Winning the news war
Trump is both creature and creator of today’s hyper-speed, Twitter-hype news cycle. To win in 2020, Democrats need a candidate who beats him at the communications game.
“By all accounts, Mr. Trump’s consumption of cable television has actually increased in recent months as his first scheduled meetings of the day have slid back from the 9 or 9:30 a.m. set by Reince Priebus, his first chief of staff, to roughly 11 many mornings. During ‘executive time,’ Mr. Trump watches television in the residence for hours, reacting to what he sees on Fox News. While in the West Wing, he leaves it on during most meetings in the dining room off the Oval Office, one ear attuned to what is being said.”
While he watches, Trump – alone, angry and aggrieved – pumps out tweets that drive and dominate the news. He fires people, announces head-spinning policy decisions and airs his inexhaustible grievances. The nation lurches daily, even hourly, from the Mueller investigation to myriad guilty pleas to government shutdowns to financial crises, on and on.
Presidents used to depend on spokespeople, press offices and podium appearances to make news. Trump just uses his thumb to thumb his nose at the media, his own staff and Cabinet and the world.
In response, a lot of would-be Democratic candidates have taken to Twitter, with mixed results. Some sound fresh and feisty. Others reek of the cautious vetting and editing that sucked any life out of Hillary Clinton’s social media.
One candidate breaking new ground is Beto O’Rourke. While others went on TV and Twitter this past week to debate immigration and the border wall, he live-steamed visits to a tent city on the border. Live-streaming was his great campaign innovation this year, and it could be the next level of direct communication in 2020.
Presidential elections are won by candidates who master new media: FDR and radio. JFK and live TV. Nixon (’68, with Roger Ailes), staged Q&A on TV. Reagan and the photo op. Clinton and hip TV. Obama and online organizing. Now Trump and Twitter.
Along with policy chops and presidential character, Democrats should look for the candidate who masters next-generation communications – and who can go head-to-head with Trump in debates. That’s the winning ticket.
Winning the news war
Trump is both creature and creator of today’s hyper-speed, Twitter-hype news cycle. To win in 2020, Democrats need a candidate who beats him at the communications game.
“By all accounts, Mr. Trump’s consumption of cable television has actually increased in recent months as his first scheduled meetings of the day have slid back from the 9 or 9:30 a.m. set by Reince Priebus, his first chief of staff, to roughly 11 many mornings. During ‘executive time,’ Mr. Trump watches television in the residence for hours, reacting to what he sees on Fox News. While in the West Wing, he leaves it on during most meetings in the dining room off the Oval Office, one ear attuned to what is being said.”
While he watches, Trump – alone, angry and aggrieved – pumps out tweets that drive and dominate the news. He fires people, announces head-spinning policy decisions and airs his inexhaustible grievances. The nation lurches daily, even hourly, from the Mueller investigation to myriad guilty pleas to government shutdowns to financial crises, on and on.
Presidents used to depend on spokespeople, press offices and podium appearances to make news. Trump just uses his thumb to thumb his nose at the media, his own staff and Cabinet and the world.
In response, a lot of would-be Democratic candidates have taken to Twitter, with mixed results. Some sound fresh and feisty. Others reek of the cautious vetting and editing that sucked any life out of Hillary Clinton’s social media.
One candidate breaking new ground is Beto O’Rourke. While others went on TV and Twitter this past week to debate immigration and the border wall, he live-steamed visits to a tent city on the border. Live-streaming was his great campaign innovation this year, and it could be the next level of direct communication in 2020.
Presidential elections are won by candidates who master new media: FDR and radio. JFK and live TV. Nixon (’68, with Roger Ailes), staged Q&A on TV. Reagan and the photo op. Clinton and hip TV. Obama and online organizing. Now Trump and Twitter.
Along with policy chops and presidential character, Democrats should look for the candidate who masters next-generation communications – and who can go head-to-head with Trump in debates. That’s the winning ticket.