Next Up with Mark Halperin What's Fueling Graham Platner's Success, and Sen. Hagerty on the Shutdown and Trump's Global Strategy
Oct 28, 2025
Bill Hagerty, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and current U.S. Senator from Tennessee, shares insights on the significance of Japan in U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and the political theatrics surrounding the current government shutdown. He emphasizes the importance of a trilateral alliance with South Korea for regional security. Stephen Olikara, a Democratic strategist and former Senate candidate, discusses the power of storytelling in politics to bridge divides and foster civic engagement, advocating for a focus on pluralism and empathy among leaders.
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700-Person Rally That Defied The Oppo Dump
- Graham Plattner drew about 700 people to a Maine town-hall despite opposition research and staff resignations.
- The crowd and continued endorsements signaled sustained momentum rather than collapse.
Playbook Components For Political Resilience
- Effective survival messaging blends populism, blaming elites, calibrated apology, and controlled defiance.
- Candidates selectively apologize, pivot to defiance, and use media distractions to refocus voters on their agenda.
Calibrate Apology And Truth Strategically
- Lie sparingly and only where you won't get caught; prioritize survivability over full disclosure.
- Balance admissions with defiance and use distractions to shift attention away from past controversies.
