I can help with your videos. I make short-form viral political videos that have had real world impact. Do message me. I was mentioned by a civil servant in the comments on one of your previous posts. Examples here: https://twitter.com/JACKGUYANDERTON/highlights
I agree. Integrated images and videos seem to be much more effective for short form content. I have some experience with this as well and would be happy to help.
I think this is a good idea. I think discussing common concerns would work best, though. E.g., 'Why can't we just stop the boats?' in 60 seconds, 'Why is crime so high?'/'Why are the police so bad?' in 60 seconds, 'Why can't I afford a house?' in 60 seconds. I think these things appeal to people who aren't actively engaged in politics in a way that Ukraine, the Referendum and the 2024 election don't.
I second Jack Anderton, and sure there's plenty more creative types out there who'd be happy to help. The substance of what you say is great but you need subtitles, maybe some music, definitely visuals (a clip from Oppenheimer re successful orgs, a pic of matt hancock for short-termist politicians etc.).
You might need to repackage and edit differently for TikTok compared to WhatsApp - very different audiences, both worth going after.
For future episodes - why we need to leave ECHR, how to really fix the small boats, why does the NHS keep getting worse, the green energy solution that politicians ignore (SMR's)... the possibilities are endless!
It would be great to see a video regarding the current catastrophe of the UKR/Russia war, in particular how pundits keep pontificating that in order to maintain “democracy” at home we must double down on a war with a forgone conclusion.
Also, would be great to explain the EU’s misguided attempts to regulate data/AI (EU AI Act) rather than innovate and the negative down stream impacts of such policies on blossoming AI startups.
1. Like the short content idea - Loom (or something similar) might be an easier tool to get started with/build a habit if you want to keep edits to near zero… It also embeds as built to share… Raw is a good place to start. Don’t overthink just record and send. Or use a pro like Jack above (assuming he’s decent!)
2. At risk of doing your head in, can I ask about TSP and progress? When will you unveil next steps and allow some of us to participate?
As a reader from the other side of the Atlantic, I prefer your long-form posts. However, I agree these 60-second videos are what your core UK audience needs, given the situation.
This is a terrible idea on so many levels. Firstly, the dumbing down. ‘Nobody takes nuclear weapons seriously’ - define ‘nobody’ and ‘seriouslyʼ. Secondly, while I admire your thinking, this kind of 60 second narrative really comes across as kookie. It’s not a good look. Thirdly, I subscribe for decent, drilled down analysis. Not this.
I have just resubscribed after unsubscribing a while ago. I’m wondering if I haven’t just wasted £10. Are you just chasing subscribers?
The purpose is this post is to figure out how best to market concepts to a mass audience, not provide in-depth analysis. That's for other posts, which afaik dom will still continue posting. To market concepts to a mass audience you have to simplify.
I understand that. But points 1 and 2 still apply. Presumably Cummings wants to pursue a mass market for one or both of two reasons: to disseminate his thinking (he wants to become an ‚influencer’ in modern parlance whether he likes the designation or not) and/or he wants to increase his income. Fair enough. But the tail starts to wag the dog. It will inevitably distort the message; it always does.
I thought it was interesting that you started the piece with this quote: “The revolutionary despises all doctrines and refuses to accept the mundane sciences, leaving them for future generations. He knows only one science: the science of destruction…”.
Interesting because I see you, and I think that you see yourself, as something of a revolutionary. To build, you must first destroy (even if it comes at some personal cost to yourself, as you alluded to). A version of Schumpeter’s creative destruction.
Yet, something doesn’t sit right. Your description of the challenges facing societies in the West are pretty well known (broadly, although perhaps you have a better grasp of the nuances than most). So, nothing particularly new here - you have merely described the problems (though only in the West?). And so what? Tell us something we don’t know. In the sections on cycles, you’ve thrown together a whole series of variables (from big forces tearing institutions apart to X shoots Y and a range of things in between). I’m not getting a sense of synthesis. What’s your theory? You reverting to the great Russian authors of the past seems to me to tell us one thing: the human beast is a rather pathetic creature doomed to repeatedly make the same kinds of mistakes that come from vanity, fallibility, stupidity and naivety. I’m struggling to move beyond that conclusion.
