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Opinion: Putin could learn a thing or two from Zelensky’s PR game

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2022

Opinion: Putin could learn a thing or two from Zelensky’s PR game

There is no doubt Ukraine’s navy is outmatched; it’s the David to Russia’s Goliath. And but Zelensky is wielding a modern-day slingshot within the type of social media instruments and fashionable communication expertise which might be serving to him achieve an higher hand in what can also be an important battle: the wrestle to regulate the narrative of warfare.

Influencing individuals’s notion is dependent upon messages which might be easy, memorable and impactful. In Zelensky’s communication — starting from Twitter posts to media interviews and video addresses to overseas parliaments — he has checked all three of these packing containers. This messaging, along with powerfully persuasive optics, will assure Zelensky’s phrases have a spot in future historical past books.

Although proper now, Zelensky is probably going much less involved together with his legacy and extra centered on preserving his residents alive. It is one factor to arm your troopers with superior weaponry — the significance of which is unquestioned. However it’s a gifted chief’s accountability to arm their individuals with one thing equally highly effective: inspiration, motivation and nationwide pleasure.

Zelensky seems to be outdueling his Kremlin counterpart in that regard, if intelligence studies citing low morale amongst Russian troops are true. Certainly retired US navy specialists have expressed shock over how poorly-trained the Russian troopers seem like, whereas marveling at how decided and spirited the Ukranians are.

That imbalance of combating spirit might be pricey to the Russians, when you subscribe to the idea of legendary Second World Struggle Basic George S. Patton, who mentioned, “Wars could also be fought with weapons, however they’re received by males. It’s the spirit of males who comply with and of the person who leads that positive factors the victory.”

Channeling his inside Winston Churchill throughout a Home of Commons handle earlier this month, Zelensky echoed a line from the previous British Prime Minister, vowing to battle the Russians “within the forest, within the fields, on the shores, within the streets.” Churchill used these very traces to carry the spirits and resolve of a war-weary Britain throughout the darkest hours of the Second World Struggle, when England was believed to be the following Nazi conquest.

However the Ukrainian President is not simply repurposing traces from the previous. He is additionally crafting memorable sound bites that appear to rise above the remainder of the noise. As an illustration, his warning to invading Russian troopers was meant to underscore that Ukranians aren’t quitters: “While you assault us, you will notice our faces, not our backs.”

This is only one of a number of highly effective oratory methods Zelensky has often employed: utilizing your phrases to assist audiences visualize a profitable consequence. Like Churchill, Zelensky declared to British lawmakers, “We is not going to hand over, we is not going to lose.” The Ukrainian president demonstrated a full appreciation for the facility of constructive pondering, to get buy-in from a complete nation that your marketing campaign is winnable.

There’s scientific proof to again this up. Neuroscientific analysis has proven a single phrase has the facility to manage bodily and emotional responses. Constructive ideas and phrases stimulate particular mind exercise that strikes individuals into motion. Zelensky appears decided to have his phrases immediate his individuals — and plenty of extra throughout the globe — into the type of motion that would save his nation.

Like Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr. and different nice orators in historical past, Zelensky’s calls to motion use metaphor and highly effective imagery, a few of which have moved western politicians to tears throughout his current speeches.

Throughout these parliamentary addresses, Zelensky tailors his message to the actual group he is making an attempt to influence. As an illustration, when addressing US lawmakers, he conjured up imagery of Mount Rushmore and evoked Martin Luther King, Jr’s, “I Have a Dream” speech, in stating “I’ve a necessity.” For good measure, he cited each Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 assaults to intensify his viewers’s capacity to really feel his nation’s ache. Likewise, to the British Parliament, he quoted Churchill and Shakespeare. And to the Germans, Zelensky made references to the post-Holocaust phrase, “By no means once more.”

Zelensky has gained the narrative higher hand not simply with phrases, however with optics. The visuals of the 2 opposing leaders are riddled with contrasts. Zelensky bodily stands together with his individuals on the darkened streets of Kyiv in a fatigue-green T-shirt and military-style jacket. He embodies the picture of a brave and defiant insurgent who seems as one with the troopers he is sending into battle.

