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The Damage Control Crew Podcasts

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The PR Breakdown reveals the moves behind the mess. Crisis communication expert Molly McPherson dissects the viral scandals, celebrity meltdowns, and corporate disasters dominating headlines to show you the strategic mistakes and desperate moves that destroy reputations - so you never make them yourself.
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Trade expert Lori Wallach cuts through the complexity and jargon to make trade policy and politics and the myriad ways it affects our daily lives accessible to all. Episodes 1 - 43 were produced in partnership with Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.
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When your marriage becomes a media strategy, what do you say—and what do you not say? In this episode, Molly McPherson breaks down Cheryl Hines’ carefully crafted response to rumors surrounding her husband, RFK Jr., and journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Fresh off her appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, Hines offered a masterclass in polished PR talk, le…
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China’s devastating new move to cut off global access to rare-earth minerals could be cataclysmic — shutting down manufacturing of core sectors across the U.S. economy. In this episode of Rethinking Trade, Lori Wallach speaks with Rush Doshi — former National Security Council Director for China and Taiwan and Director of the China Strategy Initiati…
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When Politico dropped nearly 3,000 pages of leaked Telegram messages from the Young Republican National Federation, it revealed a disturbing culture behind closed doors. In this episode, Molly McPherson unpacks why private chats are never really private, how weak apologies deepen a crisis, and what this scandal teaches every leader about accountabi…
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China just announced new export controls on rare earths — the subset of critical minerals used to make high-power magnets essential for EVs, defense tech, and nearly every modern electronic device. Lori Wallach breaks down why China’s grip on rare earths processing has become a global choke point 15 years in the making — and what this latest move s…
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When the internet comes for you, your instinct is to fight back or disappear. Neither helps. In this episode, Molly breaks down her simple, proven 90-second rule for handling online hate without losing your cool or your credibility. You’ll learn: Why outrage online is a revolving door (and why it’s never really about you). How to recognize when you…
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We are doing something special for the in between season of season 3 and season 4. Whoever wins this interim season they will have a special money shot to cash in. Most likely Daniel to cash in on Daniel. I created a horrible looking board game. Hopefully we can knock Daniel out. Tune in to find out if it works.Damage Control Podcasting Daniel Newk…
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When three statements drop within the same hour, it’s not just news, it’s a case study. Disney walks back Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension with a vague, deflective release. Donald Trump grabs headlines in the Roosevelt Room, suggesting Tylenol in pregnancy raises autism risk — without evidence. Tylenol fires back fast with a direct, science-based denial. …
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Outrage isn’t random anymore, it’s a playbook. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, what started as shock turned into a communication crisis that exposed how words can either shape narratives or ignite division. Here’s the problem: in 2025, speech doesn’t live in a vacuum. Every comment, post, and soundbite ricochets through algorithms, ins…
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Outrage isn’t new, but the way it plays out in 2025 feels like a full-time industry. This week, it’s Phillies fans brawling over a foul ball, a CEO swiping a signed hat at the US Open, Bruce Willis’ family facing judgment in a Diane Sawyer interview, and American Eagle cashing in on controversy with its headline-grabbing campaign. Here’s the proble…
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A shooting inside a Minneapolis church during a back-to-school Mass left two children dead and several others injured. The Annunciation Catholic School community was shattered. The country watched. And almost immediately, public officials and school leaders stood in front of microphones, tasked with speaking into heartbreak. In this episode, examin…
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The Breakdown: The first move most people make in a crisis is often the one that causes the most damage. It happens when emotion outruns strategy, and the brain mistakes public pressure for personal danger. The result is impulsive action, usually in the form of a rushed post, a scrambled statement, or a desperate attempt to make the backlash go awa…
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Taylor Swift didn’t just pop onto her boyfriend’s New Heights podcast for fun. She executed a masterclass in brand strategy. With over 16 million views and endless headlines, her first-ever appearance alongside Travis and Jason Kelce wasn’t casual. It was calculated. In this episode of The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson, a look at the strategy b…
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This week’s PR Breakdown isn’t about a corporate crisis or a press release gone wrong. It’s about satire — and the way it forces a reaction. In the latest season of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker have turned their aim on the Trump administration, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and the culture of punditry. It’s not subtle. It’s not sanitized. An…
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Just in time for Alien: Earth, this episode we end the Ripley Trilogy plus one. We discuss our thoughts on Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection.https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/Alien_III_(William_Gibson)_%E2%80%94_first_draft_transcripthttps://avp.fandom.com/wiki/Alien_III_(Vincent_Ward)_%E2%80%94_transcriptDamage Control Podcasting Daniel Newkirk Cody Dietri…
