Everything, Everywhere, All at Once—Politics & PR Edition

Plus: Biden out, softer comms language in (?)

Banner Image: Matt Chase / Fast Company

Happy Monday! This past week, U.S. politics commanded headlines at a fever pitch, sparking rare bipartisan calls for a communication reset and capped off with a PDF statement shared on X first to confirm President Biden’s exit from 2024. While what the process of shifting comms to meet the moment entails still remains uncertain, we're witnessing PR resets of all kinds across industries from pickleball to politics. But first, let's dive into some stories.

📡ON OUR RADAR

• Countless journalists were chasing the scoop of when President Biden would make his final decision whether to stay or leave the 2024 Presidential race and……he just tweeted it out.
• Disney Slack Hack: Disney's internal communications on Slack were hacked, revealing sensitive discussions on ad campaigns, studio technology, and interview candidates. In today’s world, where memos and Town Hall recordings are often exposed, we must handle internal communications with the same professionalism as our external messages—every word could go public.
• Red Robin has introduced a unique twist to the 'all-you-can-eat' concept, offering endless servings of sides, drinks, and desserts instead of protein-heavy options like Red Lobster's shrimp deal. They believe customers are more likely to pair these sides with burgers and wraps. Red Robin is banking on the appeal of 'unlimited' offerings, underscoring the idea that 'perception is reality.'
• From abandoning standalone platforms like Spotify for bundles like Apple One and YouTube Premium, how we listen to music is changing. What we’re listening to is also shifting: the rise of the ultra-long album feeds superfans, while TikTok propels snippets of songs to the tops of charts. 

💡ON OUR MINDS: Cooler Temps & Softened Messages

• The attempted assassination of former President Trump was a watershed moment for both his and President Biden's campaigns. It also marked an inflection point with impact across our political landscape. Both leaders vowed to soften their messaging, making unity a central theme. With President Biden exiting the race and President Trump already going off script, we'll see how that plays out long-term, but as with everything, what’s communicated remains critical.

• Starbucks was mistakenly accused of sponsoring the RNC. They're partnering with the Milwaukee 2024 Host Committee to provide coffee to first responders and plan a similar partnership with the Chicago 2024 Host Committee for the DNC.

• SHRM, America's leading HR organization, is shifting its focus from 'equity' in DEI initiatives to emphasize 'inclusion and diversity' alone to avoid political tensions and perceptions of preferential treatment.

• Deere & Co. announced it’s scaling back its D&I initiatives following criticism from Robby Starbuck, removing "socially motivated messages" from training materials and ending support for social or cultural awareness events. The National Black Farmers Association responded by calling for a boycott and CEO John May's resignation.

• Elon Musk announced that SpaceX and X Corp HQ will move to Texas, citing a new California transgender student privacy law as the final straw. This decision received mixed reactions, with some California politicians criticizing his departure despite the reality that his companies will maintain a significant presence in the state.

🥊QUICK HITS:

In case you missed these reads:

• When Taylor Swift says, “make the friendship bracelets,” fans and brands listen.

• JFK’s grandson Jack Schlossberg has joined Vogue as a political correspondent, reportedly earning a whopping $250 per article.

• Disney plans to update Hulu’s user interface to resemble Netflix’s personalized algorithms and artwork in the near future. The main goal: to enhance viewer engagement.