A week ago, President Biden seemed down on his luck. He had just been diagnosed with COVID-19, after dodging it for more than two years. He was being bashed by people in his own party for appearing flat-footed on abortion. The all-important climate legislation he had been pushing seemed dead in the water. And as if things couldn’t appear any worse, The New York Times had recently released a poll showing that most Democrats wanted someone else to run for their party’s nomination in 2024. But a lot changed in a week. Co-founding Partner Rodell Mollineau weighs in in this article on The Hill- read the article here.
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CNN’s Mark Preston goes beyond the daily headlines to bring you the full story behind what makes the news. In this episode, he speaks with ROKK Co-founding Partner Ron Bonjean about the Republican party’s messaging opportunities around the recession- listen to the episode here.
Bloomberg Washington Correspondent Joe Mathieu delivers insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. Joe spoke to Texas Congressman Kevin Brady on the Democrats spending package and the standing ovation he got at the congressional baseball game this week, Vanderbilt pulmonologist Dr. Robert Miller on how the PACT Act can help diagnose veterans who have diminished lung quality from exposure to burn pits. Plus, our politics panel Adam Goodman, National Republican media strategist and John LaBombard, Senior Vice President at ROKK Solutions on the reconciliation package, the Pact Act, and tensions over Nancy Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan. Listen to the episode here.
It’s been a rough couple weeks for Joe Biden. His approval rating reached a record low. Inflation reached a 40-year high. A coal baron-turned-senator tanked his climate change plan. Then, he came down with COVID-19.
These recent travails have marked an inflection point in an increasingly difficult presidency.
In this article from The Globe and Mail, Co-founding Partner Rodell Mollineau shares his take on the president’s strategy and what he needs to do to make forward progress. Read the article here.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) was initially seen as one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election this year. But as New Hampshire’s Sept. 13 primary draws closer, there’s still no clear Republican frontrunner to take her on in November.
ROKK SVP Jeff Grappone — a Capitol Hill and political campaign veteran — talked to Axios about the dynamics shaping this key US Senate race that could shift the balance of power in Washington. Read the article here.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a rising Republican star, has been careful not to nurture growing speculation that he will make a presidential bid in 2024. He has brushed off questions about his political ambitions, while the party’s presumptive front-runner, Donald Trump, repeatedly hints he will run again.
But there are signs that DeSantis could be preparing for a White House run even as he campaigns for another term as governor in November’s midterm elections.
ROKK CO-founding Partner Ron Bonjean shared his thoughts here.
When California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a bold, in-your-face ad in Florida this week, Democrats thirsty for an aggressive voice in their party began to take notice.
The spot, which aired on Fox News programming across Florida on Monday, went after former President Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the conservative culture of the Sunshine State.
The ad was aimed at hitting Republicans, but it got the attention of Democrats who are worried about who could take on Trump or DeSantis — two likely prospects for the Republican presidential nomination — in 2024 if President Biden chooses not to seek a second term.
It was particularly resonant in taking on DeSantis in his home state of Florida, which has been tilting toward the GOP but was won twice by former President Obama.
ROKK CO-founding Partner Rodell Mollineau shared his thoughts here.
President Biden threw his support behind a carveout of the Senate filibuster to codify abortion rights, a moment some Democrats have been waiting for since May. But if his comments don’t move the needle, ROKK Founding Partner Ron Bonjean said it reinforces the idea that Democrats can’t get anything done. Read Ron’s comments- and more- in this article.
Senate negotiators working to come to an agreement on gun violence legislation are asking the White House to stay out of the talks. Some have said that President Biden’s involvement wouldn’t be “helpful” after he called on Congress to pass gun control measures, some of which aren’t even supported by all 50 Democrats. Senior Vice President John LaBombard, former communications director to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), shared his take on the value of aspirational statements that don’t move legislation here.
As Americans prepare to return to the ballot box for the midterms this November, political strategists and media figures are heralding a Republican takeover of the House. In preparation for the pendulum swinging to the right, many in Washington, D.C. are already taking their feet off the gas when it comes to engagement with Democrats, paying less attention to the issues they view as important to the left.
This is a mistake.
ROKK Managing Director Lindsay Singleton, who also founded and leads ROKK’s Social Impact Communications practice, shares her recent research and thoughts around the importance of ESG issues with voters at the polls this fall. Read the article in Triple Pundit here.