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Justin Timberlake ended his tour and dropped a bombshell on Instagram—he’s been battling Lyme disease. The post was emotional, reflective, and full of gratitude. But was it also a PR move? In this episode of The PR Breakdown, examining the timing, language, and strategy behind Timberlake’s statement and why it dropped when it did. This isn’t about …
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After NPR called me to weigh in on the Coldplay concert scandal and Astronomer’s new viral ad starring Gwyneth Paltrow, a listener to the time to email to call me a “fussbucket.” You know what? I’ll take it. Because here’s the thing: clever marketing isn’t a substitute for accountability. In this epsiode ofThe PR Breakdown, I explain why Astronomer…
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DCP is bringing back a relic. Its Three Dudes and a Review. In our first episode we review the latest Superman movie. Enjoy.Spoilers: 15:10:00Damage Control Podcasting Daniel Newkirk Cody Dietrich Tyler Tipton Adam TiptonThree Dudes and a Review intro music: The RCA 16mm Sound Projector By: Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Motion Picture Producti…
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Seventy thousand five hundred twenty-one. That’s how many news stories included Andy Byron’s name after one juicy Jumbotron moment at a Coldplay concert. In this episode of The PR Breakdown, dissecting how a viral moment spiraled into a corporate PR disaster that exposed a CEO, an HR chief, and a total breakdown in communication control. What made …
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When the flood came, the warnings didn’t. In this episode, a deadly cascade of communication breakdowns and the consequences of delay. At least 129 people are dead, with dozens still missing, after historic flash flooding swept through central Texas. The timeline reveals a gap between federal alerts and local action. Lives were lost in those hours.…
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July appears quiet. It isn’t. This episode outlines why summer is a high-risk period for reputation management. With newsroom staffing reduced and audience attention low, deeper stories start brewing. Reporters have more time. Leadership is often distracted. That’s when reputational cracks start to widen. The timing is rarely accidental. Many of th…
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In this live edition of The PR Breakdown, Molly McPherson is joined by Warren Weeks and John Perenak, the hosts of the Reputation Town podcast, to explore the widening gap between journalism and public trust. The conversation centers on CNN’s Jake Tapper and his new book with Alex Thompson, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and…
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Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit from actor Derek Dixon—and his legal team wasted no time calling it a “scam” and “shakedown.” That move may work in court. It won’t hold up in the court of public opinion. In this episode, I break down: How aggressive legal statements create reputational damage Why pattern recognition i…
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Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts. Follow Molly on Substack …
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A $400 million defamation lawsuit, a full dismissal from a federal judge, and reputations still in question. This week, we’re breaking down the legal loss—and PR fallout—of It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni’s case against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their team. Spoiler: no one comes out clean. This episode goes beyond the legal headline …
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This week delivered a crash course in reputational damage. From a celebrity divorce to a DOGE(Y) dodge, and newsroom blowback, this episode highlights five real-time PR failures that exposed deeper internal fractures. Mentioned in this episode: Hugh Jackman & Deborra-Lee Furness: When a “conscious uncoupling” narrative veers into betrayal Jeff Bezo…
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Jake Tapper’s new book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again is making headlines; not just for what’s in it. The backlash, the omissions, the PR fallout—it’s all part of a larger failure in messaging that started long before the first leak. In this episode, I’m breaking down the five communica…
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This episode examines the sharp edge of celebrity scandal and why some reputations teeter over the cliff while others, against the odds, manage a comeback. With Sean Combs (Diddy) serving as the case study, this episode reveals PR moves public figure make when they are close to the edge of the “reputation cliff.” Comparing a trio of notorious comeb…
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Its finally here. The Ultimate Galactic Championship aka Adam's bullshit. Daniel is the winner of season 3 and current universal champion of Dead Air. See what happens when daniel goes up against himself in the Ultimate Galactic championship. Transformers vs. X-men.Damage Control Podcasting Daniel Newkirk Cody Dietrich Tyler Tipton Adam Tipton…
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Last week, my daughter graduated from Loyola University Chicago. After years of watching her build a life—on the field, on the sidelines, in the center of the action—she’s stepping into the real world. And like so many graduates right now, she’s walking in with drive, uncertainty, and a digital footprint that started long before her first job offer…
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Bill Belichick has always been a master of control—on the field, in the press, and with his own narrative. But this episode examines how that carefully crafted reputation is unraveling, not because of a fumbled statement, but due to the outsize influence of his much-younger girlfriend, Jordan Hudson. A viral CBS interview, public statements blaming…
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In this episode of Rethinking Trade: Did the dangerous de minimis trade loophole finally get closed for goods from China on May 2? Woohoo – tariff-dodging is now forbidden. But the Trump administration’s wavier of a longstanding customs enforcement rule might make the change harder to enforce. Lori will explain what it means for the import inspecti…
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