Travels in Trumpland; plus the Fight Over ‘Freedom’

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John Nichols has been driving to places in middle America where Trump has gotten big majorities in the past: Iowa and Nebraska, central and Western Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin, asking Democrats there about politics in their towns right now.

Also: Kamala’s campaign is challenging the Republican conception of “freedom” as freedom from government regulation, advancing instead a positive conception of the government’s ability to protect and expand freedom. Eric Foner explains the history, and significance, of this conflict.

Transcript HERE   10-4-2024

What Walz Won: Harold Meyerson; Travels in Trumpland: John Nichols; Al Franken v. Fox News

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If the election were to happen today, polls point to 276 for Kamala; 262 for Trump. Also: The vice presidential debate – “Walz, who was plainly unaccustomed to dealing with such adept obfuscation, particularly when couched in Vance’s one-night-only dulcet tones” writes Harold Meyerson in The Prospect; so, what did Walz win? Harold Meyerson comments.

Next: John Nichols has been driving to places in Middle America where Trump has gotten big majorities in the past: Iowa and Nebraska, central and western Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin, asking Democrats there about politics in their towns right now. He’s on the podcast this week to discuss.

Plus: Your Minnesota Moment – from the archives: Our interview with Al Franken, when Fox News sued him for the title of his book “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right” (first recorded in 2003).  10-3-2024

Trump and Vance, Cats and Dogs, and Haiti; plus Small Town Trumpers

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Trump has cancelled his plans to visit Springfield, Ohio, but his lie about Haitian immigrants there eating cats and dogs continues to ricochet around the American political world. Amy Wilentz comments.

Plus: The presidential election is the main political battle in America today, but Trump’s followers have also been fighting, for years, to take over towns across the country. Sasha Abramsky reports on two exemplary battles. His new book is ‘Chaos Comes Calling.’

Transcript HERE   9-26-2024

Kamala in the Polls: Harold Meyerson; Cats, Dogs and Haitians: Amy Wilentz; Small Town Trumpers: Sasha Abramsky

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The polls right now show Kamala would win the electoral college if the election were held today–Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Trump Media stock – it’s sinking fast.

Plus: Trump has canceled his plan to visit Springfield, Ohio, but his lie about Haitian immigrants there eating cats and dogs continues to ricochet around the American political world. Amy Wilentz comments.

Also: The presidential election is the main political battle in America today, but Trump’s followers have also been fighting for years to take over towns across the country. Sasha Abramsky reports on two exemplary battles. His new book is Chaos Comes Calling.  9/26-2024

This Time it will be Harder for Trump to Challenge the Election, plus Talking to Trumpers

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Trump has made it clear he won’t accept the results of the 2024 election if he loses, and Republicans are doing everything they can make it harder for Democrats to vote. But it will be harder for Trump to challenge this year’s election, because of changes in the law–that’s what Rick Hasen says. He’s professor of law at UCLA, and his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate and The New York Times.

Also: Trump supporters in Appalachia: Arlie Hochschild has spent years talking with them about how they understand their lives, and how Donald Trump helps overcome their shame. Her new book is “Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right.”

Transcript HERE  9-19-2024

The Trump Ground Game: Harold Meyerson; Jan. 6 Scenarios: Rick Hasen; The Trumpers: Arlie Hochschild

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The Republican Party and the Trump Campaign have no field operations of their own doing door-to-door work – for the first time all of that has been outsourced to PACs with independent funding, and the largest, run by Elon Musk, has just fired the company doing its canvassing in Nevada and Arizona. Harold Meyerson comments.

Also: Trump has made it clear he won’t accept the results of the 2024 election if he loses, and Republicans are doing everything they can make it harder for Democrats to vote. But it will be harder for Trump to challenge this year’s election, because of changes in the law–that’s what Rick Hasen says. He’s professor of law at UCLA, and his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate and The New York Times.

Plus: Trump supporters in Appalachia: Arlie Hochschild has spent years talking with them about how they understand their lives, and how Donald Trump helps overcome their shame. Her new book is “Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right.”  9-19-2024

What Kamala Accomplished at the Debate— Plus Victory for Homeless Vets

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Tuesday night’s debate showed what Kamala can do – and what Trump can’t. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: homeless vets have been trying for years to get the VA to build housing for them in LA on land dedicated to that purpose. Now, a federal judge has finally ruled: the vets win, and the VA loses. Mark Rosenbaum, lead attorney in the vets’ class action suit, explain.

Transcript HERE  9-12-2024

How Kamala won the debate: Harold Meyerson; Vets vs. VA: Mark Rosenbaum; The Constitution: Erwin Chemerinsky

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Presidential Debate 2024: Harold Meyerson on how, in dealing with Trump, “Kamala hit it out of the park”; and then, “the Republicans immediately seized upon ‘Well, the moderators were hard on Trump’; but that’s what happens when what you say is constructed entirely of lies.”

Also: Homeless vets have been trying for years to get the VA to build housing for them in LA on land dedicated to that purpose. Now, a federal judge has finally ruled: The vets win, and the VA loses. Mark Rosenbaum, lead attorney in the vets’ class action suit, explains.

Plus: Democracy in America is being undermined by the Electoral College, the Senate filibuster, the gerrymandering of the House, and the corruption of the Supreme Court. It’s time to write, and ratify, a new constitution: that’s what Erwin Chemerinsky says. His new book is “No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States.”  9-12-2024

Abortion Ground Zero: Florida; plus Rachel Kushner on “Creation Lake”

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Donald Trump announced Friday that he would be voting against an abortion rights ballot measure in his home state of Florida. Amy Littlefield reports on the crucial battle in the state that had been the South’s last refuge for abortion access.

Plus: Rachel Kushner talks about the informant and provacateur who infiltrates an anarchist eco-commune in rural France – the central character in her new novel, “Creation Lake.” Transcript HERE  9-5-2024

Trump, Bibi, and Kamala: Harold Meyerson: Florida Abortion Vote: Amy Littlefield; ‘Creation Lake’: Rachel Kushner

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Bibi is keeping the war in Gaza going not only for his own political survival but to help Trump defeat Kamala – Harold Meyerson comments.

Also: Trump announced Friday that he would be voting against a abortion rights ballot measure in his home state of Florida. Amy Littlefield reports on the crucial referendum in the state that had been the South’s last refuge for abortion access.

Plus: Rachel Kushner talks about an informant and provocateur who infiltrates an anarchist eco-commune in rural France—the central character in her new novel, Creation Lake.  9-5-2024