Democracy depends on our ability to choose our political views. But the language we use to talk about political issues is deliberately designed to be divisive, and can produce up to a 15-point difference in what we think about those issues. As a result, are we choosing our views, or is our language choosing them for us?This week,Your Undivided Attention welcomes two Jedi Masters of political communication. Drew Westen is a political psychologist and messaging consultant based at Emory university, who has advised the Democratic Party. Frank Luntz is a political and communications consultant, pollster, and pundit, who has advised the Republican Party. In the past, our guests have used their messaging expertise in ways that increased partisanship. For example, Luntz advocated for the use of the term “death tax” instead of “estate tax,” and “climate change” instead of “global warming.” Still, Luntz and Westen are uniquely positioned to help us decode the divisive power of language — and explore how we might design language that unifies.CORRECTIONS: in the episode, Tristan refers to a panel Drew Westen and Frank Luntz were on at the New York Public Library. He says the panel was “about 10 years ago,” but it was actually 15 years ago in 2007. Also, Westen refers to a news anchor who moderated a debate between George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis in 1988. Drew mistakenly names the anchor as Bernard Kalb, when it was actually Bernard Shaw.RECOMMENDED MEDIAThe Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the NationDrew Westen's 2008 book about role of emotion in determining the political life of the nation, which influenced campaigns and elections around the worldWords That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People HearFrank Luntz's 2008 book, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the tactical use of words and phrases affects what we buy, who we vote for, and even what we believe inNew York Public Library's Panel on Political Language A 2007 panel between multiple 'Jedi Masters' of political communication along the political spectrum, including Frank Luntz, Drew Westen, and George Lakoff RECOMMENDED YUA EPISODESThe Invisible Influence of Language with Lera Boroditsky: https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/48-the-invisible-influence-of-languageHow To Free Our Minds with Cult Deprogramming Expert Dr. Steven Hassan: https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/51-how-to-free-our-mindsMind the (Perception) Gap with Dan Vallone: https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/33-mind-the-perception-gapYour Undivided Attention is produced by the Center for Humane Technology. Follow us on Twitter: @HumaneTech_

Frank Luntz, a renowned pollster and advisor, discusses the art of political communication and the challenges of staying apolitical. He delves into how effective messaging can resonate with voters, emphasizing the importance of authenticity. Luntz also reflects on navigating the extremes of political discourse and the role of socioeconomic issues in shaping perceptions. His insights into voter concerns like immigration and inflation reveal how messaging dynamics can influence electoral outcomes. Additionally, he highlights the evolving nature of political communication in a rapidly changing landscape.

Puck's Teddy Schleifer is Kara's co-host, chatting about Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal woes, Barbie hitting $1 billion, and the Musk v. Zuckerberg cage fight. Then, Donald Trump’s response to his latest indictment, and the money behind the presidential candidates. Then we’re joined by Friend of Pivot and political pollster, Frank Luntz to make sense of the latest poll numbers on the 2024 election.You can follow Teddy at @teddyschleifer, and read his work at Puck.News.Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, joins political consultant Frank Luntz and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for a lively discussion. They dive into the controversial reopening of nuclear plants and the critical security failures during political rallies. The trio also navigates the messy waters of election integrity, dissecting recent political strategies and misinformation in the media. With humor and insight, they tackle the climate fears associated with the year 2300, while critiquing how personal scrutiny shapes political messaging.

On September 13th, the Wall Street Journal released The Facebook Files, an ongoing investigation of the extent to which Facebook's problems are meticulously known inside the company — all the way up to Mark Zuckerberg. Pollster Frank Luntz invited Tristan Harris along with friend and mentor Daniel Schmachtenberger to discuss the implications in a live webinar. In this bonus episode of Your Undivided Attention, Tristan and Daniel amplify the scope of the public conversation about The Facebook Files beyond the platform, and into its business model, our regulatory structure, and human nature itself.

Piers Morgan hosts a panel including Frank Luntz, Tyrus, Harry Sisson, Michael Knowles, Wajahat Ali, and Republican commentator to discuss Biden's speech, Trump's reactions, Vance's impact on voters, and Harris's strategies. They touch on border crisis, Trump-Harris debate anticipation, American politics, and Secret Service transparency concerns.

American pollster and strategist Frank Luntz discusses Joe Biden's challenges against Trump, Tories facing wipeout, Rishi Sunak's strategy, parties' honesty about the economy, and the impact of media coverage on public perception in a lively political debate.

James Carville, a sharp-witted Democratic consultant, strongly believes Kamala Harris will succeed in the presidential race, despite some doubts. Frank Luntz, a seasoned pollster, shares his insights on Harris’s perceived loss of momentum and the impact on her campaign. Ryan Byrne from Ballotpedia discusses significant trends in ballot measures affecting abortion rights and voting regulations across the U.S. The conversation tackles voter demographics, campaign strategies, and the challenges of navigating public sentiment ahead of the 2024 election.

Hilary Kramer, a CIO at Kramer Capital Research, joins Luke Stone, Portfolio Manager at Winthrop Capital Management, and others to dissect the recent decline in Asian stocks and its links to US job data. They explore investor anxieties around market stability, especially in light of geopolitical tensions and evolving tax policies. The conversation turns to the implications of the US presidential election on markets, as well as the intense Sino-US chip war and its impact on the tech landscape, showcasing the challenges faced by major players like Intel and Samsung.

Dr. Frank Luntz, a veteran conservative pollster, teams up with Kristen Soltis Anderson, an expert on millennial voting behaviors, to dissect the shifting political landscape after Biden's exit. They discuss Kamala Harris's potential VP picks and the implications for Republicans. Voter attitudes are evolving, with a focus on connecting with disillusioned independents. They stress the importance of authentic messaging and warn against complacency despite favorable polling for Republicans. The conversation emphasizes the need for transparency and civic engagement in today's divided electorate.