--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's different now is that while…" description: "\"What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to polit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/john-avlon-23372_base_what-s-different-now-is-that-while-polit_33985.jpg" --- # What's different now is that while political leaders used… ![“What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to political leaders. It's all part of the suffocating spin cycle we're in. In media, politics and publishing, the conventional wisdom is to play to this…” quote by John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/john-avlon-23372_base_what-s-different-now-is-that-while-polit_33985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/john-avlon-23372_base_what-s-different-now-is-that-while-polit_33985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/john-avlon-23372_base_what-s-different-now-is-that-while-polit_33985.jpg) > “What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to political leaders. It's all part of the suffocating spin cycle we're in. In media, politics and publishing, the conventional wisdom is to play to this base.” [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The power dynamics have reversed: media personalities now shape political narratives, creating a feedback loop that reinforces partisan bases and limits nuanced discourse. **In simple terms:** Media now drives politics, not vice versa. Key Takeaway The spin cycle amplifies echo chambers. Themes media influence political communication echo chambers power reversal partisan dynamics Mood cynical critical concerned Type observation analysis When to use this quote - campaign strategy meetings - media briefings - public policy debates - newsroom editorial meetings - political rallies Key Concepts talk radio political leaders spin cycle base targeting Practical Applications - media training for politicians - strategic communication planning Questions to Reflect On - How does this reversal affect democratic deliberation? - What mechanisms can break the spin cycle? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/base/) [Conventional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional/) [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Cycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycle/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-political-435372/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hosts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hosts/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Points](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/points/) [Points Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/points-political-435371/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leader/) [Political leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leaders/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Radio Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio-talk-435369/) [Spin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spin/) [Suffocating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffocating/) [Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk/) [Talk radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-radio/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Points](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-points-435370/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Whats different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/whats-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [In fact, Obama's intellectual curiosity and suppleness of mind is, in my view, one of his biggest selling points, whatever your political beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/in-fact-obama-s-intellectual-curiosity-and-suppleness-of-mind-is-in/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [There is a paranoid streak in American life. Radio talk show hosts tend to foment that paranoid streak in American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-a-paranoid-streak-in-american-life-radio-talk-show-hosts/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [There are people, radio talk show hosts, those kind of people, it's their job to only have one opinion, they can't tell you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-bonaduce/there-are-people-radio-talk-show-hosts-those-kind-of-people-it-s/) [Danny Bonaduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-bonaduce/) > [Mud bath, acrobat, a midnight drive everybodys slippin everybody survive radio talk show try to project everything you need when you gotta connect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/mud-bath-acrobat-a-midnight-drive-everybodys-slippin-everybody/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [“Of all radio program forms, the radio talk is the hardest to write, to give, and to make interesting and acceptable to the listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-c-waller/of-all-radio-program-forms-the-radio-talk-is-the-hardest-to-write-to/) [Judith C. Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-c-waller/) > [In politics, you're safest when you're saying as little as possible. You're safest when you've got your talking points and you stick to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/in-politics-you-re-safest-when-you-re-saying-as-little-as-possible/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [Unfortunately, Democrats don't want to wage a war on poverty or improve program integrity; they prefer talking points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/unfortunately-democrats-don-t-want-to-wage-a-war-on-poverty-or/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [Talking points are a core set of messages an executive or politician utilizes in communicating with stakeholders. It's a term of art for having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-edelman/talking-points-are-a-core-set-of-messages-an-executive-or-politician/) [Richard Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-edelman/) > [Talking points aren't going to help the viewers understand something better. They're about as useful as bumper sticker slogans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-brennan/talking-points-aren-t-going-to-help-the-viewers-understand-something/) [Margaret Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-brennan/) > [Too often, real policy improvements get drowned out by political talking points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/too-often-real-policy-improvements-get-drowned-out-by-political/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Cable news tends to be talking points - you don't have that much time to substantively unpack an issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/cable-news-tends-to-be-talking-points-you-don-t-have-that-much-time/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Speeches are more important in politics than talking points, as a rule, and are better remembered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/speeches-are-more-important-in-politics-than-talking-points-as-a-rule/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [I'd go to conference after conference and it would essentially be the talking points. Either pro or con. It's