Blame 'The Juice' for Today's Post-Truth Politics
Fri, Apr. 19, 2024
By Kevin McCauley
The techniques deployed by OJ Simpson's defense team in the "trial of the century" served as a harbinger for those used by Donald Trump... People worry about the politicization of medical science just as much as they fret about another pandemic, according to Edelman Trust Barometer... Book bans aren't restricted to red states as deep blue Illinois, Connecticut and Maryland challenged at least 100 titles in 2023.
The NBA, which promotes legalized gambling 24/7, seems more than hypocritical for banning player for placing bets... Diocese of Brooklyn promises to issue press release the next time one of its priests is charged with sexual abuse... Truth Social aspires to be one of Donald Trump's iconic American brands, just like Trump University or Trump Steaks or Trump Ice Cubes.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun puts competition on notice... Macy's throws in the towel as it appoints two directors nominated by its unwanted suitor... The Profile in Wimpery Award goes to the Ford Presidential Foundation for stiffing American hero and former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon's "letter to shareholders" is a must-read for PR people and others interested in fixing America and living up to its potential... Get ready for the PPE shortage when the next pandemic hits... Nixing Netanyahu. Gaza carnage turns US opinion against Israel's prime minister.
Trump Media & Technology Group sees Elon Musk's X as an option for those who want the free expression promised by Truth Social but without Donald Trump, owner of 57.3 percent of TMTG... Chalk one up for "anti-woke warrior" governor Greg Abbott as University of Texas lays off 60 DEI-related staffers... Five percent of Americans see the US as its own worst enemy, according to Gallup.
Nine of the Top 100 firms that participated in O'Dwyer's rankings last year apparently threw in the towel for the 2024 scorecard. Seven other firms also went AWOL.
The silence of the White House enables Israel's crackdown on foreign media as it objects to coverage of the carnage in Gaza... Israel plans yet another probe. Promises investigation of its "unintentional" attack on workers delivering food to famine-sticken Gaza... Trump White House media star Hope Hicks to return to spotlight.
It's not a good look for Major League Baseball when the money earned by its biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, allegedly paid off gambling debts owed to a bookie... Australia earned coveted "best country brand" awarded by Madrid-based MARCO PR firm. Better luck next time, USA... US is becoming a "news-less" society as majority of population opts for social media diversions.
Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, Micheal Milken and Sly Stallone prove to be too much for the family of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg... Ben & Jerry's hunts for a PR manager as the progressive ice cream maker splits with Unilever... Veteran Trump aides Peter Navarro (76) and Wilbur Ross (86) head for the lock-up, get booted from NYSE.
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin swoops in to put TikTok out of its PR misery... WPP calls for executive reinforcements as Burson debut nears... Tricky Dick had a "secret plan" to end the Vietnam war and the Mango Mussolini has a "detailed plan" to surrender Ukraine... Trump promises to "drill baby drill" but greatest environmental president since Teddy Roosevelt got the job done... Enterprise Ireland uses Saint Patrick's Day hook to showcase investments in the US.
TikTok stunt designed to derail Congressional effort to split it from its Chinese parent, Bytedance, fails... CEOs are growing more bullish about economic recovery, which is good news for Biden re-election bid... Are you looking for a power placement? How about the obituary page in The Economist?
Nikki Haley has a golden opportunity to keep American democracy alive... SEC earns accolades from association of social impact professionals for new climate-reporting rules... NY AG Letitia James is a big fan of the "E" part of ESG... Teneo, the global CEO advisory, shares name with conservative group out to crush "woke capitalism."
Oprah Winfrey's decision to stand down from Weight Watchers board magnifies the danger of using a celebrity spokesperson, even one as admired and beloved as the actress/talk show host... Big Oil uses "carbon capture" to combat global warming as PR smokescreen... Team Biden whistles past graveyard as it downplays Michigan primary results. 
Macy's claims its plan to shutter 150 stores represents "a bold new chapter" in growth. It certainly sounds more like a retreat... The Sentencing Project and Meraki Communications Group show the power of PR with campaign to highlight America's incarceration crisis... Master of spin Ryan Binkley exits from GOP presidential race but takes solace in getting 4x as many votes in Iowa as Asa Hutchinson.
Tony Blair could never live down his "Bush's Poodle" nickname. Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and JD Vance will suffer the same fate as "Putin's Puppies." (Updated)
Donald Trump dips into his corporate playbook and says US should "loan" money to Ukraine and it's okay if it can't repay. It worked for Trump as four of his casino companies went belly-up... Democrats risk losing their key young voter constituency by running Joe Biden again. 
Special counsel Robert Hur lifts Democrats out of denial about Joe Biden's advanced age... White House "Co-Press Secretary" John Kirby has crisis management skills needed for these troubled times... Lyft screws up earnings press release... Corporate raider Carl Icahn flies again at JetBlue.
Teneo, which represents Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is ordered by Saudi courts not to turn over documents to US Senate... Ron DeSantis' Central Florida Tourism Oversight District orders Disney World workers to take frequent baths and use deodorant... Israel muzzles Palestinian media by arresting its reporters, according to press watchdog.