Democrats will 'either adapt or die' as strategists push them onto new platforms

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Rep. Ritchie Torres is a self-described introvert, but you might not guess that if you've seen him on social media. The 37-year-old Democrat from New York City routinely posts videos of himself on TikTok , YouTube and Facebook , even though he says that — as a millennial born before smartphones — he's not a natural at performing in front of a camera.

But Torres has embraced online videos because, he says, to succeed as a politician today: "You have to master what I call 'the three threes.'"

He means a 30-second vertical video, a three-minute cable news hit, and a three-hour filmed podcast interview.

"Anyone who can master all three will excel in the new media ecosystem that has taken hold in American politics," Torres said.

Mariam Zuhaib / AP /