B²: Donald Trump

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Donald Trump is enjoying a wildly successful ride post-presidential declaration. We’ll see if Governor Scott Walker’s entrance into the race will shake up the poll rankings, many of which have Trump in second place.

While there’s much discussion about the reasons for the rise of the “The Donald,” what isn’t in question is the media storm caused by his comments on immigration.

He went on record saying, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best … They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”

Though Trump is bringing an important issue to light, his chosen narrative is incendiary and will likely appear in any question you’re asked on immigration.

So how do you sidestep Trump while still offering solutions for a broken immigration system in desperate need of reform?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here is this week’s likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “Does Donald Trump’s popularity prove that Americans believe most immigrants are rapists and drug dealers?”

B²: “Not at all. What it proves is that people care about immigration reform and want to fix what’s broken. We can start by fixing <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you go next, keep in mind that it’s not a good idea to talk about Donald Trump when talking about immigration – not if you want to offer real solutions to an ever-increasing problem. Trump’s comments distract from the policy in question and the people affected.

Instead of focusing on name-calling, which will get you nowhere close to affecting real change, focus on solutions that help all people – both American citizens and immigrants alike.

DMG Just Upgraded

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District Media Group is excited to announce that Rachel Phillips is joining the team as Director of Operations!

In her role at DMG, she will be responsible for all the tasks necessary to keep the business running smoothly. She will also step into a scheduling role for Beverly and DMG’s clients, so you can expect to chat with her via email in the near future.

Previously, Rachel was the Director of Political and Communications Training at the Leadership Institute where she oversaw the coordination of more than 400 trainings. She was responsible for curriculum development, attendee recruitment, and general training logistics.

You can reach Rachel at rachel@districtmediagroup.com. Do update your contacts and join us in welcoming her to the team!

Give the Answer You Want

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DMG President Beverly Hallberg offers advice on how to make the most of your media interviews in The Heritage Foundation’s latest edition of InsiderOnline:

“It’s no secret that many dread the unknown of reporters’ questions. The reason? Even the friendliest reporters are doing their job when they play devil’s advocate. But the true horror lies in hostile reporters trying to trip up their “guests” with the sole goal of shaming them in a never-to-forget clip.”

The good news? “There is a strategy that works…and it is the true art of interviewing well.” To find out how to give the answer you want (not the one a reporter wants), click here.

B²: Founding Fathers

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While celebrating our nation’s birthday this past weekend, there was talk about all things Founding Fathers…as is the case every 4th of July. But several GOP hopefuls touring New Hampshire spoke about a nation so far gone that the Founding Fathers would be disgusted to the point of “rolling over in their graves” (see the Politico article by Ben Schreckinger titled “Mourn on the 4th of July”).

Referencing the Founding Fathers as a basis for where the nation is headed can be tricky. Doing so may make you sound like you’re stuck in the past with the accompanying narrative that often echoes, “the best days are behind us” – not a motivational message.

Do you know how to talk about the ideals this country was founded on while using terminology that unites instead of polarizes?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here is this week’s likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “Is our country headed in the right direction?”

B²: “There is no doubt there are present day struggles, but the American Dream is still possible for all if we <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you take the conversation next, start with a message of hope, which will appeal to as broad an audience as possible. If you talk about the Founding Fathers as something lost in the past, you’ll get stuck in the past. Instead, talk about the ideals that founded a nation over 200 years ago and still inspire today. The message of “opportunity” and the “American Dream” are winners since they can expand not only your argument but your audience as well.

B²: Sore Loser (SCOTUS Edition)

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No one likes a sore loser. Chances are, you probably fall into the “loser” camp for at least one of last week’s SCOTUS decisions.

While the decisions are often controversial – otherwise the case wouldn’t have been considered at the highest court – it rarely helps to spend the little time you have in your interview explaining the intricacies of why you think they were wrong.

Who said it best? Vote for which presidential candidate best spent his or her on-air time reacting to the SCOTUS ruling on marriage here.

Here’s a tip – leave the constitutional debate to the constitutional scholars. Complaining about a decision you can’t change will get you nowhere… fast.

So, do you know how to respond to questions about a SCOTUS decision without sounding like a sore loser?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here is this week’s likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “What are your thoughts on the SCOTUS decision in King v. Burwell?”

B²: “The Court has spoken about the language in ObamaCare, but what it wasn’t there to address was the effectiveness of ObamaCare. With increasing costs and concerns across this country, we know we must <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you take the conversation next, don’t get stuck in the past. Instead, look to the future of health care. While aspects of ObamaCare may be here to stay, focus on what can be done to improve quality of health care for all Americans. You can substitute language for other major SCOTUS rulings; the point is to be respectful, to acknowledge the Court’s limits, and then move to your role in influencing and/or shaping policy.

Solutions always trump problems!

B²: Grief and Gun Control

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While Charleston still mourned, President Obama used the tragedy to remind America of his gun control agenda.

At an annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in San Francisco on Friday he said, “We have to shift how we think about this issue and we have the capacity to change…That’s how we honor those families (in Charleston). That’s how we honor the families of Newtown, and that’s how we honor the families in Aurora.”

The process of politicizing pain is increasingly familiar. “Why” and “how” questions after tragedies are natural to the human experience, as they are in media interviews. But while the nation grieves with Charleston, do you know how to answer questions about calls for urgent change? The proposed changes take our focus off viable solutions and may forever alter our right to protect ourselves.

