Frank Luntz
Showing 1–15 of 20 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Words That Work: 2025 Edition | Global Conference 2025
The analysis outlines a sharply polarized American landscape where 80% of citizens view the nation as historically divided and demand tangible results over political rhetoric or abstract corporate values. It urges business leaders to abandon divisive terminology like "DEI" and "capitalism" in favor of resonant concepts such as "economic freedom" and "respect," while tailoring visual communications to evoke joy rather than fear. Without this strategic shift in language and imagery, the presentation warns that corporations face increasing legislative risks from a public backing wealth taxes and an unwavering political base that refuses to compromise.
- Milken Institute35 min
A Conversation with Tim Scott, US Senator, South Carolina
Senator Tim Scott leverages his background of overcoming poverty to advocate for individual responsibility, private capital investment through Opportunity Zones, and education reform via charter schools as solutions to systemic disparities. While acknowledging personal encounters with racial profiling and significant poverty rates in minority communities, he argues that attributing these issues solely to racism undermines agency and calls for redirecting resources from removing statues to building infrastructure and schools. Scott concludes that true prosperity requires faith-driven resilience, a free-market approach to job creation, and a focus on empowering the poorest children to maintain the nation's global standing.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Words That Work: A Workshop With Frank Luntz
Frank Luntz, Frank Fenwick, Heather, Ken Gilroy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, James, Martin
Political consultant Frank Luntz argues that escalating polarization has transformed American discourse into aggressive monologues, prompting a strategic pivot toward specific linguistic shifts designed to rebuild trust and bridge ideological divides. He details a revised political lexicon that replaces divisive terminology like "capitalism" and "privilege" with inclusive concepts such as "economic freedom" and "responsibility," while urging leaders to abandon negative social media tactics in favor of future-oriented, collaborative messaging. The session concludes with a recognition that the next generation seeks shared prosperity over binary ideological battles, warning that failure to adopt these de-escalation strategies risks permanently delegitimizing political opposition.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Town Hall | Will Technology Save or Subvert Civility and Society?
Frank Luntz, Fadi Chehadé, Tristan Harris, Gabriel Stricker
Tristan Harris and fellow panelists argue that algorithmic incentives and corporate business models have eroded digital civility, creating a landscape where polarization is monetized and public trust is critically low. To counter these systemic failures, the discussion proposes a "troika" governance structure involving governments, corporations, and citizens, alongside specific reforms like engineer oaths and fiduciary data laws to prioritize human well-being over engagement metrics. While challenges such as the slow pace of legislation and geopolitical digital divides persist, the speakers emphasize that immediate action through media literacy education and international cooperation is essential to restoring healthy democratic discourse.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Town Hall - Will Technology Save or Subvert Civility and Society?
A panel of tech leaders and academics argues that social media platforms have fundamentally degraded American politics by algorithmically prioritizing engagement over civility, with data showing zero perceived positive impact among attendees. Speakers detail how predictive modeling and recommendation engines exploit human vulnerabilities to amplify polarization and misinformation across major sites like YouTube and Twitter, creating a toxic feedback loop that erodes social fabric. To address this crisis, the group proposes a multi-stakeholder "troika" governance model, legislative reforms to the Section 230 framework, and the integration of digital ethics into educational curricula to establish new norms for the industry.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Of Tweets and Trade: U.S. Outlook
Gerard Baker, Christine BN Chin, Carlos Gutierrez, Gilbert Kaplan, Frank Luntz, Gil Kaplan, Steve Oaken, Ralph Simon
A panel of economic experts and policymakers analyzed the Trump administration's shift from multilateral to bilateral trade negotiations, citing Section 301 investigations against China and the renegotiation of NAFTA as strategies to counter state-sponsored intellectual property theft. While polling data reveals that 81% of the audience believes these policies damage global growth, experts like Frank Luntz and Christine Chin warn that the prevailing anti-trade sentiment stems from automation-driven job displacement rather than trade deficits alone. The discussion concluded that future economic frameworks must integrate new social buffers and educational initiatives like the "Education Moonshot" to address the structural challenges of the 21st-century workforce in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Milken Institute57 min
U.S. Overview: Political and Economic Currents After the Midterm Elections
Philippa Thomas, Adrienne Elrod, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Steve Krouskos, Sara Latham, Frank Luntz, Ian Shorris, Geoff Trinkline, Seema Shah, Rachel White, Fonda Ahan, Özgür Önder, Ron Kerr, Tony Fratto, Ryan, Darius Baxter
Panelists projected U.S. economic growth of 2.5% to 3% through 2019 while warning of severe long-term fiscal deficits and stagnant productivity driven by an education gap. The discussion highlighted distinct political dynamics where the Democratic primary is expected to be policy-driven despite a dominant Republican base, alongside a critique of incoherent trade strategies that harm consumers without securing strategic advantages against China. Ultimately, experts concluded that restoring societal civility and addressing K-12 educational failures are critical prerequisites for the nation's future competitiveness and the American Dream.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
Town Hall | Media and Partisanship in the Brexit Hour
Frank Luntz, James Harding, Nick Robinson, Matthew, Zach, Seema, Ingrid
James Harding and Nick Robinson discuss the fractured trust in UK media and democracy against the backdrop of the 2016 Brexit referendum, arguing that both the press and political parties have lost their connection to the public through a shift toward emotional, identity-based politics. Contrasting the regulated British model with the fragmented, partisan landscape of the US, the speakers contend that media failure stems not from overt bias but from an inability to validate voters' lived anxieties or effectively challenge false claims like the "£350 million to the EU" poster. They conclude that preserving the concept of impartiality as a shared factual foundation requires actively educating the public on its necessity to prevent a descent into polarized echo chambers.