Putin, alternatively, is dressed like a politician, remoted on the finish of an unlimited convention desk, or alone in a TV studio recording a taped message. Zelensky’s selfie movies are gritty, fashionable and actual. Putin’s seem staged and dated.

Maybe Putin’s realization that this stark distinction didn’t favor him, prompted him to carry a pro-war rally in a crowded stadium (attendance was reportedly necessary for state workers) to point out he had assist from the Russian individuals. However even then, his selection of a puffy, down coat made him look extra like a malevolent Michelin Man than an all-powerful chief to be feared.

Putin tried to tear a web page out of Zelensky’s fashionable communications playbook by ditching the swimsuit and getting out among the many individuals. However the feeble try proved which you can’t educate an previous bear new methods. To make issues worse, even the televised feed of Putin’s speech abruptly lower out in mid-sentence, as a result of what was known as “technical difficulties.”

Historical past is type to the courageous and brave, particularly once they defy odds which might be stacked in opposition to them. Zelensky, via his fearless calls to motion, is defining his legacy an increasing number of with every passing day, whereas Putin’s uncovered weaknesses run counter to the status of energy he is labored arduous to propagate.

It is troublesome to say to what diploma Zelensky’s gifted communication expertise are chargeable for the shocking energy of the Ukrainian resistance. But when Churchill’s thesis on the facility of oratory is appropriate, then historical past is prone to assign outsized credit score to the position Zelensky’s phrases have performed.

As Churchill wrote: “Of all the skills bestowed upon males, none is so treasured because the reward of oratory. He who enjoys it, wields an influence extra sturdy than that of an incredible king.” Or on this case, a dictator.

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A storm will bring heavy snow and dangerous ice from the Plains to the East Coast

Published

16 minutes ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

A storm will bring heavy snow and dangerous ice from the Plains to the East Coast

The National Weather Service’s Winter Storm Severity Index shows areas predicted to be impacted by the storm.

NWS Weather Prediction Center/Screenshot by NPR

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NWS Weather Prediction Center/Screenshot by NPR

The first weekend of 2025 is having the coldest air of the season, according to the National Weather Service. The first significant winter storm of the year will impact 62 million people through the weekend and into Monday.

Heavy snow, ice, rain and severe thunderstorms will be unleashed from the Plains to the East Coast. While snow and ice has been limited to the northern states this winter, the upcoming storm will impact areas less prone to winter weather.

“The major winter storm will bring significant disruptions to the Central Plains by late Saturday, spreading to the Ohio Valley on Sunday,” the NWS said.

Travel delays are likely as the storm is forecast to reach the mid-Atlantic by Sunday night. Severe thunderstorms are expected in areas with warmer temperatures. The storm could also impact Texas and Mississippi, which are still recovering from last month’s deadly storms.

States are gearing up for heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions

A nasty mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain is expected to disrupt travel and daily life in the central United States, according to the NWS Winter Storm Severity Index.

The storm will begin with a deep surge of moist air moving north out of the Gulf of Mexico, which will spread rain and snow over the Plains. As it strengthens and expands, it will track east and spread into the Mississippi Valley and parts of the Midwest on Sunday morning, and reach the East Coast by Sunday night and Monday morning.

Officials have already begun preparing for the worst. On Friday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson put the National Guard on standby, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia declared a state of emergency. Youngkin has urged people to avoid traveling on Sunday.

“I’m encouraging all Virginians, visitors, and travelers to stay alert, monitor the weather forecast, and prepare now for any potential impacts,” Youngkin said in a statement.

States of emergency have also been declared in Kentucky and Arkansas. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said in a press conference that emergency warming centers will open on Sunday and people should stay off the roads.

Major cities such as Chicago, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., have also begun pretreating their roads and preparing warming centers.

For those needing to rebook flights due to the storms, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United all said they were waiving certain change fees at some locations.

Near-blizzard conditions are expected in the Central Plains

Heavy snowfall and wind gusts of over 40 mph could create blizzard conditions in the Central Plains by Sunday morning. The region from central Kansas to Indiana may get at least 8 inches of snow, with potential lingering snow showers on Monday.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center said that the most extreme conditions will likely be in places running along the Interstate 70 Corridor, which passes through St. Louis and Indianapolis.