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here is this week’s likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “We have to do something. Isn’t it time to institute tighter gun control laws so that another Charleston, another Newtown, or another Aurora doesn’t happen?”

B²: “What’s happened in all these cities is absolutely terrible, and I can’t imagine the pain the families experience on a daily basis. But the sad reality is that tighter gun control laws wouldn’t have prevented any of these tragedies. What we should do is <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you take the conversation next, whether to talk about the need to protect the rights of responsible gun owners so that we are all safer, or the importance of dealing with mental health issues in this country, DO meet the emotion of the question first. If you ignore the victim in the question and move straight to a talking point, you’ll sound like you don’t care.

B²: SCOTUS and ObamaCare

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Last week, President Obama delivered a pre-emptive strike against this year’s Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance subsidies secured through the federal marketplace.

“There is no reason why the existing exchanges should be overturned through a court case,” Obama said. “It has been well documented that those who passed this legislation never intended for folks who were going through the federal exchange not to have their citizens get subsidies.”

While the Administration has been on the offensive talking about the “intent” of the law, the Supreme Court ruling has the potential to affect 6 million people who signed up for insurance on Healthcare.gov and the subsidies they receive. This large number of Americans could have cause for worry and panic if solutions aren’t discussed.

It’s complicated. But the B² team is here to help you avoid a messaging position in apparent support of leaving people high and dry, especially those who are struggling to pay for healthcare.

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here is this week’s likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “What will all these people do, 6 million of them, if these subsidies are eliminated?”

B²: “This case is more bad news for those who signed up for insurance on Healthcare.gov since our President said they could receive subsidies when the law actually says they can’t. The good news is that this opens up opportunities to lower high costs for them and every other American. We can get there by <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you take the conversation next, start by maintaining that people have another broken promise from the President. Then, turn to solutions! Focus on the fact that the Affordable Care Act has driven up healthcare costs and disrupted the existing coverage of millions of Americans. And then offer up a plan to remedy the situation. Get specific!

B²: Wage Wars

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President Obama is waging a war…on wages. In the midst of the fights in cities (Los Angeles being the most recent battleground), the President is set to take on the wage battle where he thinks he can – overtime pay.

Bill Samuel, director of legislative affairs for the AFL-CIO told Politico:

“The minimum wage they can’t do. This is probably the most significant step they can take to raise wages for millions of workers.”

Obama is purportedly posed to bypass Congress and, through the Department of Labor, propose a new rule on overtime pay as early as this week.

Do you know how to talk about the potential government-mandated overtime pay increases without sounding like you’re trying to keep the struggling guy down?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here’s the likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “How is it fair that millions of Americans are working overtime without overtime pay?”

B²: “What isn’t fair is that so many Americans can’t even find work these days, let alone a job that includes overtime. And what we do know is that <insert talking point>.”

You can continue the conversation by focusing on the reports that show this will severely limit flexibility in the workplace without improving pay (base salaries will be lowered to offset higher costs). Or, you can focus on dealing with overtime pay the right way – through Congress and not executive action.

But wherever you choose to take the conversation next, do highlight the fact that the real problem in employment are those who can’t find work and have had their hours cut due to Obama’s policies.

Last, a messaging note of caution. Unions have been very clever in branding the term “living wage.” Don’t let their words trip you up. Instead of focusing on how much money people need to make ends meet (which varies from person to person and city to city), focus on the specific ideas that bring more income to all American kitchen tables, regardless of where they live. Solutions trump problems!

B²: It’s Not Easy Being Green

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It’s no secret that President Obama wants the United States to be the leader in all things green. While Solyndra didn’t pan out too well for him, he’s upping his game with the Clean Power Plan – a convenient foundation for him to submit commitments to the United Nations.

The Plan, which focuses on significantly reducing carbon emissions by 2030, will be discussed from now until the climate change conference in Paris in December. A significant focus will be on new and existing power plants as the EPA finalizes regulations this summer.

No doubt you can expect questions about ice melting, seas rising, and the devastation of our children’s and grandchildren’s future.

So, do you know how to answer questions on the environment without sounding like you hate polar bears?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here’s the likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “Don’t we owe it to our children and grandchildren and the rest of the world to reduce our carbon pollution?”

B²: “We owe it to our children and grandchildren to leave our world in a better place, but this Plan won’t lead us in that direction because <insert talking point>.

Wherever you take the conversation next – whether to talk about the high energy costs passed along to people with little to no benefit to the environment, or the fact that we are cleaner today due to the boom in natural gas development – do show that you care about our environment. We get tripped up when we sound like money matters more than people.

B²: Trade Deal

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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before….

What do you get when Senate Republicans stand with President Obama, while many in his own party publicly criticize him, to convince a Republican-controlled House to vote against some conservatives wary of deals that may give the president more authority? Well, you get a D.C. battle at its finest.

Even though the Senate passed the “fast-track” trade deal (Trans-Pacific Partnership) last week, there are more messaging hurdles ahead since the House plans to vote early next month. In other words, it’s about to get stickier than D.C.’s summer humidity.

Do you know how to talk about trade deals without stepping into any messaging traps?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here’s the likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership that the Senate passed last week?”

B²: “I’m pro-trade because we know it leads to more economic growth, which benefits all Americans. The way we get there is to <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you take the conversation next – whether to support the current bill and therefore the President, or to raise concerns about the question of executive authority – do focus on the benefits of trade, which we agree leads to more economic prosperity for all.