Digest

The podcast delves into the political landscape surrounding the upcoming election, focusing on the growing popularity of Kamala Harris and the strategies employed by both the Trump and Harris-Walls campaigns. Trump is reportedly upset by Harris's rising poll numbers and large crowds at her rallies, resorting to making false claims about her and even fantasizing about Biden taking back the nomination. He further attempts to downplay her momentum by focusing on crowd size at his own rallies, comparing them to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, a deeply offensive and inaccurate comparison. The podcast highlights the importance of framing the race and defining the candidates on their own terms, suggesting that voters are more responsive to positive messaging about Harris's biography and record than anti-Trump messages. The Harris-Walls campaign is advised to focus on low-key events in the week leading up to the convention, allowing the convention itself to drive the message. They should continue to be on offense, releasing new attacks on Trump daily and rolling out policy proposals. The podcast also examines the Trump campaign's attacks on Tim Walls's military record, accusing him of lying about his rank and leaving the National Guard before his unit was deployed to Iraq. However, these attacks have backfired after Trump was recorded praising Walls for his handling of the George Floyd protests. Finally, the podcast features Brian Tyler Cohen, author of "Shameless Republicans: Deliberate Dysfunction in the Battle to Preserve Democracy," who discusses the importance of reaching different audiences and the lessons Democrats can learn from operating in a political landscape dominated by misinformation. He emphasizes the need for Democrats to build a stronger progressive media ecosystem to combat misinformation and reach different audiences.

Outlines

00:00:20

Trump's Frustration and Attacks on Kamala Harris

Trump is reportedly upset and complaining about Kamala Harris's rising poll numbers and large crowds at her rallies. He's even posting fantasies about Biden crashing the Democratic convention to take back the nomination.

00:01:20

Trump's Press Conference: Crowd Size and Other Rants

Trump held a press conference where he focused on his crowd size, comparing it to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. He also made comments about asylum seekers and transgender issues, demonstrating his lack of understanding of these topics.

00:18:45

The Harris-Walls Campaign's Strategy and Messaging

The Harris-Walls campaign has a two-week window to frame the race and define the candidates on their terms. Polling suggests voters are more responsive to positive messaging about Harris's biography and record, rather than anti-Trump messages.

00:26:43

Campaign Strategy for the Two Weeks Before the Convention

The Harris-Walls campaign should focus on low-key events in the week leading up to the convention, allowing the convention itself to drive the message. They should continue to be on offense, releasing new attacks on Trump daily and rolling out policy proposals.

00:30:58

Swiftboating Tim Walls and the Backlash

The Trump campaign is attacking Tim Walls's military record, accusing him of lying about his rank and leaving the National Guard before his unit was deployed to Iraq. However, these attacks have backfired after Trump was recorded praising Walls for his handling of the George Floyd protests.

00:37:42

Brian Tyler Cohen Discusses "Shameless Republicans"

Brian Tyler Cohen, YouTuber, podcaster, and now author, discusses his new book, "Shameless Republicans: Deliberate Dysfunction in the Battle to Preserve Democracy." He talks about the importance of reaching different audiences and the lessons Democrats can learn from operating in a political landscape dominated by misinformation.

Keywords

Q&A

• Why is Trump so focused on crowd size and comparing himself to Martin Luther King Jr.?

  Trump is likely trying to downplay Kamala Harris's momentum by claiming that her rallies are small and insignificant. He's also attempting to portray himself as a more popular and influential figure than Martin Luther King Jr., which is a deeply offensive and inaccurate comparison.

• What are the key takeaways from Brian Tyler Cohen's book, "Shameless Republicans"?

  Cohen argues that Democrats need to stop relying solely on mainstream media and build a stronger progressive media ecosystem to combat misinformation and reach different audiences. He also emphasizes the importance of being organized and having a clear message.

• How can Democrats effectively counter the Trump campaign's attacks on Tim Walls?

  Democrats should focus on highlighting Walls's record of service, his experience as a governor, and his commitment to working-class Americans. They should also point out the hypocrisy of the Trump campaign's attacks, given Trump's own history of making false claims about Walls.

Show Notes