Description

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by Will Davis and Preya Samsundar to break down the following:

00:01:30 - Acknowledging September 11th

• Tribute to 9/11: Becky acknowledges the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th attacks, honoring the victims and first responders.

00:02:30 - Kamala Harris's Debate Performance

• Initial Impressions of Harris's Performance: Preya critiques Harris' shaky start and argues that she failed to define herself, focusing more on baiting Trump than addressing critical issues.
• Will's Take on Harris: Will praises Harris for handling Trump's attacks well and maintaining composure throughout the debate.

00:07:00 - Michael's Take on Harris

• Michael's Positive Review: Michael believes Harris found her footing and ultimately delivered a powerful performance.

00:09:30 - Becky's Review of Harris's Debate Tactics

• Harris' Strengths: Becky discusses Harris' eye contact and connection with voters, emphasizing her ability to directly relate through the camera and criticize Trump.

00:11:00 - Donald Trump's Debate Performance

• Will's Critique of Trump: Will criticizes Trump for appearing flustered and failing to stay composed, noting his tendency to recycle old talking points.
• Preya's Perspective on Trump: Preya acknowledges Trump's weaknesses, including his lack of message discipline, but argues the moderators were biased against him.

00:17:00 - Moderators and Bias

• Preya on Moderator Bias: Preya expresses frustration with the moderators, arguing they fact-checked Trump extensively while letting Harris avoid tough follow-ups.
• Michael and Will Debate the Moderators' Role: Michael and Will defend the moderators, emphasizing Trump's frequent deviations from the truth, but acknowledge the perception of bias.

00:23:30 - Speaking Time and Attack Strategy

• Speaking Time Breakdown: Becky notes that Trump spoke for 43 minutes compared to Harris' 37 minutes, but Harris spent more time attacking Trump.

00:25:00 - Key Issues Discussed in the Debate

• Discussion of Key Debate Issues: The group discusses critical issues such as the economy, abortion, democracy, and immigration, highlighting moments where both candidates succeeded or faltered.

00:35:00 - Trump's Messaging Issues and Missed Opportunities

• Trump's Missed Opportunities: Michael criticizes Trump for veering off-topic, particularly on immigration and January 6th, allowing Harris to dominate specific debate segments.
• Missed Policy Focus: Preya mentions that Trump failed to focus on relevant issues such as the fentanyl crisis or border security.

00:47:00 - Abortion and Democracy as Debate Highlights

• Harris' Strong Abortion Stance: Becky praises Harris for her compelling storytelling about abortion, contrasting it with Trump's faltering response.
• Trump's Failure to Address Democracy Concerns: Becky criticizes Trump for mishandling questions on democracy and January 6th, missing an opportunity to reassure voters.

00:59:00 - Trump's Endorsement of Viktor Orban

• Discussion of Trump's Praise of Viktor Orban: Will expresses concern about Trump's praise of Orban, a controversial figure, furthering fears about Trump's stance on democracy.

01:02:00 - The Impact of Trump's Messaging on the Republican Party

• Michael's Concerns for the Future of the Republican Party: Michael discusses the long-term effects of Trump's messaging on the GOP, with Preya and Will agreeing that the party is struggling with message discipline and credibility.

UPCOMING EVENT: The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky has been invited to the 2024 MinnPost Festival on September 28th. This exciting full-day event will feature speakers from Minnesota and some national voices.

The Break Down will be hosting a live podcast from the event and would like to invite you to join us. Click here to purchase tickets! Use the code BREAKDOWN to take advantage of a 30% discount. 

We would love to see you in person!