'The playbook is simple': Memo reveals GOP formula for meeting furious voters

15 August

Constituents react as U.S. Representative Mike Flood (R-NE) answers questions during a town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S., August 4, 2025. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

NPR reports Republicans facing fury back home over their Big Beautiful bill appear to be hiding behind a placard of conservative talking points when confronted with the facts — that is if they let themselves get confronted at all.

"The playbook is simple: focus on Republicans' efforts to improve voters' everyday lives and show the contrast with out of touch Democrats," according to a memo released by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

But earlier this year, the NRCC also urged GOP lawmakers to avoid town halls altogether, and NPR reports Republicans took the message well. Out of 219 House Republicans, roughly 37 hosted some kind of townhall so far during the August recess, according to an NPR tally. Of those, approximately 16 hosted at least one in-person event.

And those that do venture into a crowd appear ready with the NRCC list of issues that polled well to deflect recrimination.

“How can you justify taking health care away from 78,000 Nebraskans?" asked one attendee at an Aug. 4 town hall for Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.).

“Flood's responses to the hasty questions often followed a formula,” reports NPR. “He would state something positive about the policy while propping up a conservative talking point.”

"You have an additional $700 million coming into the state of Nebraska for Nebraska hospitals," responded Flood to the question. "If you are able to work and you're 28 years old and you choose not to work, you don't get free health care in America."

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) followed a similar script at a townhall in July.

"The (Big Beautiful) bill also cuts out $700 billion from Medicaid and millions of people are going to lose their insurance coverage,” demanded one of Newhouse’s constituents. “So what leads you to believe that this is good?"

"We're going to encourage work in this country, which used to be a good thing. Work ethic is something that we value. If somebody is going to be benefiting from the American taxpayer and they're able to work, then they should," responded Newhouse, aping Flood’s vetted ‘everyone should work’ message.

Other talking points the NRCC suggested Republicans pivot to are the “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime” aspects of Trump’s bill.

But political scientist Jim Curry told NPR that Republican incumbents visiting back home are going to have a difficult time selling their behavior to voter.

"I don't think the Republicans messaging on the bill is particularly strong or effective, in part because it's not very clear cut," said Curry. “… What almost invariably happens is a party sweeps into power. They're given control of everything, and then they overreach.”

Read the full NPR report at this link.

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