Spot the Spin: Ramaswamy, Vance and Amy Griffin

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, JD Vance telling Republicans to stop whining about it, and Amy Griffin's lawsuit: three stories this week, and I break down the moves in each.

The Ohio governor's race is a week from Election Day. Ramaswamy's campaign ran an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, and at first would not say whether the ad was theirs. I go through what the ad leaves out, the double down, the quiet edit that dropped the tent line, and why renaming the topic is a move you can spot in your own life.

Then JD Vance, who told reporters that whether the ad was appropriate ""is not really my concern"" and later told fellow Republicans to stop whining about it. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the ad ""deeply, deeply troubling,"" and Rep. Ashley Hinson said ""absolutely the wrong tone."" I share what I hear from clients when they blame the critics, and why I think reasonable people speaking reasonably is a signal.

Then Amy Griffin and her memoir The Tell: the New York Times investigation, the classmate's lawsuit, Griffin's defamation suit in response, and why a first move of ""legal"" tells me there is something to the story. Both suits are allegations in pending litigation, and I am not saying anyone is guilty. I also touch on the Gosselin family story that is trending.

The PR Breakdown is a weekly look at the PR moves and the spin behind the headlines, from a crisis communication and reputation management consultant. This episode was recorded live.

00:00 Spot the Spin
00:59 The Ohio governor's race
01:35 The ad featuring Acton's estranged mother
02:58 What the ad leaves out
03:23 Ramaswamy confirms the ad
03:53 The double down
05:37 Renaming the topic
05:52 The quiet edit
06:44 JD Vance: ""not really my concern""
07:11 The deflection and the pivot
08:05 Vance at an Ohio rally
09:11 Why ""not my concern"" is a move
09:39 What I hear from clients
10:19 ""Focus on the facts""
10:31 DeWine, Hinson and a bridge too far
11:37 Amy Griffin and The Tell
12:41 The New York Times investigation
13:22 The lawsuits
14:05 Why legal first is a tell
15:56 More on the Griffin story
19:26 The Gosselin family story
22:02 Closing

Every week I break down the biggest PR crises in the news: the slips, the moves, the scandals, and the lessons behind the headlines. I'm Molly McPherson, crisis and reputation strategist, known to my audience as the PR Lady. This channel is home base for the podcast and my weekly Substack live chats. Subscribe and follow along.

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