- Milken Institute38 min
The Stories We Tell Panel Discussion
Tracey Woon, Drue Kataoka, Frank Luntz, Jay Shetty, Drew
UBS-hosted panelists Frank Vassiliadis, Drew Shindler, and Jay explored the intersection of storytelling, technology, and mindfulness to address modern societal challenges ranging from cross-cultural values to the rise of "fake news." The speakers argued that true influence requires deep introspection and honest self-awareness, contrasting passive digital consumption with the critical engagement fostered by arts-integrated education and genuine social impact. Concluding with a guided meditation, the session emphasized that internal peace and parental modeling are essential foundations for navigating a media landscape increasingly dominated by superficial metrics.
- Milken Institute58 min
Conversations With Congress. Pt. 1: Kevin McCarthy & Pt. 2: Chuck Schumer
Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, Frank Luntz, Richard Sandler
U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed a deeply polarized political landscape, with McCarthy highlighting record-low unemployment and bipartisan legislative successes while Schumer outlined Democratic strategies to address economic stagnation and restore the American Dream. Both leaders emphasized the necessity of bridging ideological divides, citing personal relationships across the aisle and proposing concrete policy solutions such as infrastructure investment and structural reforms for Social Security to overcome gridlock. Despite acknowledging significant national challenges ranging from military readiness to international diplomacy, they each framed their respective parties' upcoming midterm goals around achieving tangible economic growth and restoring faith in government efficacy.
- Milken Institute58 min
Frank Luntz: Words That Work, 2018
Frank Luntz presented his "Words That Work 2018" framework at the Milken Institute, using real-time polling to demonstrate how James Comey's credibility collapsed due to factual errors while Stormy Daniels gained trust through specific narrative agency and personal autonomy. Luntz highlighted that extreme political polarization has eroded shared reality and eliminated ticket-splitters, creating a crisis where reputation is now strictly partisan and truth-telling cannot restore cross-aisle trust. The analysis concluded with strategic linguistic recommendations for leaders, such as adopting the "why-therefore-so" formula, replacing "diversity" with "inclusion," and prioritizing active listening to bridge the widening divide between Democrats and Republicans.
- Milken Institute59 min
Townhall | The Gun Discussion in American Culture
Frank Luntz, Stephen Benjamin, John Hickenlooper, Rick Snyder, Daniel Webster
The Milken Institute convened a unique town hall featuring Governor Rick Snyder, Governor John Hickenlooper, and various local officials to facilitate an active dialogue on gun violence statistics and policy. The panel highlighted that the U.S. gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than other wealthy democracies while debating specific legislative approaches such as universal background checks, red flag laws, and mental health interventions. Participants ultimately called for incremental, cross-partisan victories and civic mobilization to address the crisis through public health strategies rather than relying solely on partisan polarization.
- Milken Institute58 min
Frank Luntz: The Verbal and Visual Language of America
This presentation addresses a deep societal anxiety regarding declining civility and trust by analyzing generational shifts in economic beliefs and corporate perception. The speaker outlines a visual and linguistic strategy to rebuild engagement, emphasizing that authentic storytelling and unscripted honesty are critical for connecting with younger demographics and overcoming political polarization. Drawing on specific case studies and 2016 election data, the discussion concludes that restoring respect for authority and fostering unity requires leaders to prioritize emotional resonance over traditional corporate messaging.
- Milken Institute1h 6m
Priorities for the Next U.S. President
Jeff Green, Tillman Fertitta, Ellen Townsher, Frank Luntz, Mike Milken
Four former presidential candidates—Jeff Green, Tillman Fertitta, Ellen Townsher, and Frank Luntz—discussed hypothetical policy outcomes at the final session of the Milken Institute conference, moderated by Wolf Blitzer and Mike Milken. Each panelist detailed specific legislative achievements in their imagined administrations, ranging from Green's $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan and Guaranteed Minimum Income to Fertitta's elimination of corporate deficits and Luntz's failed VA reform efforts. The discussion highlighted divergent approaches to governance, with candidates sharing contrasting results on economic growth, foreign relations, and the practical challenges of implementing bold structural changes.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Say This, Not This: The Words to Use and the Words to Lose
The presentation analyzes the critical impact of communication styles on political trust and corporate branding, highlighting how figures like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio leverage authentic, unscripted delivery to resonate with voters amidst record-low congressional approval ratings. In the corporate sector, the speaker argues that phrases emphasizing tangible benefits and transparency, such as "no fine print" and "living wage," outperform traditional buzzwords in rebuilding consumer confidence while specific visual and psychological strategies enhance demographic engagement. Ultimately, the event advocates for a shift toward raw, human-centric interaction over polished staging, asserting that physical proximity and linguistic sincerity are essential for overcoming national cynicism and fostering genuine connection.