Big shifts are reshaping the way we communicate, govern, and advocate. The fragmentation of communication demands hyper-personalization, diverse messengers, and engagement beyond traditional channels. Meanwhile, Congress continues to cede power to the Administration, and institutional distrust is at an all-time high, altering how people receive and act on information. This feels like a tipping point for traditional advocacy—and maybe it is. But we shouldn’t be surprised. Nor should we abandon everything we know to be true.

Where Are We?

Many experts are better positioned to analyze the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, so I won’t rehash the details. However, we are undeniably witnessing:

The change that was promised
The tumult that was expected
The disruption of long-standing norms
And a significant degree of paralysis in how to respond and engage

Several key questions are driving this uncertainty:

1. Does Congress Still Matter? Yes, but…

Early actions from both the Administration and Congress suggest that traditional expectations about the relationship between the Executive Branch and the Legislature may need to be reconsidered.

Advocacy has traditionally functioned under the assumption that individual legislators act based on a predictable balance of constituent needs, national and local concerns, party allegiance, and personal political realities. Historically, while the Executive Branch set priorities, real policy action took place in Congress.

Now, however, the Executive Branch is driving the agenda, and Congress seems willing to cede its power. The delicate balance legislators once maintained has tipped toward prioritizing party allegiance and personal political calculations. This shift doesn’t render Congress irrelevant, but it does mean advocacy strategies must be recalibrated.

2. What Role Will the States Play? Bigger than you think.

States will do what they always do: blue states will likely push back against federal overreach, while red states will support and implement many of the Administration’s directives while protecting their own interests.

For those in the advocacy space, this creates a new challenge: state-level policy reactions may be fast-moving, have an outsized impact, and demand more attention than federal developments. However, state-level advocacy efforts won’t go unnoticed by the Administration, making alignment and careful risk assessment critical.

3. Is the Advocacy Model Outdated? Back to the Future?

The answer is almost universally yes—but that’s not necessarily your fault.

Organizations everywhere are scrambling to adapt to a rapidly shifting communications landscape. The focus is on meeting stakeholders where they are, understanding them as individuals, and aligning messaging with their values—all while navigating an environment rife with misinformation.

But while advocates are evolving, the institutions they engage with—Congressional offices, state legislatures, and regulatory agencies—are lagging. The mechanisms for reaching them are increasingly outdated:

Form letters sent to inboxes that may never be checked
Phone lines that are either overwhelmed or ignored
Even personal letters and calls that get lost in the volume

For decades, advocacy was rooted in community-based, relationship-driven work. The internet seemed to offer a shortcut—leading to form emails, mass comments, and volume-driven mobilizations. In the last 20 years, advocacy efforts became overly reliant on these digital tactics because they were cheaper, easier, and (somewhat) effective.

The Trump Administration is accelerating shifts that have been building for years:

Traditional advocacy is making a comeback. Localized, community-based strategies are no longer optional—they’re essential. And “community” isn’t just about geography. Online “tribes” can be just as, if not more, influential than in-person networks.
Policy debates are now unfolding in public, especially online, where they shape decisions in real time. Dismissing online discourse as mere noise is a mistake—it's driving real influence. If you and your advocates rely only on private conversations with decision-makers, you risk being left out of the real debate. In this environment, few can afford to operate solely behind the scenes.

What’s Next?

Paralysis isn’t helpful. While it’s understandable to take a moment to assess, policy changes are unfolding at lightning speed, and the landscape won’t pause while you strategize.

Now is the time to ask: Does your advocacy capability meet this moment? Specifically:

Can you engage effectively in the public, online policy debates?
Do you know who your key influencers and decision-makers are in this new environment?
Can you reach those decision-makers in meaningful ways?
How strong is your presence in communities that matter—geographic and digital?
Do you have the necessary information to align your activities with business objectives while managing risk?

For some, answering these questions may require only minor strategy adjustments. For others, this is more than just a moment—it’s a permanent shift. Many of these advocacy trends aren’t going away, and much of what feels new and accelerated today was already in motion.

Now is the time to adapt.

As always, we’re here to help.

About Jennifer
Leveraging more than 20 years of experience, Jennifer specializes in developing and managing communications programs that rely on audience-centric targeting methods and digital and community-based outreach strategies to persuade and mobilize internal and external audiences. Jennifer co-leads DDC’s Public Affairs team, with a focus on optimizing the DDC client experience and bringing multi-functional teams together in collaboration to solve complex issue and political challenges for DDC’s diverse client base.

A Tipping Point for Advocacy—What Comes Next?