There is also “significant icing potential” mainly in parts of Kansas, Missouri and Kentucky this weekend, according to forecasters. Icing is when rain freezes on contact with the ground. It can also affect cars and car windows — essentially any surface outside.

A thin layer of ice can cause dangerous road conditions for vehicles and pedestrians. Thicker layers of ice can cause power outages and make roads impassable. In 2023, a January ice storm stretching from Texas to Tennessee left hundreds of thousands without power.

Thunderstorms expected in warmer climates

States too warm for snow will also experience extreme weather. Severe thunderstorms are likely on Sunday in parts of Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.

The Southeast is expected to see the heaviest rainfall, and the storm could cause flooding. There is also an enhanced risk of thunderstorms in parts of the lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday.

This storm is expected to pass by late Monday. It will exit the East Coast on Monday night and fully diminish its impact overnight. But temperatures are expected to plunge on Tuesday. The eastern two-thirds of the U.S. will see temperatures 30 degrees below normal, and the frigid air could last until mid-January.

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New Orleans Releases Most Names of Victims Killed in Attack

Published

9 hours ago

January 4, 2025

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New Orleans Releases Most Names of Victims Killed in Attack

Things had been looking up for Elliot Wilkinson, a 40-year-old man who was among the 14 people killed in New Orleans this week in what federal authorities were investigating as a terrorist attack.

Mr. Wilkinson had been released from prison and was homeless, but he had started searching for an apartment, according to a local homeless outreach group, Unity of Greater New Orleans. And he was back in one of his favorite places, according to his brother, Cecil Wilkinson.

“That’s where he wanted to go, when he got out, so that’s where he went,” the brother said. “He loved that city.”

Elliot WilkinsonCredit…via Cecil Wilkinson

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a Texas man drove a pickup into the city’s French Quarter, where crowds of people had gathered along Bourbon Street to celebrate. Fourteen people were killed, and dozens more injured, including two police officers hurt during a shootout that killed the driver.

Bourbon Street’s bars, live music and crowds draw a lively but diverse mix of people, including tourists, buskers and homeless people down on their luck. On a holiday night, it drew a youthful crowd. Many of the victims were in their teens and twenties.

On Friday evening, the city released the names of 12 of the 14 victims. All had died of blunt force injuries, according to the emailed release. A thirteenth victim was identified by the Metropolitan Police in London as a British citizen: Edward Pettifer, aged 31. One person had not yet been identified.

As their names were revealed this week, friends and families mourned the promising futures cut short. Some had just started college or new jobs. On Friday, people gathered near flowers and candles arranged along the path that the truck had taken. President Biden was planning to visit on Monday and meet with the victims’ families and others affected.

Among the victims was Drew Dauphin, 26, who had come to the city from Alabama with his little brother, Matthew. They had gotten separated after going to a concert and getting some pizza. Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, had planned to watch the fireworks along the river, he told his family. That morning they checked his phone’s location, and saw it had moved to Bourbon Street.

Matthew Tenedorio, 25, had gone out with friends after eating dinner with his parents. He was remembered for his childhood high jinks with his cousins, playing pranks and fighting with Nerf guns.

Kareem Badawi and Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux were just 18. Mr. Badawi had recently finished his first semester at the University of Alabama, where he majored in mechanical engineering, according to his father.

Ni’Kyra Cheyenne DedeauxCredit…Jennifer Smith

Ms. Dedeaux was from Gulfport, Miss. She had just graduated from high school in the spring and was enrolling in college in New Orleans with plans to become a nurse.

The violence tore apart families and friends. Nicole Perez, 27, had just gotten a promotion at the deli where she worked. She left behind a 4-year-old son. Two cousins, Reggie Hunter, 37, and Kevin Curry, 38, came to the city to celebrate the new year together. Mr. Hunter died, and Mr. Curry was hospitalized with a broken leg.