amazing how polarized the tech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/i-d-go-to-conference-after-conference-and-it-would-essentially-be-the/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [What I don't like is talking points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/what-i-don-t-like-is-talking-points/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) ## More by John Avlon > [First, I think more Americans need to declare their independence from partisan politics on both sides. The more that Americans declare their independence, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/first-i-think-more-americans-need-to-declare-their-independence-from/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [The far-right and far-left can be equally insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/the-far-right-and-far-left-can-be-equally-insane/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [We cannot hope to change human nature. There will always be cranks and conspiracy theorists among us. But we can try to improve things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/we-cannot-hope-to-change-human-nature-there-will-always-be-cranks-and/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [If you only take offense when the president of your party is compared to Hitler, then you're part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/if-you-only-take-offense-when-the-president-of-your-party-is-compared/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Politics follows the lines of physics: every action creates an equal and opposite reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/politics-follows-the-lines-of-physics-every-action-creates-an-equal/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [“Madison’s response is famously expressed in Federalist 10, “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection”—arguing that tyranny of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/madison-s-response-is-famously-expressed-in-federalist-10-the-utility/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Right now, politics follows the rules of talk radio - using conflict, tension, fear, and resentment to find new recruits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/right-now-politics-follows-the-rules-of-talk-radio-using-conflict/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Demagogues always do well in economic downturns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/demagogues-always-do-well-in-economic-downturns/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [But in his Farewell Address, George Washington made it clear that he perceived no greater threat to the American experiment than a partisan demagogue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/but-in-his-farewell-address-george-washington-made-it-clear-that-he/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Politics is history in the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/politics-is-history-in-the-present-tense/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [When people tap into this politics of resentment, it usually ends ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/when-people-tap-into-this-politics-of-resentment-it-usually-ends-ugly/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [What might be good for ratings can be bad for the country. The hard-core partisans are self-segregating themselves into separate political realities. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-might-be-good-for-ratings-can-be-bad-for-the-country-the-hard/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [One tell-tale sign of a Wingnut: they always confuse partisanship with patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/one-tell-tale-sign-of-a-wingnut-they-always-confuse-partisanship-with/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [A wingnut is someone on the far-right wing or far-left wing of the political spectrum - the professional partisans, the unhinged activists and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/a-wingnut-is-someone-on-the-far-right-wing-or-far-left-wing-of-the/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [It's important to remember that Bush Derangement Syndrome on the left - comparing him to Hitler, calling him a terrorist and a tyrant -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/it-s-important-to-remember-that-bush-derangement-syndrome-on-the-left/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) [Explore all 26 John Avlon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) ## More Base quotes > [Companies are bought for their revenue, customer base, technology, or people. 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Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [By delivering a wide array of programming to YouTube, the NBA will be able to connect with its existing worldwide fan base and reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/by-delivering-a-wide-array-of-programming-to-youtube-the-nba-will-be/) [Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/) > [To touch the limitless sky, one has to be in constant touch with the base, which is in fact the origin of every human…….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/to-touch-the-limitless-sky-one-has-to-be-in-constant-touch-with-the/) [Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/) > [I'm a Jewel when I'm with U…else am a stone by the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/i-m-a-jewel-when-i-m-with-u-else-am-a-stone-by-the-road/) [Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/) > [Serious biographies need to have a historical base in facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kaplan/serious-biographies-need-to-have-a-historical-base-in-facts/) [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) > [We try to buy as much American-made shirts as we can and stuff to sell. It's very difficult to cover every base as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/we-try-to-buy-as-much-american-made-shirts-as-we-can-and-stuff-to/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [An American champion, obviously being here in the states, is something that we all look at with the U.S. Open. But golf is played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-creamer/an-american-champion-obviously-being-here-in-the-states-is-something/) [Paula Creamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-creamer/) > [I learned early in my writing career that if I try to tailor a song for someone else, I'm usually off base. They're usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-russell/i-learned-early-in-my-writing-career-that-if-i-try-to-tailor-a-song/) [Brenda Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-russell/) > [When I get to first base, I start thinking about third.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-reyes/when-i-get-to-first-base-i-start-thinking-about-third/) [Jose Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-reyes/) [Browse all 382 Base quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/base/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to political leaders. It's all part of the suffocating spin cycle we're in. 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