From his opening line of the 2026 State of the Union, Donald Trump continued to understand something that confounds his opponents: that in today’s American politics, a good story beats everything else, including statistics. In this piece for Foxnews.com, Lee Carter reflects on the power of Trump’s storytelling… and the power play of his address.
The Super Bowl isn’t just about football—it’s about messaging. For 30 seconds, brands spend millions trying to connect with millions of viewers. But not all of them succeed.
In this annual episode, one of our most popular every year, our partners break down the messaging behind this year’s most talked-about commercials. What made some ads resonate so powerfully that people can’t stop talking about them? Why did others completely miss the mark despite massive budgets and star power?
Lee, Michael, Keith, Ben, and Katie analyze the themes, language choices, and strategies that separated the winners from the losers. You’ll discover what these ads reveal about how audiences think right now, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at what actually makes messaging work. Whether you’re a communicator, a business leader, or simply curious about why certain messages stick with us, this episode is a masterclass in the power of language done right… and a whole lot of fun!
The rules have changed. Food and beverage brands that market artificial ingredients used to have breathing room. Not anymore. With MAHA gaining real momentum in Washington, the conversation around “healthy,” artificial additives, and what we put in our bodies has become impossible to ignore—and it’s moving fast.
If you’re a communications or business leader, you’re already feeling the pressure. The old playbook doesn’t work. Talking about the “science” doesn’t persuade. Even the words themselves can blow up in your face. So what do you say when the language itself is contested—and how do you say it so people will actually listen?
In Episode One of our sixth season, we reveal strategies to help you navigate this moment of change, find language that actually connects, and position your brand to lead—not just survive—through what’s coming next.
The forty-five percent of Americans who now identify politically as “independents” (up from 43%) aren’t sitting in some enlightened middle ground. According to Lee Carter, in her latest piece for Foxnews.com, they’re out of the fray because both parties have let them down so badly that rejecting the label feels like the only honest option left.
When CFO Brew needed expert insight into why financial leaders avoid certain language during economic uncertainty, they knew exactly who to call: our CEO, Michael Maslansky. Michael was recently quoted in this interesting article about challenging economic conditions and the dreaded “R word.”
Donald Trump has now been back in the Oval Office for a year. Polls and headlines are declaring that Trump is unpopular. In this provocative piece for Foxnews.com, Lee Carter suggests that it may be worth asking an uncomfortable question: What if the polls aren’t telling us Trump is failing, but that he’s delivering… and the country is splitting in response?
Language moments can come from anywhere. Lee Carter identifies the most consequential words and language that reshaped American politics in 2025, in this insightful piece for Foxnews.com.
Language shapes what we notice, remember, and act on. The words and phrases that break through—from the funny to the “cringey” to the profound—become true Language Moments. They jump out, capture our imagination, and change the way we talk and think about people, issues, and events.
In 2025, they spanned politics, business, tech, and culture. From the “Golden Age of America” and “MAHA” to “AI slop,” “job hugging,” and who can forget “Labubu”… our annual video compilation highlights the language moments that defined the year. It’s fast-paced, punchy, and packed with the year’s most memorable phrases!
This year’s language didn’t just describe the world—it reshaped it. In this episode of HearSay, an annual favorite, we recap and analyze the most memorable language moments of 2025, across politics, culture, and business. It’s a fast, fun look at the language that moved audiences this year.
Synthetic research isn’t magic. It’s not snake oil, either. It’s a tool that can deliver insights faster, more affordably, and with audiences that were previously out of reach. But like any tool, it works best when you know how and when to use it. The research projects that will win aren’t the ones that blindly adopt AI research or stubbornly avoid it. They’re the ones that ask the right questions first.
Before you commit to synthetic research – or write it off entirely – here are five steps that will help you be successful.
