Quotes in Press

Lobbying World

THE HILL 11/12/14 The Hill Staff Michael Shank, who served as the associate director of legislative affairs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation — a Quaker lobbying group — is joining Climate Nexus. Shank’s new title will be the director of media strategy for the group, which advocates for […]

Will Obama Veto the Keystone XL Pipeline?

NATIONAL JOURNAL 11/10/14 By Clare Foran, Ben Geman and Jason Plautz WILL OBAMA VETO THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE? What political considerations will the president need to weigh in making his decision? If he approves, or rejects, the pipeline, what consequences will he face? “Since our Congress remains hobbled by the […]

What’s the Value of Divestment?

NATIONAL JOURNAL 10/20/14 By Clare Foran and Jason Plautz WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING WHAT’S THE VALUE OF DIVESTMENT? ExxonMobil this month criticized the divestment movement, which seeks to pressure investors to drop stock in oil and gas companies. Does divestment have symbolic and financial value? Are there costs, and who […]

Pentagon Should Stop Arming US Police: Analyst

RIA NOVOSTI 10/15/14 NEW YORK, October 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Pentagon should ditch plans to gift 13,000 armored Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles to US police and avoid further militarization of American communities, Friends Committee on National Legislation analyst Michael Shank told RIA Novosti Wednesday. “Given that the Pentagon has […]

What’s the Impact of Falling Oil Prices?

NATIONAL JOURNAL 10/14/14 By Clare Foran, Ben Geman and Jason Plautz WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING WHAT’S THE IMPACT OF FALLING OIL PRICES? Which nations have the most to gain from the recent downward trend in prices, and which have the most to lose? “With ‘demand for petroleum products declining worldwide, […]

Are Energy Sanctions Working?

NATIONAL JOURNAL 10/06/14 By Clare Foran and Ben Geman WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING ARE ENERGY SANCTIONS WORKING? Despite U.S. sanctions aimed at Moscow’s energy sector, oil production is up in Russia. Should sanctions be stronger to achieve U.S. diplomatic aims? What’s the best metric to gauge success? “Without question, oil […]

UK Air Strikes Against Isis in Iraq: Will They Be a Success or Failure?

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES 09/27/214 By Fiona Keating Although a minority of MPs expressed their opposition to British air strikes against Isis, there were concerns over whether RAF Tornado jets flying combat missions over Iraq were the answer to the rapid advance of Isis. Politicians with previous experience of armed conflict, […]

Who Stole Television News?

HUFFINGTON POST 09/26/14 By Joel Silberman BREAKING NEWS – They’re selling us another war on television. As a Washington media strategist, people ask me, “Who’s offering alternatives to war on the Sunday morning news shows?” As reported by the New York Times, military analysts dominating the Sunday airwaves, marshaling support […]

The Other War: Military posts airstrike videos on YouTube, Twitter

KING5 NEWS 09/23/14 By Dan Cassuto Michael Shank, PhD, associate director for legislative affairs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation and adjunct faculty at George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, discusses with King5’s Dan Cassuto the Pentagon’s PR war over Syria and Iraq. Video courtesy of […]