hellogoodword@gmail.com.