Posted on 10/09/2025 4:37:34 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Since Donald Trump burst onto the political scene in 2016, Hollywood and the mainstream media mostly have treated MAGA voices “like garbage,” says publicist Vanessa Santos. So in 2021, at the height of industry conservatives being sidelined or canceled over their views on hot-button issues, she saw a massive opportunity, quit her job in the publishing industry and launched Renegade PR, an agency based in Washington, D.C., that represents Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Drea de Matteo, Roseanne Barr, Riley Gaines and Tim Pool — a who’s who of names many controversy-averse publicists wouldn’t touch.
Wearing jeans and a white T-shirt bearing the remnants of breakfast with her two preschoolers, Santos looks like a young suburban Everymom as she takes a long pull from her “Golden Girls” coffee mug. But that visage is deceptive, says de Matteo, a lifelong Democrat who was dropped by her agent when she spoke out against COVID vaccine mandates in 2021. Amid the fallout, the “Sopranos” star was interviewing publicists to “troubleshoot my certain demise,” she says. But Santos had a different vision: Lean in rather than apologize and hide.
“I really want to foster the ability for people to talk about politics without fear of being canceled,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of conversations with celebrities who are conservative curious and want to speak out.
About four hours after Santos and I wrap our interview, Charlie Kirk is assassinated in a shocking escalation of political violence. Although Santos didn’t represent the conservative activist, she had worked with him on projects. While many of her clients frequently face death threats, she now is grappling with a climate where cancellation isn’t the worst possibility.
But clients like Meghan McCain say there is no one they would rather ride out uncertain times with than Santos.
(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...
“Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Drea de Matteo, Roseanne Barr, Riley Gaines and Tim Pool.”
All of whom would make excellent presidential debate moderators.
I’m shocked Freepers aren’t interested in this article.
PR is SO powerful but so...hidden, and little understood by the general public, unless you follow celebrities very closely.
Political media definitely has a Hollywood dimension too.
Charlie Kirk didn’t have a PR agent I don’t think?
I have no idea if he did.
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