Digest

The episode begins with an announcement of a paywall for New York Times podcasts, including The Daily, starting next week. The hosts explain the two subscription options: a full New York Times subscription or a dedicated audio subscription. They emphasize the importance of supporting the newsroom and assure listeners that recent episodes will remain free. The conversation then shifts to Hurricane Milton, a major storm approaching Florida. The panelists discuss the potential for the storm to become politicized, similar to Hurricane Helene, and how it might affect voter turnout in key battleground states. The panelists then discuss the latest Times/Siena poll, which shows Kamala Harris leading nationally by four points. They analyze the poll's findings, including Harris's improved performance among certain demographics and the potential for her to win the popular vote while losing the electoral college. The episode continues with a discussion of Kamala Harris's recent media blitz, including appearances on shows like "The View" and "The Colbert Report." The panelists debate whether this strategy is effective in reaching low-propensity voters and whether it addresses concerns about her lack of policy substance. The panelists analyze a Trump campaign ad targeting transgender people, which they believe is intended to reinforce the narrative that Harris is too far to the left. They discuss the ad's potential effectiveness in swaying swing voters and whether it reflects a shift in Harris's campaign strategy. The episode also discusses reports of Trump's secret phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office. The panelists debate whether this information will significantly impact the election and whether it reinforces Trump's pro-Russia stance. The panelists then discuss the importance of personal connection in politics, using the example of a voter named Jake who is undecided about the election. They highlight the importance of understanding the priorities of undecided voters and how those priorities might shift in the final weeks of the campaign. The episode concludes with a brief update on Hurricane Milton's impact and Kamala Harris's fundraising success. The panelists note that Harris has raised more than $1 billion in campaign donations, surpassing Trump's fundraising total for 2024.

Outlines

00:00:00

Election 2024: Paywall Announcement and Hurricane Milton's Potential Impact

The episode begins with an announcement of a paywall for New York Times podcasts, including The Daily, starting next week. The hosts explain the two subscription options: a full New York Times subscription or a dedicated audio subscription. They emphasize the importance of supporting the newsroom and assure listeners that recent episodes will remain free. The conversation then shifts to Hurricane Milton, a major storm approaching Florida. The panelists discuss the potential for the storm to become politicized, similar to Hurricane Helene, and how it might affect voter turnout in key battleground states.

00:07:51

Poll Analysis and Kamala Harris's Media Blitz

The panelists discuss the latest Times/Siena poll, which shows Kamala Harris leading nationally by four points. They analyze the poll's findings, including Harris's improved performance among certain demographics and the potential for her to win the popular vote while losing the electoral college. The episode continues with a discussion of Kamala Harris's recent media blitz, including appearances on shows like "The View" and "The Colbert Report." The panelists debate whether this strategy is effective in reaching low-propensity voters and whether it addresses concerns about her lack of policy substance.

00:23:21

Trump Campaign's Transgender Ad and Secret Calls with Putin

The panelists analyze a Trump campaign ad targeting transgender people, which they believe is intended to reinforce the narrative that Harris is too far to the left. They discuss the ad's potential effectiveness in swaying swing voters and whether it reflects a shift in Harris's campaign strategy. The episode also discusses reports of Trump's secret phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office. The panelists debate whether this information will significantly impact the election and whether it reinforces Trump's pro-Russia stance.

00:30:57

Undecided Voters and Campaign Fundraising

The panelists discuss the importance of personal connection in politics, using the example of a voter named Jake who is undecided about the election. They highlight the importance of understanding the priorities of undecided voters and how those priorities might shift in the final weeks of the campaign. The episode concludes with a brief update on Hurricane Milton's impact and Kamala Harris's fundraising success. The panelists note that Harris has raised more than $1 billion in campaign donations, surpassing Trump's fundraising total for 2024.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the two subscription options for accessing New York Times podcasts, including The Daily?

  You can either subscribe to the full New York Times, which includes access to all their content, including podcasts, games, cooking, and news, or you can choose a dedicated audio subscription that only grants access to all New York Times podcasts.

• How might Hurricane Milton impact the election, particularly in key battleground states?

  The storm's impact on voter turnout and public opinion in states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida could potentially influence the election's outcome. The panelists discuss the potential for the storm to become politicized, similar to Hurricane Helene, and how it might affect voter perception of the candidates' responses.

• What are the key takeaways from the latest Times/Siena poll?

  The poll shows Kamala Harris leading nationally by four points, her best showing in a national poll this cycle. The panelists discuss the poll's findings, including Harris's improved performance among certain demographics and the potential for her to win the popular vote while losing the electoral college. They also discuss the possibility of a scenario where Harris wins by a smaller margin than Biden or Clinton but still secures victory in battleground states.

• What is the Trump campaign's strategy behind the transgender ad, and how effective do you think it will be?

  The panelists believe the ad is intended to reinforce the narrative that Harris is too far to the left and to appeal to a specific demographic, particularly younger men. They debate whether the ad will effectively sway swing voters or simply reinforce existing beliefs among Republican voters.

• What is the significance of the reports about Trump's secret phone calls with Putin, and how might they impact the election?

  The panelists discuss the potential implications of Trump's alleged secret phone calls with Putin, particularly in light of Russia's interference in the 2016 election and its ongoing war in Ukraine. They debate whether this information will significantly impact the election and whether it reinforces Trump's pro-Russia stance.

• Why is it important to understand the priorities of undecided voters, and how might those priorities shift in the final weeks of the campaign?

  The panelists emphasize the importance of understanding the priorities of undecided voters, as they are often the deciding factor in close races. They discuss how those priorities might shift in the final weeks of the campaign, depending on the issues that are emphasized by the candidates and the media.

Show Notes