We’ll have more content for you later today, but the very first thing I did after Kamala Harris wrapped up a very successful debate was sit down to record an episode of Politix with Brian Beutler. That’s normally an extra subscription but this is a free episode so I wanted to share it also with the Slow Boring audience and hope you guys check it out.
I don’t really think it’s debatable that Harris showed up strong and smart and Trump looked like a jackass, so what we really had to talk about was how much does this actually matter and what are the broader implications for strategy. I’ll have more on that in written form later today, but it’s fun as a dialogue too.
I of course hope you enjoy the episode so much that you decide to sign up and listen every week, but even if not this is probably one of special interest.
I’ll leave you with this picture of Trump’s spin team looking glum, but also with the thought that the already incredibly successful Harris-Walz fundraising team has really been in overdrive since the debate. The presidential campaign matters! But my best advice is that limited funds are better spent on something like the States Project’s GiveSmart fund to target high-leverage state legislature races or on frontline House race like the ones we recommended here.
23 years since the hijackings and attacks on NY and DC. Rest in Peace to the 2,977 people killed.
Lawrence O'Donnell: "We may have just watched the last debate of Donald Trump’s life."
https://x.com/Lawrence/status/1833714296943005870
I kinda hope so. I hear the Harris campaign is pushing for another debate. But it's really hard to imagine a second one going any better: she absolutely crushed him. So why give the media even the tiniest excuse to push a "Trump the debate underdog does much better!" narrative? If he improves his performance from last night's "horrible dumpster fire" to merely "awful train wreck" the Village will anoint him The Comeback Kid.
I'm guess I'm just risk averse. The bold move, of course, would indeed be to debate him again.
Thanks for the free episode, Matt.