Press

The White House has a new messaging challenge on its hands: Donald Trump. 

President Biden, wary of appearing to influence the ongoing Justice Department investigation into the former president, doesn’t want to talk about the FBI search earlier this week at Mar-a-Lago.

Democrats say that’s the right approach, but it means Republicans hurling accusations and condemnations at the Justice Department and FBI will largely go unanswered by the White House. Co-founding Partner Rodell Mollineau comments on the Democrats’ approach here.

The FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home Monday was unprecedented, prompting days of global news coverage and commentary on motivations, implications and ramifications.

Key players no one has heard from: the Justice Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

That silence has prompted leading Republicans to demand an explanation from Attorney General Merrick Garland as well as to criticize the operation as politically motivated overreach.

Prominent Democrats have said that they want the Justice Department to pursue its investigation wherever it leads without interference; the White House has been largely mum.

Mr. Trump’s lawyers, while speaking publicly about some aspects of the search, have declined to provide key details such as which documents the agents took from the Palm Beach, Fla., property.

The result: The public is in the dark about basic facts and key questions that the operation raised in one of the most controversial and high-profile FBI actions in years.

Ron Bonjean, Co-founding Partner at ROKK, shares his take with The Wall Street Journal- read it here.

“This bill is shaping up to be something that is custom designed to get at what is on the minds of everyday Americans, which is rising costs and inflation,” said ROKK Solutions Senior Vice President and former Krysten Sinema Comms Director John LaBombard, when he stopped by CNN to discuss the $700 billion economic package. John shared his perspective with John Berman and Brianna Keilar- watch the segment here.

There have been numerous October surprises throughout American history as it relates to elections, but whether this year’s midterm elections – which are less than 100 days away – could be upended by a dominant news event is yet to be determined.

Strategists from across the political spectrum insist there are a few events or stories that could drive voters to the polls, or away from them, prior to the elections taking place.

Certain things like the debate over abortion, an announcement from former President Trump regarding his 2024 decision, or President Biden officially announcing re-election efforts have the potential to sway voters in the elections, strategists say. ROKK Partner Kristen Hawn shares her thoughts- get them here.

Democrats are hoping to seal a major legislative win this week after budget reconciliation negotiations between Sen. Joe Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for a breakthrough climate, healthcare and tax package. But have Democrats made a strategic error by not first securing support from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in order to pass this legislation? John LaBombard, ROKK Solutions Senior Vice President and former Senator Sinema Communications Director, shared his perspective with John Berman and Brianna Keilar. Watch the segment here.

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.

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.