How Low Will Dems Go?

Update: 2024-08-16

Digest

The episode begins with a lighthearted introduction, referencing Kamala Harris' reaction to Tim Walls' lack of taco seasoning. The hosts then discuss the Democratic Party's strategy for the upcoming election, highlighting their shift from "going high" to employing more aggressive tactics, particularly in response to Donald Trump's personal attacks. They explore examples of these tactics, including the "couch story" about JD Vance. The episode then reports on the tragic situation in Gaza, with the death toll exceeding 40,000. The VP candidates have scheduled a debate for October 1st. The hosts also cover several news headlines, including Kamala Harris' plan to lower grocery prices. The episode further discusses the ongoing strikes and contract negotiations in the media industry, highlighting the concerns about AI's impact on jobs. The hosts celebrate Crooked Media's successful contract negotiation with the Writers Guild of America East. Finally, the episode briefly discusses the impact of the Dobbs decision on reproductive rights and its connection to the "Project 2025" agenda. The hosts conclude with a call to action, encouraging listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and share the show. They also promote Crooked Media's newsletter.

Outlines

00:00:00

Democratic Strategy and the "Couch Story"

The episode discusses the Democratic Party's shift from "going high" to employing more aggressive tactics, particularly in response to Donald Trump's personal attacks. They explore examples of these tactics, including the "couch story" about JD Vance.

00:00:31

Gaza Crisis and VP Debate Announcement

The episode reports on the tragic situation in Gaza, with the death toll exceeding 40,000. The VP candidates have scheduled a debate for October 1st.

00:11:54

Media Union News and AI Concerns

The episode discusses the ongoing strikes and contract negotiations in the media industry, highlighting the concerns about AI's impact on jobs. The hosts celebrate Crooked Media's successful contract negotiation with the Writers Guild of America East.

00:17:05

Outro and Call to Action

The hosts conclude the episode with a call to action, encouraging listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and share the show. They also promote Crooked Media's newsletter.

Keywords

"Couch Story"

A fabricated story about Republican VP nominee JD Vance's alleged sexual encounter with a woman on a couch. This story, though false, was alluded to by Democratic VP nominee Tim Walls during a rally, highlighting a shift in the Democrats' campaign strategy.

"Going Low"

A phrase popularized by Michelle Obama, referring to the practice of engaging in personal attacks and divisive rhetoric in political campaigns. The episode explores how the Democrats are increasingly adopting these tactics, departing from their previous focus on "going high."

"Existential Threat"

A term used to describe a serious danger that threatens the very existence of something. In the context of the episode, AI is seen as an existential threat to the jobs of media workers, prompting unions to demand protections for their members.

"Project 2025"

A controversial agenda promoted by some conservative groups, aiming to reshape American society through a series of policy changes. The episode briefly mentions how severe abortion restrictions are linked to this agenda.

Gaza Crisis

The episode discusses the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting the tragic death toll exceeding 40,000.

VP Debate

The episode reports on the scheduled VP debate between Tim Walls and JD Vance, set for October 1st.

Media Union

The episode discusses the ongoing strikes and contract negotiations in the media industry, highlighting the concerns about AI's impact on jobs.

AI Impact

The episode explores the growing concerns about AI's potential to replace human workers in the media industry, prompting unions to demand protections for their members.

Q&A

How has the Democratic Party's campaign strategy shifted in this election cycle?
The Democrats have moved away from their previous focus on "going high" and are now employing more aggressive tactics, including personal attacks and allusions to fabricated stories, in response to Donald Trump's behavior.
What are some examples of the Democrats' "low" tactics?
Examples include Tim Walls' allusion to the "couch story" about JD Vance, the use of misleading captions on social media posts, and the "weird" attacks directed at both Trump and Vance.
What is the significance of the media unions' concerns about AI?
The unions see AI as a serious threat to their members' jobs and are demanding protections to ensure that human workers are not replaced by AI-powered tools. This highlights the growing impact of AI on various industries and the need for policies to address its potential consequences.

Show Notes

Eight years after Michelle Obama's famous "When they go low, we go high" speech, Democrats have been changing their rhetorical strategy on the campaign trail and meeting former President Donald Trump on his level when it comes to personal attacks and trolling. When Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, he'd already received praise for coining a phrase that Republicans still haven't figured out how to defend against: "Weird." Governor Walz has continued to show a knack for mocking his opponents, recently alluding at a rally to a viral but fake story involving JD Vance committing salacious acts with a couch. Aaron Blake, senior political reporter for the Washington Post, talks about the Harris-Walz campaign's willingness to trade barbs on social media and "go low" as the general election approaches in November.

And in headlines: The death toll in Gaza reaches 40,000, Vice President Kamala Harris will give a highly anticipated economic policy speech in North Carolina Friday focusing on the cost of living, a Vice Presidential debate is set for September 18th, and the SAG-AFTRA video game actor strike continues as animation workers enter negotiations and Crooked Media unanimously ratifies our first union contract.

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