For Wednesday, Edwards, ch. 7.
Questions on assignment?
Iran
- Iran attack, politics, CNN poll and war powers
- Problem with writing about Iran is that the situation is changing quickly.
Wag the Dog. Called it!
State of the Union Nielsen ratings (% of TV households watching)
Problems facing a president (Edwards 154-157):
- Multiple cable alternatives
- Cutting the cord in favor of streaming
- Preaching to the converted. The biggest share viewed it on Fox.
Speeches directly to the TV audience (Edwards, pp. 159).
Why do presidents make such speeches?
Modes of persuasion
- Logos
- Pathos
- Ethos
Bush 1991 on Desert Storm:
Note similarities & differences with Trump 2026 on Epic Fury:
Message from President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/Xhk3ibylSQ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 1, 2026
Framing (Edwards 162-166).
- What does the term mean?
- The war metaphor: examples? Why>
- Labeling proposals and the framing war
- Cambodia "incursion" v. invasion
- Economic Recovery Act v. "trickle-down"
- Affordable Care Act v. Obamacare
- One Big Beautiful Bill v. tax cut for the Wealty
Modes of communication
Events
- Why? Local media, coverage on national media
- Logistical challenges are formidable
Photographs good and bad (Edwards 169-171)
The presidency online