If you are proposing something new, that will move us beyond the above, and I think you are (I nearly responded to your call for ‘mavericks’ when you were still at No.10), let’s hear it in full. Not blogs. Not snippets. Rather, a coherent plan of thought. And certainly no 60 second sound bites. For reasons you describe (the embeddedness of the Idiocracy), the chances are it won’t get anywhere. But at least it might give ‘the mavericks’ amongst us some hope, some sense that we are not alone and are not going mad.
60 seconds on why western politicians insist on animosity towards Russia, China and Iran rather than endeavouring to understand their points of view (the way JFK endeavoured to better understand the Soviet Union to avoid conflict with it and to embrace its humanity, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fkKnfk4k40&t=3s)
60 seconds on the seeming Israeli stranglehold over western politics and the extremely soft treatment they receive from western politicians
As the original Breaking Kayfabe was an album, would making the core of your message into a song on something like Suno also help with catching attention, perhaps?
I can help with your videos. I make short-form viral political videos that have had real world impact. Do message me. I was mentioned by a civil servant in the comments on one of your previous posts. Examples here: https://twitter.com/JACKGUYANDERTON/highlights
I quickly edited your video and posted it on X. https://x.com/JACKGUYANDERTON/status/1785374365422432729
You can download it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H-0W5OKbC9Od55TXkg2GMQQCsn7NAuU6/view?usp=drive_link
I agree. Integrated images and videos seem to be much more effective for short form content. I have some experience with this as well and would be happy to help.
This could be a very interesting collaboration....
Thanks will check out
Erm, Dom. How do I download the video. There is no download link.
I think this is a good idea. I think discussing common concerns would work best, though. E.g., 'Why can't we just stop the boats?' in 60 seconds, 'Why is crime so high?'/'Why are the police so bad?' in 60 seconds, 'Why can't I afford a house?' in 60 seconds. I think these things appeal to people who aren't actively engaged in politics in a way that Ukraine, the Referendum and the 2024 election don't.
Starmer's Labour in 60 seconds
Rishi's Conservatives in 60 seconds
Rishi Sunak in 60 seconds
I second Jack Anderton, and sure there's plenty more creative types out there who'd be happy to help. The substance of what you say is great but you need subtitles, maybe some music, definitely visuals (a clip from Oppenheimer re successful orgs, a pic of matt hancock for short-termist politicians etc.).
You might need to repackage and edit differently for TikTok compared to WhatsApp - very different audiences, both worth going after.
For future episodes - why we need to leave ECHR, how to really fix the small boats, why does the NHS keep getting worse, the green energy solution that politicians ignore (SMR's)... the possibilities are endless!
1) Explain why choosing 60 seconds in 60 seconds
2) Nietzsche in 60 seconds
3) Books/paintings in 60 seconds
4) What is Religion to you personally in 60 seconds. Do you share the view of Michael Oakeshott in this subject?
5) Why Politics might not be the ultimate focus of great minds?
It would be great to see a video regarding the current catastrophe of the UKR/Russia war, in particular how pundits keep pontificating that in order to maintain “democracy” at home we must double down on a war with a forgone conclusion.
Also, would be great to explain the EU’s misguided attempts to regulate data/AI (EU AI Act) rather than innovate and the negative down stream impacts of such policies on blossoming AI startups.
1. Like the short content idea - Loom (or something similar) might be an easier tool to get started with/build a habit if you want to keep edits to near zero… It also embeds as built to share… Raw is a good place to start. Don’t overthink just record and send. Or use a pro like Jack above (assuming he’s decent!)
2. At risk of doing your head in, can I ask about TSP and progress? When will you unveil next steps and allow some of us to participate?
As a reader from the other side of the Atlantic, I prefer your long-form posts. However, I agree these 60-second videos are what your core UK audience needs, given the situation.
