Digest

The Biden Harris campaign is moving forward despite the recent debate performance, with the president reaffirming his commitment to running for reelection. The campaign is focusing on the contrast between Biden's record and Donald Trump's actions, highlighting Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the election and his focus on personal gain. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's sentencing for the hush money case has been delayed to September 18th, giving his lawyers time to argue how the recent Supreme Court opinion on presidential immunity should apply to the case. The Supreme Court opinion states that the president must be immune from prosecution for an official act unless the government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the executive branch. The delay allows for further legal arguments regarding the application of the Supreme Court opinion to Trump's case.

Outlines

00:00:00

MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts

This Chapter introduces MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts, offering early access to new original podcasts from MSNBC and ad-free listening to Rachel Maddo's award-winning original series, including Ultra, Batman and Deja News, plus exclusive bonus content. It also mentions new episodes of The Rachel Maddo Show and Morning Joe ad-free.

00:00:28

The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell

This Chapter begins with Lawrence O'Donnell hosting The Last Word, discussing the stock market hitting an all-time record high and Joe Biden's performance in polls. The segment delves into the margin of error in polls and how it can significantly impact results, referencing the 1988 presidential election between Michael Dukakis and George H.W. Bush. The chapter also discusses the New York Times editorial urging Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential campaign and the Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial calling for Donald Trump to leave the race.

00:22:24

Biden Harris Campaign Update

This Chapter features an interview with Quentin Folks, Principal Deputy Campaign Manager for the Biden Harris re-election campaign. Folks addresses the New York Times story about Biden considering stepping down, stating that it is unequivocally false. He emphasizes Biden's commitment to running for reelection and the campaign's focus on highlighting the contrast between Biden's record and Donald Trump's actions. The segment also discusses the debate performance and the importance of focusing on the larger issues at stake in the election.

00:35:22

Donald Trump's Sentencing Delay

This Chapter discusses the delay of Donald Trump's sentencing for the 34 felony counts in the New York hush money case. The sentencing, originally scheduled for next Thursday, has been moved to September 18th to allow Trump's lawyers time to study the Supreme Court opinion on presidential immunity and argue how it should apply to the case. The Supreme Court opinion states that the president must be immune from prosecution for an official act unless the government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the executive branch.

00:41:10

The Hamilton's Game

This Chapter features an interview with William Hogan, author of The Hamilton's Game, an epic tale of money and power in the American founding. Hogan discusses the Pennsylvania Revolution, a bloodless military coup carried out by the state's armed working class, and its impact on the Declaration of Independence. He argues that the Declaration was issued by the Congress on July 4th because of the efforts of radical populists who believed in equality and pulled off a coup in Pennsylvania. The chapter highlights the often-overlooked role of these radical populists in the American Revolution and their belief in a more democratic form of government.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the Biden Harris campaign's response to the New York Times story about Biden considering stepping down?

  The Biden Harris campaign has unequivocally denied the story, stating that Biden is committed to running for reelection and is in the race to win it.

• How has the Supreme Court opinion on presidential immunity impacted Donald Trump's hush money case?

  The Supreme Court opinion has led to a delay in Trump's sentencing, as his lawyers argue that the opinion should apply to the case. The opinion states that the president must be immune from prosecution for an official act unless the government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the executive branch.

• What is the significance of the Pennsylvania Revolution in the context of the American Revolution?

  The Pennsylvania Revolution, a bloodless military coup carried out by the state's armed working class, highlights the role of radical populists in the fight for independence and their belief in a more democratic form of government. This event, described in William Hogan's book The Hamilton's Game, challenges the traditional narrative of the American Revolution and emphasizes the importance of considering the perspectives of those who advocated for a more egalitarian society.

• What is the main argument presented in William Hogan's book The Hamilton's Game?

  Hogan argues that the American founding story is more myth than reality, highlighting the often-overlooked role of radical populists who advocated for a more democratic form of government. He challenges the traditional narrative of the American Revolution, emphasizing the clash between those who sought independence from Britain but not social revolution and those who believed in a more egalitarian society.

Show Notes