“I am not going away,” said David Hogg, the young vice chair of the Democratic National Committee who infuriated party regulars by saying he was going to raise $20 million to mount primary challenges to (shall we call them ‘older’) long-serving elected officials. The DNC apparently decided to oust Mr. Hogg after hearings and votes on the integrity of their February election. In redoing their leadership, Mr. Hogg decided not to run, but we’ll be hearing more from him.

The Hill, “David Hogg doubles down after controversy: ‘I’m not going away’” June 23, 2025

“I’m not going to lose. I do not lose,” said Representative Thomas Massie, responding to President Trump’s criticism and call for him to have a primary opponent. In 2020, as the 45th president and Speaker Pelosi were trying to get the multitrillion-dollar CARES Act through the House by unanimous consent so that members of Congress didn’t have to physically return to the chamber to vote, Mr. Massie was the lone objector. Trump called for his defeat, but Massie won re-election with 81% of the vote. Although he looks popular, we still would recommend a positive – “I am in close touch with my constituents and listen to them, and they support me.”

The New York Sun, “Massie Laughs Off Trump Criticism, Insisting He’ll Easily Win Another Term” June 24, 2025

“I’m not anybody’s henchman. I’m not an enforcer,” said DOJ leader Emil Bove during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bove was President Trump’s personal lawyer in some very high-profile legal cases, and he also gained notoriety in a decision to drop corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. The article and the hearing are a good lesson in the dangers of lawyer speak. Lots of negatives like — “I did not advise any Justice Department lawyer to violate court orders.” What he should have said — “I have strong points of view, but I am committed to enforcing the constitution,” or something similar.

WSJ, “Trump’s Former Lawyer Emil Bove Defends DOJ Tenure in Senate Hearing” June 25, 2025

“This mission has not been about regime change,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after the US strike on Iran’s deeply buried nuclear enrichment facilities. Memories of Iraq abound. Notice the comment becomes the headline. Of course, he should have stuck to the line that the mission was about backing President Trump’s position that Iran could not possess a nuclear weapon.

The Post Millennial, “BREAKING: Pete Hegseth says ‘this mission has not been about regime change’” June 22, 2025

A good example. Broadway star Patti Lupone got into a feud with fellow Broadway players, Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis, which escalated to trash talk and profanities. It seems to have been triggered by noise from a theater where McDonald and Lewis were performing. The details are less important than Lupone’s apology – which we grade as top notch. It avoided the weasel words – “if I have offended anyone” – and was authentic.

The New York Times, “Patti LuPone Is Doing Something Unusual. She’s Apologizing” May 31, 2025

Here’s a first! Christian romance novelist Rebecca Stevenson just consulted with us to help write an apology for the protagonist/hero of the book she’s currently writing. We can now add fictional characters to our client list! I won’t divulge what this character is apologizing for, but it’s enough to get him kicked out of a successful career as a Christian singer/songwriter.

What our literary fictional client ended up with:
To everyone I hurt, disappointed, or let down: this is for you, and it’s long overdue. Before anything else, I need to say I’m sorry—for the trust I broke, the damage I caused, and the silence that followed. I’ve apologized personally to those most directly affected by my actions, but this is for those of you I won’t be able to see or speak to in person. For my fans—past, present, and future. For everyone who works for a company that was affected by my lack of discretion.
I won’t offer excuses. Just this: I take full responsibility for my actions. Simply stated, I’m not only sorry, but I’m working on the areas in my life that need to be fixed. Although I didn’t deserve it, God has put some amazing people in my life. Even in the fallout, I’ve been surrounded by undeserved kindness. Their acceptance and guidance are helping me find my way back.
Thanks to those of you I’ve heard from through social media. Your encouragement has meant the world to me. I ask for continued patience, privacy, and prayers. And maybe a little of the grace I used to sing about. I’ll keep you posted.

Now, let’s see what kind of music and lyrics he can write to win over his fans. Check out: RebeccaStevensonAuthor.com
 

Sen. Josh Hawley eviscerated the 23andMe interim CEO, Joe Selsavage, about whether they keep customer data confidential or sell it. A telling example of why it’s important to rehearse and how a muddled message can come back to haunt you. Also, a warning for how legal ‘disclosure’ language can trip up your claims.

CBS, “I Hope Your Customers Sue You Into Oblivion” June 12, 2025

An example of the value of our crucial acknowledgement technique was demonstrated when Rep. Rosa DeLauro demanded a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from Attorney General Pam Bondi during a Congressional hearing on funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Despite the fact that the question was framed so there was no real ‘yes/no’ response, the AG could have used phrases like, “It’s not that simple,” or “Let me put it in perspective.” Lesson? Don’t be trapped by the framing of the question, and don’t ignore it to address the topic. It gives the impression of evading the question.

Forbes Breaking News, “WATCH: Pam Bondi Trades Barbs With Rosa DeLauro In Fiery Clash Over Proposed ATF Cuts” June 23, 2025

Another SpaceX Starship rocket exploded into a fireball at the Starbase facility in Texas on Wednesday evening. The company called it a “major anomaly.” This follows last month’s explosion, described as an “unscheduled disassembly.” Elon Musk himself referred to the incident as “just a scratch.”

Blaze Media, “Elon Musk responds with 3-word message after SpaceX Starship rocket explodes into massive fireball” June 19, 2025

Remarks from Air India CEO Campbell Wilson about flight 171’s crash in the Indian city of Ahmedabad were word-for-word the same as much of a statement from the CEO of American Airlines about flight 5342’s crash landing in the Potomac River. Both CEOs recorded direct-to-camera statements using a teleprompter. Both followed the now-accepted script of what to say after a crash: share the facts, if any are available at the immediate time, express condolences, commit to cooperate in an investigation, and list safety as the top priority. But touching these points doesn’t mean repeating them verbatim. The creators should have shown a little creativity because the exact duplication made the Air India version look insincere and staged. Video feeds ran the statements on a split screen next to each other. It was embarrassing and made the tragedy worse.

Make sure your lawyers see this so they understand the importance of competent communications advice from professionals who have the courage to stand up to them.

Simple Flying, “Word For Word: Why Is Air India’s CEO’s Post-Crash Speech Practically The Same As American Airlines’ CEO’s?” June 19, 2025