The Playbook Podcast August 21, 2025: Vance’s big, beautiful sales job
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Aug 21, 2025 Irie Sentner, a seasoned Politico White House reporter and co-author of West Wing Playbook, joins to dissect the strategic rebranding of President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" Act. They delve into VP J.D. Vance’s efforts to reposition the bill as a lifeline for working families, amid faltering poll numbers for Trump. The discussion highlights challenges in political messaging, public protests at Vance's events, and the implications of ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding U.S. support for Ukraine and the complexities of redistricting battles.
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Rebranding To Fight Weak Polls
- Polling and local headlines complicate the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act's reception in battleground states like Georgia.
- The administration sees rebranding it as "working families tax cuts" to counter weak numbers and negative local stories.
GOP Frustration Over Promotion
- Internal GOP frustration includes criticisms from figures like Steve Bannon that Congress hasn't sold the law well.
- That critique helps explain the administration's push to have Vance and others more proactively promote the policy.
Vance's Messaging Strength
- J.D. Vance's messaging strength is staying on message and leveraging his background to connect on manufacturing and tax cuts.
- The White House hopes to shift local attention from Medicaid cuts to domestic manufacturing and tax benefits.