After over a decade of pro-democracy journalism, I’m going all in on the fight against authoritarianism.
I’m joining Common Power as Chief Media & Technology Officer, and I could not be more excited.
Common Power is a voter turnout organization that mobilizes volunteers nationwide. Over the past four years, they’ve reached millions of voters — changing minds and impacting elections.
They’re shifting the trajectory of our politics. This is the kind of work I want to do.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how I can best serve in this moment, with so much at stake. Especially after the birth of my son. I’ve decided to enter the arena and take this insanity head-on. And I’m grateful to get to merge my media and tech background into one role.
Don’t worry, my content isn’t going anywhere. My best-selling Substack, Ahmed Baba News, will still exist, and you’ll still see me on cable news. You’ll actually see more content from me. But now I’ll be helping to lead Common Power’s media and technology strategies. I’ve already built their mobile app, and there’s a lot more to come.
So why this move, why now, and why this organization?
For over a decade, my work has focused on analyzing current events through a pro-democracy lens, exposing the dynamics of authoritarianism, and combating disinformation. I documented every day of Trump’s first term, and I was among the very first to cover Project 2025 back in 2023.
After spending so many years dissecting this far-right machinery, I want to work to actually dismantle it.
I’ve always seen journalism as a key part of democracy’s immune system. The fourth estate should recognize the historical patterns of authoritarianism, inform voters of its corrosive impacts, and trigger the public to take action against it.
I’ve spent my whole career in the analysis and information part of that immune system. Now, I’m moving from a commentator to an operator.
I want to create content that seeks to actually educate people, not outrage them for profit. I want to create technology that enhances the infrastructure of our democracy. I want to reach voters where they are, not to patronize them, but to persuade them, and mobilize them to vote for a better future.
Why now?
As we head into the midterms and 2028, we have an opportunity to reshape our country and put the divisive depravity that has defined the Trump era behind us.
This better future will be difficult to build, but we have a unique opportunity to pursue it. In spite of the fact that the system is still engineered to benefit it, the Trump project is failing. So we can do this. We just have to be agile.
We live in a Disinformation Age, where for-profit algorithms are designed to capture our attention at all costs. Even if the cost is our sense of common truth and values.
Trump and his coalition of grifters have expertly exploited this ecosystem. In the face of their incredibly well-funded, right-wing disinformation machine, we have to grow increasingly innovative with how we forcefully push the truth, reach people, and most importantly, persuade them.
That’s why I chose to join Common Power. Because they break through the noise.
Common Power recruits, trains, and deploys volunteers nationwide to knock doors for pro-democracy candidates in every election that matters. Their team has been trained in non-violent organizing tactics by civil rights heroes themselves.
I’ve seen them persuade skeptical voters in swing districts. I’ve seen them knock more doors than the margin of victory in countless races that have helped decide local and federal legislative majorities.
They cultivate community, and the vibes are always immaculate.
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They also have an education-to-action pipeline that is dedicated to making people more civically engaged.
That’s how I first got to know Common Power. I’ve lectured college students on media literacy at their Action Academy. I built the app their volunteers use to organize. I was moved by their civil rights learning tours in the South. In 2024, I led a team of door-knockers myself. Through my work with them, I saw that the conscience of this country is still alive and that we can’t give up on our fellow Americans.
Now, I’m joining Common Power to help bolster the org ahead of the 2028 presidential election — which will yet again prove to be among our most consequential.
I’m excited to work with Charles, Larcy, David, Binh, Wole, and the whole Common Power team to continue the long historical push to make America live up to its highest potential.
When my son is old enough to ask what I did in this moment, I want to be able to say I did all I could. Now, I can.
Go check out Common Power at commonpower.org to learn how you can get involved. Let’s get to work.
