The Campaign Moment: Campus protests, a jail threat for Trump and Kristi Noem’s late dog Cricket
May 3, 2024
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Aaron Blake and Cleve Wootson discuss Biden's response to campus protests, Trump's legal troubles, and Kristi Noem's dog controversy. They analyze potential VP candidates for Trump and speculate on future political events.
President Biden's response to campus protests emphasizes the importance of peaceful demonstrations amid increasing pressure and criticisms.
Kristi Noem's revelation about shooting her dog in her memoir could impact her potential as Trump's running mate and public perception.
Deep dives
Biden's Response to Campus Protests
President Biden addressed the campus protests by condemning violent actions and affirming the importance of peaceful demonstrations. The delayed strong statement from Biden came after increasing pressure and calls for harsh punishments for the protesters. