Inside are instructions to amplify election officials’ statements, portray federal intervention as interference, and avoid repeating claims about non-citizen voting—even to dispute them. One recommendation explains the communications calculation bluntly: “And when we fight feelings with facts, we lose.”
The April 20 document carries this restriction:
“It may not be shared outside of the ESRN and is not intended to be shared publicly or with the press.”
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-ljB!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F960b1df2-7d10-4b23-9379-2166713c2302_1260x189.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-ljB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F960b1df2-7d10-4b23-9379-2166713c2302_1260x189.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-ljB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F960b1df2-7d10-4b23-9379-2166713c2302_1260x189.jpeg 1456w" alt="The April 20 memo prohibits sharing outside ESRN and says it is not intended for the public or press." width="1260" height="189" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/960b1df2-7d10-4b23-9379-2166713c2302_1260x189.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":189,"width":1260,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":"The April 20 memo prohibits sharing outside ESRN and says it is not intended for the public or press.","title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null,"offset":false}" />
The network behind the memos
People’s Action identifies Eisen, Barack Obama’s former ethics official, as ESRN’s executive director. The Brennan Center says it plays a key role in the network.
ESRN calls itself nonpartisan. Its website invites nonprofit organizations into a coalition working across litigation, advocacy, communications, research, mobilization and organizing.
The restricted documents show how that coordination translates into public messaging. Both were accessible through Local Progress’s public resource page for elected officials, despite their distribution restrictions.
Contact with officials. A script for everyone else.
The April memo followed a Justice Department demand for Wayne County’s 2024 ballots and related records.
Michigan officials disputed its premise, saying the prosecutions demonstrated working safeguards and that allegations from a 2020 civil lawsuit had been rejected.
ESRN’s memo describes national and state partners preparing for escalation. It then identifies their connection to government:
“Partners on the ground are monitoring developments closely and maintaining open lines of communication with election officials.”
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UEb0!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F34e35da6-0e37-454c-ade0-90b9ca187fe0_1260x335.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UEb0!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F34e35da6-0e37-454c-ade0-90b9ca187fe0_1260x335.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UEb0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F34e35da6-0e37-454c-ade0-90b9ca187fe0_1260x335.jpeg 1456w" alt="ESRN describes partners maintaining direct communication with election officials." width="1260" height="335" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/34e35da6-0e37-454c-ade0-90b9ca187fe0_1260x335.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":335,"width":1260,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":"ESRN describes partners maintaining direct communication with election officials.","title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":true,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null,"offset":false}" />
The next section, titled “What You Can Say,”points to messaging guidance and a social media toolkit. It says partners should amplify statements from Michigan’s statewide election officials and support local clerks and election workers.
read more:
https://nataliegwinters.substack.com/p/inside-the-lefts-election-backchanneland
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