How Opposition Research Happens

Or, why Michael Bloomberg had a very awkward day on Tuesday.

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Just hours after Dixville Notch handed write-in candidate Michael Bloomberg a most unlikely victory in the five-vote town, opposition research began to fall like snow in the New Hampshire White Mountains. 

Audio of Bloomberg defending the number of minorities targeted by his stop-and-frisk policies “resurfaced,” as did comments he made in 2015 about Russia annexing Ukraine that seemingly defended Vladimir Putin.

How does all this “resurfacing” happen? As someone who got her start in opposition research, I thought I could help demystify the process. Let’s dive in!

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  1. Collin Saunders

    This article reminds me of Tom Rosenstiel’s new book, “Oppo.” After reading a press release about the fiction political thriller, it describes the same atmosphere of today’s political opposition research. Rosenstiel leads the American Press Institute, so I trust his judgement of the landscape. Read it and see how it compares and contrasts from your experiences, Sarah. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/87519.Tom_Rosenstiel

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    JohnF

    'As a former Republican communications strategist and opposition researcher told me, it doesn't get in the book because there's no where to sell it—"no legitimate journalist is running rumors without rock solid attribution."'

    Times appear to have changed dramatically since that comment was made. It may still be true that no "legitimate" journalist would do something like that, but the rise of the "illegitimate" journalist/opinion columnist has pretty much overwhelmed that (along with the decline of the "legitimate journalist"). Recently, Rudy Giuliani and team have found an eager and willing market for the "research" they have on offer. Despite it coming from dubious sources who have contradicted themselves publicly several times over, John Solomon and Sean Hannity eagerly gobbled it up and disseminated Rudy's "research" widely to their gullible audience. This was then even picked up by several Republican Senators (who really should know better) and broadcast more extensively by other right-wing media outlets.

    Today, you can just make stuff up. No need to pay anyone tens of thousands of dollars for research that has been confirmed and properly attributed. Like many other jobs, the job of opposition researcher is destined to be outsourced and offshored (in this case, mostly to Russia).

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      Idontdocute

      It seems not everyone has to pay tens of thousands to create and manipulate op research. Seems Giuliani has a direct line to bring op research into the DOJ and Mr. Barr for management of same as the weight of the cost and distribution of op research for Mr Trump is now a government function paid for by our taxes. It also helps that Senators can call for a complete dump of protected personal tax information on the family members of political opponents of Mr Trump without any mention of their specific criminal or financial wrong doing, also cost covered by the taxpayers.

      Then again, seems you can get fired from your distinguished career for just being someone's brother.

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    Bill Dyer (aka Beldar)

    Surely Bloomberg said, or meant to say, "contiguous country," not "continuous country." That is not to defend his remark, but merely to give him credit for his vocabulary.

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  4. Ragnar

    Excellent piece, Sarah! Great to get this view from someone who's actually lived it. Keep up the great work.

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    Azlefty

    Also, on the radio this morning was a train wreck of a defense by one of Bloomberg's campaign leaders. This person needs some media training pronto. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/12/805128866/mike-bloomberg-defends-himself-against-racism-accusations

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    Azlefty

    This is great. One thing I don't understand: if so many Republicans claim to distrust the media and journalists and apparently no longer pay attention to them, why would a Republican operative be so concerned that "no legitimate journalist is running rumors without rock solid attribution"? Certainly the Tweeter in chief trades in rumor and innuendo without reservation, to his great success.

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    Ray Salemi

    This was a wonderful piece. Thank you.

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