Navigating Identity and Issues in Politics

This week, Matt and Brian examine the quadrennial liberal October panic, and think through practical ways for Democrats to close strong:

* Is it possible to increase the salience of Democrats’ top issues (abortion, democracy, and health care) when Trump is hoovering up attention to his fascist freakshow?

* Might the fascist freakshow, for perverse reasons, be helping Trump keep the race close?

* To what extent should working the media refs to focus on Trump outrages fit into the plan?

SPOILERS:

Matt answers those questions: Yes, maybe, and very little.

Brian answers them: Maybe, no, quite a bit.

Then, behind the paywall, a granular look at why Democrats shouldn’t fear racial depolarization. Have Democrats (wrongly) convinced themselves that they can’t increase their share of the white vote? Does it matter if homing in on issues like abortion and anti-fascism makes the Democratic coalition a little less rainbow? Are these issues resonant enough to deliver Kamala Harris a victory if Trump and his corrupt allies stage a rat fuck late in October?

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Further reading:

* The Our Brand Is Crisis documentary.

* Brian on Barack Obama doing asking the Joseph Welch question of our generation.

* Matt on how Harris can, should, and does appeal to Trump-curious male voters.