Nicole PerezCredit…Emily Elliott

Tiger Bech, a former college football player who died, was remembered by his little brother, Jack, in a post on social media: “Love you always brother!”

Some victims, like Mr. Wilkinson, had longstanding ties to New Orleans. Terrence Kennedy, 63, was a lifelong resident of the city and one of nine siblings, according to one of his nieces, Monisha James. With no children of his own, he was always ready to look after family members’ kids, she said. At family parties, he kept an eye out for plates to clear and drinks to refill.

Terrence KennedyCredit…via Monisha James

Though many locals avoid the area except to work or perform, Mr. Kennedy loved to people watch and hang out outside of a shop on Bourbon Street, Ms. James. The family believes that is what drew him to the street on New Year’s Eve.

“He died doing something he liked to do,” she said.

Brandon Taylor, 43, was a restaurant cook and rapper. He regularly drove more than an hour from his home just south of New Orleans to see his fiancée, Heather Genusa, who lives near Baton Rouge. Ms. Genusa, 38, recalled that they talked on the phone for about six months before meeting in person in early 2023.

Brandon TaylorCredit…via Heather Genusa

“I said once we meet, all the stars were going to align,” she said. “And they did. They really did.”

The couple were planning to move in together next month.

According to the city’s coroner, William Dimaio, 25, from New Jersey, was also among those killed.

Cecil Wilkinson said he had hoped to introduce his daughter to Elliot, but had not yet had the chance.

“We loved each other,” he said. “We always looked out for each other when we was younger.”

Some of the dozens of people injured in the attack were still hospitalized Saturday. Others had returned home but were still wrestling with what they had been through. Alexis Scott-Windham, 23, of Mobile, Ala., who had gone to New Orleans with friends to celebrate New Year’s, said the attacker’s truck had hit her right ankle as she rushed from its path. The impact tore skin from the back of her leg and fractured her ankle in multiple places. She was also shot in the foot.

She’s not ready to return to New Orleans just yet, but in a month or so she wants to visit the memorial on Bourbon Street.

“It could have been me,” she said.

Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting. Kirsten Noyes and Jack Begg contributed research.

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Biden plans $8bn arms sale to Israel

Published

11 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Press Room

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Joe Biden’s administration has provisionally approved $8bn in new weapons for Israel in a last-minute show of support for the US president’s close ally after more than a year of war in Gaza.

The State Department disclosed the sale to Congress late on Friday in what is known as an informal notification, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Such a notification comes before the public announcement of a deal, which will require the approval of the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committees before it can go through.

Axios first reported on the planned sale, which includes $6.75bn in precision guided missiles and small bombs, $300mn in 155mm artillery shells, $600mn in Hellfire missiles and $300mn in Amraam air-to-air missiles, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.

A second person said some of the weapons would come directly from US stocks but many would take a year or more to deliver.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 people in the enclave, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel launched the offensive in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials.

Biden administration officials have vowed to continue to pursue efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza until the end of their term on January 20, but the talks have been stalled for months.

The administration has repeatedly raised concerns with Israel about the humanitarian situation in Gaza but has largely not followed through on threats to withhold weapons.

In November the State Department withdrew a threat to withhold military assistance even after aid deliveries into Gaza fell to record lows, saying it was satisfied that Israel had taken steps to improve the humanitarian situation.

US officials say aid deliveries have improved since then but continue to be insufficient. Aid groups have repeatedly warned that Israel’s offensive has fuelled a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave, and called for far greater quantities of aid to be delivered.

Biden has said that he supports Israel’s right to defend itself and vowed to supply it with weapons as part of efforts to deter Iran and its proxies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently accused the US of delaying weapons and munitions deliveries, a charge the Biden administration denies.

In November Netanyahu said he had agreed to a ceasefire with Hizbollah in Lebanon in part to help Israeli forces replenish their stocks.

That month the Biden administration informally notified Congress that it planned to give Israel $680mn in precision weapons.

That announcement came after some Democrats in Congress tried and failed to block a $20bn weapons sale to Israel last summer.

Congress approved $26bn in additional wartime aid for Israel in April. That came in addition to the $3.8bn in security assistance the US provides to Israel annually.