In the modern political landscape, we exist between two realms: the known and the unknown.
Between these two extremes falls the shadow of politicians and their carefully selected teams of public relations experts, working relentlessly to sell a brand of reality and ideology that often bears little resemblance to the truth. The reality they present is always less grounded, less honest, and far more profitable than the raw, unvarnished truth beneath the surface.
They are selling a story, not the story.
Public relations has become an indispensable tool for politicians. It allows them to craft narratives that serve their interests, carefully spinning stories that portray them as the leaders we need, all while selling their ideological vision as the only plausible path forward.
Behind these polished images, however, lies a different reality—one that is often distorted, misleading, and designed to conceal more than it reveals. The truth is always less glamorous, less marketable, and certainly less profitable than the political narratives the PR industry sells to the public.
The Machinery of Deception
Politicians today live in a world shaped by public relations experts whose sole job is to manipulate how they are perceived. With the rise of social media and 24/7 news cycles, these PR professionals have transformed political campaigns into finely-tuned operations of persuasion, where every word, gesture, and image is designed to craft a narrative. Whether it's a promise to "drain the swamp," "make America great again," or "unite the nation," the message is always tailored to appeal to the electorate, while the truth is often obscured in favor of a more sellable version.
The truth, as we know, doesn’t always sell. It doesn’t fit neatly into sound bites or shareable tweets. It doesn’t fit the perfect story of success or triumph that voters want to hear. It’s messy, complex, and often uncomfortable. But that’s precisely why professional politicians, with the help of their PR teams, go to great lengths to shape their own version of events—one that casts them in the best light possible while distracting from the less glamorous, more complicated realities of governance.
Selling Ideology, Not Truth
Politicians rely heavily on PR to sell not just their brand, but their ideology. They use carefully curated images and stories to paint a vision of the future—one that promises progress, prosperity, and unity. But these promises are often far removed from the reality of the political decisions they make once in power. The political ideology they promote, whether left, right, or somewhere in between, is crafted to be palatable, emotionally resonant, and marketable. The truth of those ideologies, however, is often more nuanced and less easily digestible.
Consider communism and its precursor, socialism. Historically, you are faced with the reality of torture, murder, and mayhem, with millions of lives, and countless others mired in misery, lost to unworkable political schemes conceived and executed by truly evil individuals. A far cry from the equality and shared prosperity pictured by the proponents of socialism.
What we see during political campaigns is are politicians selling their brand: a story of hope, change, or stability and a redress of historical grievances, depending on what resonates with voters.
However, once the election is over, the policies they actually pursue often fail to match the rhetoric. The PR teams have done their job, creating an image of the politician as the perfect leader, one capable of achieving grand promises. But when it comes time to act, the reality is far less inspiring. The compromises made, the backroom deals, and the policies that serve special interests are not the stories that make the headlines.
Ask yourself if what the Democrats promised in 2020 matched the reality that we experienced by the end of his term 2024? Ask yourself if President Joe Biden was the competent, compassionate, and mentally agile leader of the nation or were we being led by a cabal of “handlers” who kept President Biden sequestered and where every executive order was signed by an autopen operated by some unknown, unelected individual? How can the Democrats explain the deception and the failure of both foreign and domestic policies?
The Illusion of Success
A well-crafted PR campaign can make even the most controversial politician appear to be a champion of the people, while the underlying truth about their actions and motives is kept in the shadows. It’s not uncommon for politicians to tout their achievements during press conferences, only to have those very "achievements" be framed in ways that obscure their real-world consequences. Policies that favor the rich, neglect social issues, or undermine democratic institutions are often spun as victories for the greater good. Meanwhile, the real impacts on marginalized communities or the environment go unreported.
Politicians and their PR professionals create a polished image of success, while conveniently ignoring the aspects of governance that are less glamorous and more contentious. The truth about political compromises—whether it’s the erosion of civil rights, the concentration of power, or the deepening of inequality—is often hidden behind the curtain of carefully crafted messaging. The narrative becomes about what is profitable to sell, rather than what is actually happening.
The Consequences of a Manufactured Reality
The impact of this PR-driven reality is profound. When the public consistently consumes information filtered through the lens of professional PR teams, we begin to accept the manufactured versions of reality as truth. We trust the stories that are told, even when they are carefully constructed to mislead us. The consequences of this are far-reaching: public trust in politicians erodes, misinformation spreads, and democratic processes become tainted by a constant barrage of propaganda.
This manufactured reality is dangerous because it discourages critical thinking. It encourages citizens to accept a simplified, sanitized version of politics that suits the interests of those in power. The true complexities of governance—the tough decisions, the trade-offs, the failures—are buried beneath the surface, leaving voters with an incomplete understanding of the issues that truly matter.
Understanding President Donald Trump
Understanding President Donald Trump requires recognizing his fundamentally transactional nature. Trump is not driven by ideology or principles in the traditional sense but by the art of the deal—saying anything necessary to secure a favorable outcome. His rhetoric is often filled with grandiose proclamations and outrageous demands, designed to put his opponents on the defensive and move the negotiating table in his favor.
What may seem like extreme positions or unyielding stances are, in reality, strategic moves. Trump knows full well that he will likely settle for something less than his initial demands, but that "something less" is often still more than what was originally offered or anticipated.
This approach allows him to create the perception of a victory, even when the actual terms of the deal are more moderate. It’s this willingness to push boundaries, make bold statements, and then back off slightly that has allowed Trump to continually negotiate from a position of strength, leaving his opponents to grapple with the fallout of his unpredictability.
Bottom line…
As citizens, we must learn to look beyond the narratives being sold to us. We must critically analyze the messaging we are fed, question the authenticity of the stories we hear, and demand greater transparency from those who wield power.
The truth is often less glamorous, less profitable, and less appealing than the carefully crafted reality politicians present to us. But it is the truth that we need to confront if we are to make informed decisions and hold our leaders accountable.
In a world where the shadow of PR persuaders looms large, it is up to us to seek out the truth that lies beyond the glittering façade they create.
Ultimately, between the known and the unknown, the truth is often buried under layers of political spin. But by refusing to accept the manufactured reality, we can begin to uncover the facts—and make choices based on substance, not image.
We are so screwed.
-- Steve