The Midweek Mop-Up With Kirsten Kukowski

‘Joe Biden has to prove that he has an answer, and I'm not convinced he's shown that quite yet.’

By
30

After last week’s oh-so-fun and informative conversation with Mo Elleithee, we’re turning to the other side of the aisle this week for a mop-up on the RNC with the 2016 convention communications director, Kirsten Kukowski. 

KK—as she is known to all of us—was the RNC press secretary for years and communications director for Scott Walker’s presidential run. She’s from Minnesota and has worked in Wisconsin political circles for decades. She is a true Midwestern Republican who is now the founder and president of K2&Co. I worked with KK at the RNC. We shared an office. We got a puppy together. We fought a lot and ate a lot of Thai takeout on the floor of my apartment, and went on a road trip to Canada together after the 2016 convention. KK is the closest thing this only child has ever had to a big sister. (She would want me to mention here that she is, in fact, younger than me, but that’s hardly the point, Keeks!) 

When it comes to Republican party communications strategy, KK is who I want to hear from. So let’s dive in!

Sarah: Gotta start with your first convention?

Keep reading with a free account
Create a free Dispatch account to keep reading Get Started ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
30
By
Comments (30)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Raincheck

    Give me a clear Biden win where the Republicans hold the Senate. Probably a very unlikely outcome, but we need to repudiate Trump while at the same time not making a leftward lurch which would further divide the country.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      rlritt

      Would be okay with me as klong as McConnel loses his seat.

      Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    Sad Trombone

    A question for future podcasts - have you seen a bifurcation in the polling for Prez vs. Senate contests? I'm getting flooded with emails begging for $$$ for Dems in Arizona and around the country seeing their leads melting away. Maybe it's just scaremongering but I hope the "mostly peaceful" protests are bringing home to people that we are still a center/right country.

    Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    Sad Trombone

    I am one of the most virulent NeverTrumpers on the planet, and it's because I agree with so many of the positions Trump has hijacked. We could get comprehensive immigration reform if we focused on E-verify and put the focus on the Johns, not the hookers - pointed out the hypocrisy of the small business owners rather than demonized the desperate illegal aliens. The Republicans were waving the bloody shirt of Reaganism way too long and needed a reality check on the safety net and healthcare, I just wish it wasn't this miscreant that did it.

    Collapse
  4. Avatar photo
    Victor Clairmont

    Oiy! Everyone! Sarah Isgur will be on this Sunday on ABC’s ThisWeeksRoundtable!

    If you are not working you need to watch and support!

    If not for her, then for Brisket!

    https://mobile.twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1299484405740834816

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photocircle-angle-nib
      Sarah Isgur vertical-nib Author

      I read this out loud to the brisket tonight at bedtime. He’s very appreciative of the support and love he gets from this community:)

      Collapse
  5. Cecilia

    Great report! It was interesting to learn what people are paid to do at conventions, vs. the activities of big donors or trade group reps. Some of my parents' friends fall into the later categories and--via their reports-- all people do at political conventions are schmooze, weasel their way into the "good" parties and try to get their kids summer jobs.

    Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    Angie

    Thanks, Sarah, another great piece...and it was cool seeing someone from the "other" side compared to the last one...

    I am really enjoying these, and glad you are doing them
    I am learning a lot of things I just never knew

    Collapse
  7. Jaybrown

    "It's Trump is Trump, not Trump is Republican. So that makes me believe that if Trump were to lose, we’re much closer to a pre-Trump Republican party in 2024 than we are today."

    Oh man, I really hope that's true.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Scarlette Tarte

      It's not. Trump has changed that party forever. Because what he exposed is lot's of people will turn out for crazy. So expect to see lot's more of the crazy.

      Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Earl King

    The Republican Party has changed. It's change is permanent. More non college males, higher percentage of male voters overall. The Republican Party of old acquiesced to Progressive Polices...including those polices that did not care about Joe Lunch Bucket. The GOP has the ability to break the Democrat stranglehold on the Black vote. It is an outreach they need to continue. Imagine if you are a Black Small Business owner..do you see much concern about your business from Democrats? Democrats are forgetting Black Poverty is at 27%...its not 80%. Successful Black businesses, and careers have pushed many in to middle and upper middle class. To be told you're not Black unless you vote for Joe or you that you don't have diversity of thought is a slap in the face. It is imperative to get more Black vote. Same with Hispanics...If Trump didn't use a his bombastic tone as a sledgehammer or be crude....he could have held on to some of those suburban women.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Scarlette Tarte

      Democrats care MUCH more about that black business owner than Republicans ever will. They want to provide health care so that is ONE less thing that business owner does not need to worry about. He won't need to worry about losing productivity because he has ill employees who cannot afford health insurance.

      They care more about the environment, which is likely to affect the black business owner than the white business owner.

      They care in public education more than republicans do. They care about making college affordable so there can be more black business owners. In every way, Democrats care way more about people of color than Republicans do. Just on Covid alone, they care more.

      Collapse
  9. Kaybmorrow

    Too much "I" in this piece. Also, not much history with politics.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photocircle-angle-nib
      Sarah Isgur vertical-nib Author

      Oh man! I have 20 years on campaigns and 3 presidentials plus I teach college class that covers the 1960, 1972, &2000 races and she has 14 years on campaigns with 3 presidentials plus experience at the state and local level. If that’s not enough history...I don’t know what we can do for you:)

      I take your point on the “I” issue but let me explain my thoughts on it. It’s actually a pet peeve of mine when operatives or pundits act like something is universally true when they are in fact always offering their experience and opinion. So I always want to make sure my readers understand that they are hearing my opinion and then what that opinion is based on—data, instinct, experience, logic, etc.

      This newsletter is my effort to counter a lot of bad punditry habits out there!

      Collapse
  10. Avatar photo
    Kevin Johnson

    Very well done. Interesting and lively, with good mix of the nerdy and the personal. Good length and degree of specificity (not too much.). The anecdotes are revealing and fun. Thanks much!

    Collapse
Load More