Online Public Relations Thoughts

With stories like this, it's little wonder that ICE's reputation has gone to hell.  It is an agency out of control, mindlessly following orders and without a spark of humanity. 

Trump's decision to wait two weeks before deciding on helping Israel attack Iran is a humane action.  No one wants war and certainly not this one.  Israel is fighting on multiple fronts and is stretched.  It needs peace, especially in Gaza where it has become a bully reducing everything to rubble.  Israel has gained a reputation of a bellicose country.  Its neighbors fear it but not so much that they can't strike back.  And, they will for generations to come. 

This is a viral publicity coup on the part of Barcelona activists who want tourists to go home.  Who would think a water gun would become a symbol of resistance? 

What Israel has done in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and now Iran has insured that it will have enemies for generations to come.  Israel's fight for survival has only increased tensions in the Middle East.  Ultimately, the only path to peace is negotiations, but under Netanyahu is that possible?  

This protest against President Trump seems obscure by comparison to an earlier "Hands Off" rally.  What do you want to bet that ordinary citizens aren't motivated to turn out for it?  The crowd estimate of millions of protestors in 2000 locations is wildly ambitious and likely to fail.  The organizers would have done far better to set expectations lower and to avoid the hype.

What do you do when your professed enemy has a chokehold on the one mineral you need?  You had better make friends with him.  But, that is exactly what the US is not doing with China. Trump continues to use China as the boogeyman and China has responded by cutting off the supply of the rare earth. What does Trump expect?

California's governor is showing some spine in facing off President Trump. It's past time for that to happen but still welcome.  Newsom might run for President and this might help him.  

Two madmen make up.  What a spectacle it has been.  

CEO compensation has been out of control for decades and 2024 was no different.  What will happen when stock prices crash and pay tied to company performance dives?  Will CEOs take the compensation cut willingly?  Hardly.  They will go to their boards to bail them out and directors will comply.  

Elon Musk might be a conceited, pill-popping madman but he apparently got his criticism of Trump's "big beautiful bill" right.

Some things one shouldn't joke about -- like the head of FEMA saying he was unaware that the US has a hurricane season.  After the deep staff cuts at the administration, staffers were shocked when he said it.  They are questioning whether he is the right man for the job.  And, they should. 

Reading these stories about the use of AI to eliminate jobs is worrisome. Is PR already using it?  If so, how is it working?  Has AI made it more difficult to break into PR and marketing?  It's clear that AI already is replacing some graphic artists and content creators. Who's next?