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As the Democrats meet to celebrate Kamala, Trump seems disoriented and unsure what to do next. Nevertheless he’s holding on to 44% of the electorate. How come? Marc Cooper has our analysis.
Also: Kamala may be rising in the polls, but the Number One nonfiction bestseller in America is still “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance. Luckily for us, Becca Rothfeld has read it, so we don’t have to. She’s nonfiction book critic for the Washington Post.
Transcript HERE 8-22-2024
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The Trump campaign – it’s not going well right now. Marc Cooper has our analysis, and advises, rather than follow the two-or-three-point difference in polling, that we should instead look at the trend lines. Also, he reminds us that at the end of July in 1988, Michael Dukakis was leading George Bush by 14 points.
It’s still August — and time for more summer beach reading. While the Democrats hold their convention in Chicago, the number one nonfiction bestseller in America is “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance. Luckily for us, Becca Rothfeld, author of “All Things Are Too Small” and the nonfiction book critic of The Washington Post, has read it, so we don’t have to.
From the archives: The legendary Father Greg Boyle, Jesuit pastor of Dolores Mission in Boyle Heights starting in 1986, has made it his mission to help gang members who want to quit. He founded Homeboy Industries in 1988. We spoke about his wonderful book “Tattoos on the Heart: Stories of Hope and Compassion” (Originally broadcast Jan., 2012) 8-22-2024
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What is happening with the Trump campaign? He seems to be losing his grip, while Kamala gets big crowds and dominates the news. Harold Meyerson comments.
Also: Sherrod Brown is up for reelection to the Senate in Ohio, where Biden got only 45% four years ago. He explains is political philosophy, which has enabled him to win reelection twice before. (originally broadcast in 2020).
Transcript HERE 8-15-2024
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Trump mostly stays home at Mar-a-Lago while Kamala and Tim Walz meet huge crowds in the swing states. Harold Meyerson comments on the current asymmetrical state of the campaign.
Plus: Talking politics, and history, with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown – he’s up for reelection this year, in a state where Biden got only 45%. (originally recorded in October 2020)
Also: Elon Musk has been a leader in the transition to renewable energy, and has made Twitter into a threat to democracy. He has become the face of 21st-century capitalism. David Nasaw has our analysis. (recorded in October, 2023.) 8-15-2024
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JD Vance’s remark about “childless cat ladies” who “want to make the rest of the country miserable” continues to reverberate in the news. Katha Pollitt has our analysis, and rebuts Vance’s argument that people who don’t have children don’t have a stake in the country’s future.
Also: It’s August—and that means it’s time for summer beach reading. We asked John Powers, critic at large for Fresh Air with Terry Gross, for suggestions. His pick is Antonio Scurati’s M: Son of the Century, a 750-page novel about the rise of Mussolini.
Transcript HERE 8-1-2024
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Tim Walz was a great choice for Kamala’s VP – Harold Meyerson explains – and takes up the question, what’s happening to the Trump campaign?
Also: JD Vance’s remark about “childless cat ladies” who “want to make the rest of the country miserable” continues to reverberate in the news. Katha Pollitt has our analysis, and rebuts Vance’s argument that people who don’t have children don’t have a stake in the country’s future.
Plus: Your Minnesota Moment: David Carr was a great New York Times media columnist; here he talks about his days as a drug addict in Minneapolis. His book is Night of the Gun. (originally broadcast 9/10/08) 8-1-2024
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Kamala Harris is likely to be the next president of the United States—that’s what Steve Phillips says. He’s on this episode of Start Making Sense analyzing changes in the electorate and suggests what the Democrats need to do to create majorities in the swing states.
Also on this episode: Los Angeles has 4,000 homeless vets, living on the streets. Now, a class action suit demanding the VA fulfill its pledge to provide housing for them is going to trial in federal court. The lead attorney for the homeless vets, Mark Rosenbaum, explains the arguments and the evidence.
Transcript HERE 8-1-2024
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Kamala’s first 10 days have been “what any candidate would dream of” – and have given the Democrats an “energy jolt”. Also, Donald’s bad day with the largest annual gathering of Black journalists –Harold Meyerson comments.
Next: Every four years, people die, people turn 18 and the electorate changes. Steve Philips reports on the new electorate.
Plus: The phrase “homeless veterans” should be an American oxymoron – instead, administration after administration, including that of Biden, has fought against disabled veterans’ right to housing. Public Counsel lead attorney Mark Rosenbaum discusses the class action lawsuit set for trial on August 6th. 8-1-2024
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John Nichols examines the tasks facing Kamala Harris – the opportunities, and the obstacles to be overcome.
Also: Democrats in Arizona are engaged in massive organizing to win an abortion rights referendum, elect a senator and flip a House Seat–and they are facing an Arizona Republican party that is pretty crazy. Sasha Abramsky has our report.
Transcript HERE 7-25-2024
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America ready to elect a Black woman president? Harold Meyerson examines the opportunities facing Kamala Harris, and the obstacles to be overcome.
Also: Democrats in Arizona are engaged in massive organizing to win an abortion rights referendum, elect a senator, and flip a House seat. And they are facing an Arizona Republican Party that is pretty crazy, to say the least. The Nation‘s Sasha Abramsky has our report.
Plus: from the archives: Barbara Ehrenreich on the wellness industry, starting with those pink ribbons. Her book is “Bright-Sided.” (originally broadcast November 2009)
“Start Making Sense” is The Nation magazine’s weekly podcast, hosted by Jon Wiener. It’s political talk without the boring parts.
New episodes posted every Wednesday morning. More info at https://www.thenation.com/content/start-making-sense/.
