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Word of the Day: Spin doctor
The term spin doctor has become increasingly relevant in the current political landscape, especially in the upcoming US presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
When you are sick, you go to a doctor to find out what’s wrong with you and receive a course of treatment.
But what exactly does a spin doctor do, and when do you need one?
In politics, a spin doctor is a public relations expert or political consultant skilled at creating spin or presenting information in a way that creates a favourable impression.
They often do this by manipulating the narrative or using selective messaging.
These individuals are adept at shaping public opinion and influencing media coverage to benefit their political clients.
As the US election heats up, Trump’s campaign has employed spin doctors to shape the public’s perception of the crazy things he says.
From deflecting criticism to emphasizing strengths and achievements, his spin doctors are burning out behind the scenes to craft compelling narratives that resonate with voters.
So, when Donald Trump says, “They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” and shocks the world, spin doctors immediately take over and say Trump was expressing his concern for the pets of Americans.
We all know that pet owners consider their pets family members, and no one wants to see a family member eaten!
The tactics employed by spin doctors can range from subtle framing and messaging to outright deflection and obfuscation.
Good ol’ Trumpy makes it very hard for spin doctors to spin things well.
When Trump says, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” on social media, it’s pretty hard to say he really meant to say he hated missing her latest concert.
Unless, of course, you want to resort to ‘alternative facts.’
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 9th-grade education (age 15).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 56.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.