MODEL
External Pressure Intelligence
Est. 1996
Adversarial risk modeling and governance diagnostics before launch, exposure, or escalation.
Defensive advisory. Not campaigns. Not advocacy.
Strategy and Adversarial Risk Exposure
For three decades, we were on the other side of the table. These outlets covered the campaigns that exposed institutional weak points—work that now informs our defensive practice.
We know where the seams are because we have pulled on them.
Strategic Advisory to Model Opposition Risk
We work with PR firms, lobbyists, and public-affairs teams, identifying emerging opposition dynamics before narratives harden and options disappear.
Most plans don’t fail because they’re wrong.
They fail because early pressure is misread, underestimated, or missed entirely.
Opposition rarely announces itself.
It forms quietly, off-channel, and in parallel.
By the time it’s visible, options have already narrowed.
We're looped in before the dynamics lock.
Adversarial Risk Modeling
We model risk from the outside.
Instead of asking, “Are we compliant?” we ask:
“If I were the opposition, where would I start, how would I apply pressure, and what would break first?”
That shift exposes vulnerabilities teams often don’t see from the inside.
When this works, expected flashpoints never materialize.
That’s the win.
Seeing the Risk Before It’s Obvious
Bringing us in well before launch, announcements, or high-visibility moves allows teams to:
- Identify procedural, regulatory, and messaging moves that force a public response
- Locate fragile steps that won’t survive scrutiny
- Adjust sequencing, messaging, and workflows before they’re in the wild
- Keep options open, stay out of reactive mode
This work is often structured on retainer, maintaining continuity and early visibility.
When This Matters Most
This matters most when visibility is high, stakeholders are motivated, and records, process, or authority will be examined. My role is early warning and hardening—not post-crisis cleanup.
If someone is asking,
“How could this go sideways?”
That’s our lane.
When Not to Hire Us
If you’re already in crisis, want a spokesperson, or need damage control, this isn’t the right fit. We work upstream. Once the fight is public, the leverage has already shifted.
How engagements typically start
Most work begins with a short, confidential diagnostic to map likely external pressure vectors before launch or announcement. From there, engagements often move to a limited retainer for ongoing early-warning and advisory support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly do you do?
I show how external pressure forms and escalates before it becomes a media, regulatory, or political problem—so teams can plan and respond correctly.
How do you do this work?
Decades of real-world experience together with process mapping, open-source intelligence, and AI-assisted analysis.
What role does AI play?
AI accelerates detection, but judgment and recommendations are human-made. Technology helps surface signals, but experience determines what matters and what can safely be ignored.
Who hires you?
PR firms, lobbyists, crisis and public-affairs shops, senior strategists, and counsel advising visible or high-risk clients.
When should you be brought in?
Optimally, before launch, before announcement, before the first headline—before the equation is baked in.
How is this different from crisis PR?
Crisis PR works downwind -- I work upstream, identifying likely problems early, seeking to head off problems before they arise.
How is this different from compliance?
I'm modeling external “attack surfaces” — how outsiders will apply pressure to shift the narrative.
Do you work with legal counsel and privilege?
Yes. My work, when structured through counsel, can enjoy attorney work-product and privilege protections.
Do you teach or speak on these issues?
Yes. I teach Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses on a variety of related topics.
Do you have receipts?
My work has forced changes at the local, county, and state levels.