First-month Scorecards for Companies Under Trump

First-month Scorecards for Companies Under Trump

Author: OCR February 21, 2025 Duration: 28:52
Communication Breakdown
Business NewsNewsBusinessManagementMarketing
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll discuss the evolving landscape of corporate reputation management under the Trump administration. They explore and rate how companies are navigating challenges such as tariffs, the impact of political affiliations on brand perception, and the ongoing debate around diversity initiatives. The conversation also introduces the concept of 'Relationates' as a more nuanced approach to stakeholder engagement, emphasizing the importance of understanding various audience dynamics in corporate communication.

Buy Sally Susman's book, Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World here

Takeaways
  • Tariffs are creating significant challenges for the auto industry.
  • Tesla's alignment with political figures is harming its reputation.
  • Diversity initiatives are under scrutiny but still hold public support.
  • Silence from companies can be a risky strategy.
  • The chaos tension triangle helps companies balance risks.
  • The term 'relationates' offers a broader understanding of stakeholder dynamics.
Topics Mentioned
corporate reputation, Trump administration, tech industry, tariffs, Tesla, diversity initiatives, stakeholder engagement, communication strategy

Companies Mentioned
Google, Meta, Amazon, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, CVS, Chipotle, American Airlines, Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Target, Disney, Goldman Sachs

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Corporate Reputation Strategies
07:07 Tech Companies and Their Strategies Under Trump
13:43 The Auto Industry's Response to Tariffs
14:12 Diversity Initiatives in Corporate America
22:40 Reframing Stakeholders as Relationates

Hashtags
#CorporateReputation, #Trump, #TechIndustry, #Tariffs, #Tesla, #diversity, #DEI, #StakeholderEngagement, #CommunicationStrategy

Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.

For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

Communication Breakdown is a sharp, fast-moving podcast for PR and communications pros who want to understand what really happens when reputations are on the line. Hosted by OCRs Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling, each postgame-style episode breaks down how organizations navigate high-visibility crises, product launches, policy debates, and other make-or-break moments in the public eye. Drawing on experience from institutions like USC Annenberg, UNC Chapel Hill, OpenAI, and Apple, the hosts dissect real-world cases, exploring what worked, what failed, and why. Listeners can expect candid analysis of messaging, leadership, media strategy, stakeholder management, and internal alignment, all grounded in current events across news and business. Whether youre in marketing, management, or corporate communications, listen episodes of Communication Breakdown to sharpen your judgment, stress-test your own strategies, and better anticipate how communications decisions play out when it matters most.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 79

Official website RSS
linkedinspotify
Communication Breakdown
Podcast Episodes
Narrative Contradiction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:42
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dig deep into the growing risk of narrative contradiction—when a company’s claims, perceptions, and reality stop aligning. Craig introduces the…
The Pepsi Challenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:02
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dissect activist investor Elliott Management’s $4 billion stake in PepsiCo — and the rival business plan they rolled out to reframe the company’…
Cracker Barrel’s Turn in the Barrel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Cracker Barrel’s ill-fated modernization campaign and the backlash that forced the company to abandon its new logo. What began as…
Risky Business: Apologies, Silence, and Spin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine how companies are navigating the volatile communications landscape under Donald Trump’s renewed political influence. From Home Dep…
So I Wanted To Show You Something [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:29
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll break down Taylor Swift’s meticulously orchestrated rollout of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. Far more than a standard pro…
What Harvard Teaches Us (about dealing with Trump) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:21
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll explore two high-stakes showdowns—one rooted in strategic restraint, the other in narrative failure. First, they unpack Harvard's quiet bu…
Thank You For Your Interest In Transparency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:47
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll return to the ongoing saga at Astronomer—the data pipeline company whose PR tailspin took a surprising detour into celebrity marketing. Just whe…
L’Affaire Astronomer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack the viral scandal that cost Astronomer CEO Andy Byron his job after a kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert set the internet ablaze. What…
Elmo Hacked, Budgets Whacked, and Coke Sidetracked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack one of the strangest PR weeks in recent memory—where Elmo becomes collateral damage in a public broadcasting funding fight, and Coca-Cola…
Paging “Some Comms Person” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack three reputational firestorms that reveal deeper cracks in the comms industry. First up: Melinda French Gates’ jab at CEOs “pivoting to w…

«12345678»