by Just over a year ago I reported on the promotion of Wayne and Susan LaPierre’s niece to the position of Director of Events for Advancement. That post prompted then-NRA spokesperson Billy McLaughlin to reach out and call that a false report. Then, as now, I stand by both the story and the sources. It is my understanding that Mrs. Sterner is no longer with the NRA nor is Tyler Schropp who promoted her.
However, that is not the point of this post. This morning a friend sent me a screenshot of McLaughlin’s LinkedIn page.
According to his LinkedIn page, McLaughlin left the NRA soon after he reached out to me to work for his own company and then to be the Chief Marketing Officer for Israel Campus Coalition. He is now the White House Director of Digital Content. That is quite a promotion!
I don’t know the circumstances of his leaving the NRA nor if he was pushed to respond to me by the Old Guard. I am glad to see he has landed on his feet. Hopefully, he puts in a good word now and then for the NRA. We will need it. As Stephen Gutowski points out, President Trump can be fickle and could come around to the NRA again.
As I commented a while ago on X, it didn’t surprise me at all with his particular focus on social strategies that were very specific to attracting one generation at NRA that the White House has made several digital comms missteps. There have been a few substantial misreadings of the room that were landmines they didn’t need to step on. But they definitely go there when there’s no need to create the distraction.
Meant to add: You can feel good standing by your reporting. Colleen Sterner’s job listing on LinkedIn (where she has also commented on Billy’s posts) says she was promoted to Director of Events in March of 2024.
She also still lists being there, though I know many people don’t update LinkedIn until after they’ve landed elsewhere.
MAGA needs its own shadow government so loyal and competent people can be slotted into positions quickly. Trump 2.0 is much better than Trump 1.0 but there is a way to go.
So much this. Both branches of the Uniparty have for decades, so we’re playing catch-up ball.
Trump needs to get his anti-2A Attorney General on the right path or get rid of her!