Back to Rahm Emanuel
policy framing−0.21Declining tone

Crisis Utilization in Political Strategy

The recurring narrative surrounding Rahm Emanuel emphasizes his strategic philosophy of leveraging crises to enact policy changes and energize political movements. This theme persists as analysts frequently reference his famous adage about not letting a good crisis go to waste, framing him as a key influencer in Democratic tactics during challenging times. Media coverage often highlights how Emanuel's insights continue to shape political strategies, particularly in the context of elections and governance.

Coverage Over Time

Monthly episode count — bar color reflects average tone that month

Framing Breakdown

1 ep
Policy84%
Horse race11%
Mixed5%

By Show

13 shows — bar width = volume, color = tone

Tony Katz + The Morning News (WIBC, conservative-leaning)
negative5
The Vicki McKenna Show (WIBA)
negative3
The Michael Berry Show (KTRH)
neutral1
The Chris Plante Show (WMAL 105.9)
neutral1
Hugh Hewitt Show
positive1
NPR Politics Podcast
neutral1
Brian Kilmeade Show
positive1
The Joyce Kaufman Show
positive1
NPR Up First
positive1
The Erick Erickson Show
negative1
The Elijah Haahr Show (KWTO Springfield, MO)
neutral1
Houston's Morning News on KTRH
neutral1
The Federalist Radio Hour
negative1
PositiveNeutralNegative

Quotes from Coverage

3 pages
12 quotes

Labeled by who’s speaking — Rahm Emanuelvs. a host/other voice, and flagged where the source didn’t specify. Don’t attribute an “other” or unverified quote to Rahm Emanuel.

Host / other voice

I have always said, and I may have even said it on this program, that the biggest mistake that Barack Obama made was choosing to not listen to Rahm Emanuel on numerous things and ultimately pushing him out.

Rahm Emanuel

Make sure in Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin that you have every office from top to bottom have a person registered as a Democrat or an independent running under the Democratic.

Host / other voice

Remember Rahm Emanuel, who said never let a crisis go to waste? They wanted to manufacture a health care crisis in this country so that ultimately people would get so fed up, they would say, okay, government, you take care of health care, let's kill the insurance companies.

The Erick Erickson Show Oct 21, 202528:47
Host / other voice

Remember, that was the Rahm Emanuel idea. He didn't come up with it, but he certainly drove at home during the Obama administration, has never let a good crisis go to waste, and that's exactly what they did.

The Federalist Radio Hour Sep 5, 202530:22
Host / other voice

Rahm Emanuel, the chief of staff to Barack Obama, had this famous quote about, you never want a serious crisis to go to waste.

The Elijah Haahr Show (KWTO Springfield, MO) Oct 14, 20255:08
Host / other voice

I’m just wondering if there is a sense of what Rahm Emanuel said, never let a crisis go to waste going on in D.C. right now.

The Vicki McKenna Show (WIBA) Sep 17, 202536:37
Host / other voice

Well, remember, they understand what Democrat Rahm Emanuel said when he said, you know, should never waste a crisis.

Houston's Morning News on KTRH Oct 2, 202518:49
Host / other voice

Rahm Emanuel, who was chief of staff to then President Obama, said you never let a crisis go to waste.

Host / other voice

I am remembering Rahm Emanuel, I think, who said, never let a good crisis go to waste.

Host / other voice

It was Rahm Emanuel who told us never let a crisis go to waste.

Tony Katz + The Morning News (WIBC, conservative-leaning) Oct 3, 20251:21:42
Host / other voice

it's a long shot for Rahm Emanuel to get the nomination, though he's the most formidable candidate they've got.

Host / other voice

Now, I believe that the happiest person with those remarks by the vice president is named Rahm Emanuel.

All Episodes

12 weeks · 19 episodes
Aug 17 – Aug 23, 2026
1 episode · week 12 of 12
Horse race framing · NeutralMedia tone: Neutral

Rahm Emanuel is mentioned in the context of a discussion about Democratic candidates and their challenges in the upcoming elections. The speaker notes that Emanuel, along with others like James Carville and Bill Maher, recognizes the need for Democrats to present viable candidates to beat Trump, rather than focusing solely on opposing him. This suggests a strategic perspective on electoral viability within the Democratic Party.

Summary

Subjects discussed:electoral strategyDemocratic Party challenges

Other Themes for Rahm Emanuel