Decoding the “Compelling” Attack Ads of the 2024 Campaign
Digest
The podcast begins with a discussion about the release of Evan Gershkovic, a Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia. The speakers highlight the complexity of the prisoner swap and Biden's quick response to Trump's claims of being able to achieve a better outcome. The podcast then delves into the ongoing ad war between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, analyzing the strategies employed by both campaigns. The speakers discuss the effectiveness of attack ads, social media memes, and the overall tone of the campaigns. The podcast features an interview with Jennifer Lawless, a UVA professor, who provides expert insights on the campaign ads and media warfare between the Trump and Harris campaigns. She discusses the effectiveness of different platforms, the role of race and gender in ads, and the overall negativity of the campaign season. The podcast concludes with a discussion about the future of the campaign and the overall tone of the race. The speakers agree that the campaign will likely remain negative, but they also highlight the positive aspects of Harris's campaign, particularly her "happy warrior" persona and her focus on an optimistic future.
Outlines
The Release of Evan Gershkovic and Biden's Response to Trump
The podcast begins with a discussion about the release of Evan Gershkovic, a Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia. The speakers highlight the complexity of the prisoner swap and Biden's quick response to Trump's claims of being able to achieve a better outcome.
The Ad War Between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump
The podcast delves into the ongoing ad war between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, analyzing the strategies employed by both campaigns. The speakers discuss the effectiveness of attack ads, social media memes, and the overall tone of the campaigns.
Expert Analysis of the Campaign Ads and Media Warfare
The podcast features an interview with Jennifer Lawless, a UVA professor, who provides expert insights on the campaign ads and media warfare between the Trump and Harris campaigns. She discusses the effectiveness of different platforms, the role of race and gender in ads, and the overall negativity of the campaign season.
The Future of the Campaign and the "Happy Warrior"
The podcast concludes with a discussion about the future of the campaign and the overall tone of the race. The speakers agree that the campaign will likely remain negative, but they also highlight the positive aspects of Harris's campaign, particularly her "happy warrior" persona and her focus on an optimistic future.
Keywords
Evan Gershkovic
Evan Gershkovic is a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in Russia for over 300 days. He was released in a prisoner swap between the US and Russia.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is a former US president and the current Republican nominee for president. He is known for his controversial rhetoric and his use of social media.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris is the current US vice president and the Democratic nominee for president. She is known for her progressive policies and her focus on social justice.
Willie Horton
Willie Horton was a convicted murderer who was released on furlough and committed another crime. The 1988 presidential campaign of George H.W. Bush used Horton's case in a negative ad against his opponent, Michael Dukakis.
Swiftboat Ads
Swiftboat ads were a series of negative ads that were run against John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. The ads attacked Kerry's military record and his character.
TikTok
TikTok is a social media platform that is popular among younger generations. It is known for its short-form videos and its use of trending sounds and dances.
Happy Warrior
A "happy warrior" is a person who is optimistic and determined, even in the face of adversity. The term is often used to describe political candidates who are able to maintain a positive attitude despite the negativity of the campaign season.
Q&A
What was the significance of the prisoner swap that led to Evan Gershkovic's release?
The prisoner swap was significant because it involved not only the release of three US citizens but also a number of Russian dissidents. The Biden administration's creative approach to the swap, which involved a larger exchange than usual, made it more complicated but also more historic and possible.
How are the Trump and Harris campaigns using social media in their ad strategies?
Both campaigns are using social media to target specific demographics and to spread their messages quickly and effectively. The speakers note that social media memes and short-form videos are becoming increasingly popular and effective in political messaging.
What is the role of race and gender in the campaign ads?
The speakers discuss how Trump's comments about Harris's race and the use of negative ads that target her gender are reminiscent of past campaigns that used similar tactics. They also discuss how Harris is handling these attacks and how she is trying to break down stereotypes about women in politics.
What is the overall tone of the campaign season so far?
The speakers agree that the campaign season is likely to be incredibly negative, with both campaigns using attack ads and focusing on the weaknesses of their opponents. However, they also highlight the positive aspects of Harris's campaign, particularly her "happy warrior" persona and her focus on an optimistic future.
Show Notes
The Washington Roundtable: Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos discuss the fiery advertising war between Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. They are joined by Jennifer Lawless, the chair of the politics department at the University of Virginia and the author of “Women on the Run: Gender, Media, and Political Campaigns in a Polarized Era.” Plus, how memes and social media have boosted the Harris campaign. “The Harris campaign will have a couple of uplifting, very positive ads, especially when they announce who the V.P. will be,” Professor Jennifer Lawless says. “But my bet is that this will be a race to the bottom in terms of negativity.”
This week’s reading:
- “Trump’s Racist Attack on Kamala Harris Was No Accident,” by Susan B. Glasser
- “The Politics of ‘Weird’,” by Jay Caspian Kang
- “Does Kamala Harris Need a Latino Campaign?,” by Geraldo Cadava
To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send in feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com with “The Political Scene” in the subject line.
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