Thinking about it… if I wanted to see 60-second videos about anything, I would join TikTok for free.
This is a terrible idea on so many levels. Firstly, the dumbing down. ‘Nobody takes nuclear weapons seriously’ - define ‘nobody’ and ‘seriouslyʼ. Secondly, while I admire your thinking, this kind of 60 second narrative really comes across as kookie. It’s not a good look. Thirdly, I subscribe for decent, drilled down analysis. Not this.
I have just resubscribed after unsubscribing a while ago. I’m wondering if I haven’t just wasted £10. Are you just chasing subscribers?
The purpose is this post is to figure out how best to market concepts to a mass audience, not provide in-depth analysis. That's for other posts, which afaik dom will still continue posting. To market concepts to a mass audience you have to simplify.
I understand that. But points 1 and 2 still apply. Presumably Cummings wants to pursue a mass market for one or both of two reasons: to disseminate his thinking (he wants to become an ‚influencer’ in modern parlance whether he likes the designation or not) and/or he wants to increase his income. Fair enough. But the tail starts to wag the dog. It will inevitably distort the message; it always does.
Indeed, it seems he will be falling into the trap he accuses politicians of: trying to be popular.
I suspect it isn't as malicious as that, rather it's a way to generate support for TSP
I wasn’t trying to imply it was malicious - merely short-sighted. Tsp? The starting point?
Haha dw, I get you. The startup party
https://dominiccummings.substack.com/p/dostoyevsky-the-modern-intelligentsia
more dumbing down...😉
I thought it was interesting that you started the piece with this quote: “The revolutionary despises all doctrines and refuses to accept the mundane sciences, leaving them for future generations. He knows only one science: the science of destruction…”.
Interesting because I see you, and I think that you see yourself, as something of a revolutionary. To build, you must first destroy (even if it comes at some personal cost to yourself, as you alluded to). A version of Schumpeter’s creative destruction.
Yet, something doesn’t sit right. Your description of the challenges facing societies in the West are pretty well known (broadly, although perhaps you have a better grasp of the nuances than most). So, nothing particularly new here - you have merely described the problems (though only in the West?). And so what? Tell us something we don’t know. In the sections on cycles, you’ve thrown together a whole series of variables (from big forces tearing institutions apart to X shoots Y and a range of things in between). I’m not getting a sense of synthesis. What’s your theory? You reverting to the great Russian authors of the past seems to me to tell us one thing: the human beast is a rather pathetic creature doomed to repeatedly make the same kinds of mistakes that come from vanity, fallibility, stupidity and naivety. I’m struggling to move beyond that conclusion.
If you are proposing something new, that will move us beyond the above, and I think you are (I nearly responded to your call for ‘mavericks’ when you were still at No.10), let’s hear it in full. Not blogs. Not snippets. Rather, a coherent plan of thought. And certainly no 60 second sound bites. For reasons you describe (the embeddedness of the Idiocracy), the chances are it won’t get anywhere. But at least it might give ‘the mavericks’ amongst us some hope, some sense that we are not alone and are not going mad.
That did read like it was you...
What really caused the 2020 bitcoin spike in 60 seconds..
60 seconds on why western politicians insist on animosity towards Russia, China and Iran rather than endeavouring to understand their points of view (the way JFK endeavoured to better understand the Soviet Union to avoid conflict with it and to embrace its humanity, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fkKnfk4k40&t=3s)
60 seconds on the seeming Israeli stranglehold over western politics and the extremely soft treatment they receive from western politicians
What effect did the austerity of the Cameron era have on the Brexit vote?
What effect did the deindustrialisation of The Thatcher era have on the Brexit vote?
Could you expand more on Blair and tax credits with regards to Poor areas?
As the original Breaking Kayfabe was an album, would making the core of your message into a song on something like Suno also help with catching attention, perhaps?
Suno! 😅 on the edge there mate! Audio track sorted… just need Sora fully pushed out to take care do Video then.
Uk productivity stagnation in 60 seconds.
London knife crime problem in 60 seconds.