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What's still missing: Strategic Communications [1]
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Date: 2025-04-21
How strategy and a few tactics could help drive the resistance
Barely three months into this presidential term, there is broad agreement that something is deeply wrong with what this Idiocracy Regime is doing. From the wholesale destruction of our economy, to the illegal decrees that are gutting the civil service no one can now deny that this looks like an attack on the country from within.
There are also increasing signs that the public is turning against them . Trump’s approval ratings are sinking , consumer sentiment has plummeted. Town halls during Congressional recess a few weeks ago surprised Republicans electeds by getting shouted down by their constituents , demanding to know why they were supporting Trump’s power grab. Just the other day, locals confronted their Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, demanding to know the status of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The last two weeks have seen disastrous blunders from Trump and his team of idiots who brought on an embarrassing breach of national security , spilling military secrets with impunity. And of course this week, Agent Orange has crashed the economy with his disastrous tariffs not based on anything in reality or policy reasons but because he wants companies and nations to kiss his ass .
We all know what we are up against, but we are also facing that we need to count on the Democrats in office to stop what is clearly an authoritarian power grab to destroy our the rule of law and our democratic system.
The good news is that some Democrats are speaking out more, having more press conferences , and have even launched a new ‘war room’ to counter Trump and Republicans. The DNC has also started a “People’s Cabinet,” a lineup of policy experts and leaders who the committee says will “cut through the lies and speak directly to the American people” about Trump’s agenda. Cory Booker held sway over the US Senate for 25 hours. The DNC just announced a new round of town halls targeting Republican-held districts .
Public anger has erupted in Tesla protests around the country. A couple weeks ago the 50501 Movement galvanized a coalition of over 150 activist organizations and mobilized over five million Americans in over 1400 locations in all 50 states for a national protest against the Trump regime. Then they had another , as well all know by now. Even Republicans in Congress are speaking out and some are even trying to wrest back his ability to impose tariffs .
But for the Democrats, their approval ratings remain low , reflecting a feeling that they are still not doing enough to meet the moment. The courts keep trying to restrain his lawlessness, but his agenda of lunacy continues. The dizzying pace at which the regime has ruled by illegal executive orders demands more of a fight from those we’ve supported.
So what’s missing? What could they do to be more effective against this monstrosity?
Here’s an idea: how about a little strategic communications? One would think that this basic element of politics would have been more widely deployed by now, but several building blocks appear to be MIA: a coherent rapid response strategy with clear, easily digestible and repeatable talking points, tactics, and messaging based on irrefutable values like national security, accountable and competent leadership, and a strong economy.
Such a plan needs to start with defining what must be achieved. Without articulating the objectives, often missing or lacking with the Dems, they risk losing effectiveness and will not meet the moment we are in. In addition, even though it is arguably an overused term in communications, controlling the narrative remains essential, an overarching vision of the country that brings “the 3 Cs” into line: Consistency, Credibility, and Coherence . These factors represent the fundamental base that should inspire the remaining tactics alongside three strategic guidelines : simplicity, repetition, and responsiveness.
Republicans have long been far more disciplined and effective than Democrats with these factors and at pushing their narratives. Their narrative, however, has been based lies and disinformation, but it still sways millions of Americans: “The narrative of cultural loss that was perpetuated by Trump throughout his campaign built on the moral panic that had already existed within the country.
Democrats have been far less so, even reluctant at building a strong narrative, perhaps to avoid the stench of propaganda the Republicans perpetuate. However, if Democrats do not unite and address this national crisis using strategic communications, they will continue to be out-played. Our democratic system is under attack and focusing on midterm elections could well be too late.
So what could be some goals to aim for in such a strategy? To start with, we need to consider what would actually thwart the regime’s power. Fortunately, their ample lies and incompetency give us a powerful hint as to what to go after.
Political legitimacy for anyone in office still depends on people believing them. So… call out, every day, Agent Orange’s glaring credibility problem. He has lied forever and at this point, no one but the gullible or the compromised say they believe him. But he and his minions are still getting away with spinning his disastrous incompetence as “strategic genius” that was part of some grand plan.
In order for a counterweight to land sufficiently in the media and with the public, the lies need to be called out for the threat that they are with tactics like rhetorical questions, repetition and emphasis . If the Dems could all sing from the same messaging hymnal for once, clearly stating a few examples of the Trump’s lies , and then get all of them stating over and over:
Where’s his credibility? No one believes the convicted felon anymore. Look where all his lies have gotten us. Their culture of corruption and deception is a threat to our national security, to our economy, and to all Americans. He is failing at the job he was elected to do and letting the American people down.
Supporting examples abound, as we all know: they claim that Musk is conducting mass firings to cut waste but then they fire Inspectors General who are the very people who prevent waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. They claim they’re reducing the federal deficit, but DOGE cuts will actually add over $500 billion to the deficit . Trump arguably won on a relentless campaign to bring down inflation and to “save America,” but has instead brought on economic chaos. They claim to value the rule of law while so much of what they do is illegal and/or unconstitutional .
Even though communications has been a problem for the Dems, this also points to a huge opportunity for them to defend the country: Americans are trying to figure out what is going on through the fog of disinformation. Exposing the lies on an ongoing basis using well-framed messaging and narratives could be a key part to stop his blatant abuse of power, and build up credibility for Democrats, Independents, anyone who cares about this country.
In addition to taking down the regime’s credibility, there are other areas of messaging we could compel our elected representatives to employ, including Republican betrayal of their voters as suckers and canon fodder for Trump’s calls for violence, failure of leadership, flouting or not obeying the law / not abiding by the rule of law, and nonstop hypocrisy. Finally, we all but especially the Dems need to be laying responsibility at the feet of the Republicans for enabling this disaster and for rubber stamping his idiocracy of unqualified, incompetent and often compromised cabinet picks that has allowed them to congressional power and become such a threat to the country. But all that… is for another day. Stay tuned…
Feel free to stay updated on our Substack on strategic communications.
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