Issue One updates

IO in the news: May 2021 recap


May was a remarkably busy month for Issue One.

Last month, we quickly ramped up our efforts calling for an independent and bipartisan January 6th Commission. All told, we secured 63 press hits — an Issue One May record  — including 12 television segments across networks including MSNBC and CNN, and three op-eds in The Hill, Omaha World-Herald, and the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Leading up to and following last week’s Senate vote, our spokespeople appeared across numerous cable news programs and were quoted in several top tier publications. Here are some highlights:

  • National Council on Election Integrity member Sec. Chuck Hagel appeared on Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC, OutFront on CNN, CBSN, and Morning Joe alongside fellow NCEI and ReFormers Caucus member Rep. Barbara Comstock, who also appeared on CNN New Day after escorting fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick’s mother around the Hill to meet with GOP senators urging them to support a 1/6 Commission. Amb. and Rep. Tim Roemer, NCEI member and co-chair of our ReFormers Caucus, also joined MSNBC’s Alex Witt on Sunday to discuss the vote and what’s next.
  • Op-eds from Sec. Hagel in the Omaha World-Herald urging the Senate to act and from NCEI member Sec. Michael Chertoff and NCEI and ReFormers Caucus member Rep. Lee Hamilton in the Syracuse Post-Standard thanking Rep. John Katko for his bipartisan work in the House.
  • Our press briefing with Sec. Hagel and Amb. Roemer was attended by approximately 25 reporters with coverage appearing in The Washington Post, NBC News, Yahoo! News, Omaha’s NBC affiliate, and The Fulcrum.
  • Following the Senate vote, Rep. Lee Hamilton was interviewed by USA Today.

Before attention turned to the Senate, we encouraged the House to pass bipartisan legislation following an agreement between Reps. John Katko and Bennie Thompson. 

Amb. Roemer also appeared on CNN’s Don Lemon and New Day, VICE News Tonight, Bloomberg TV, and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal during an hour-long segment with Rep. Wamp.

Elsewhere, our megadonors report was cited in a New York Times op-ed, and an Arizona poll we commissioned on democracy reforms was covered exclusively by Roll Call. Additional coverage over the course of the month appeared in Government Executive, INSIDER, Roll Call, Washington Examiner, and we facilitated two SiriusXM segments with Amb. Roemer and Rep. Wamp.