I do not get this media strategy for POTUS. Two weeks out, down in polls and running out of time, he’s talking to an audience that is indistinguishable from his voters. There are no new votes here.

Now, I COMPLETELY understand Outkick’s strategy here.

https://bit.ly/3omD26P 

This is a coup for Outkick as it’s building its brand as the Fox News of sports. Makes total sense.

No upside for Trump here. None. But this is kind of how he’s playing out the string. He’s largely done friendly media only and locked in an echo chamber with only supporters.

Running against the media is a time-tested strategy, but it’s lunacy to actually buy into the argument and make it a campaign strategy. You’re supposed to wink and nod.

You do independent, non-fawning, large-audience news source interviews because that’s where new voters are.

I’ve been making the point for about three years now that Trump’s instinct to only talk to his voters via conservative media was going to end up being a big problem for him at some point.

Honestly? He might have gotten re-elected. But the strategy harms your message in a crisis.

So in this case, the confluence of a pandemic and economic collapse necessitate talking broadly to Americans - and voters.

But they spent 3+ years wiring the White House a different way. It’s been combat with media from Day 1, literally (hi Spicey!).

The strategy created grudges that must be fed, which means going on friendly media. He can’t even entertain a question that challenges him. He’s like an athlete who is completely out of condition. Engaging with independent (even hostile!) media makes candidates better.

I will show that Spicey video forever in COMM 1. You can’t stop me.

It was the day the myth of Trump being a media genius with good instincts began to fall apart. What a clown show. https://bit.ly/2IMltwo 

Another way of saying what I said in this thread: https://twitter.com/timkarr/status/1319245887869210628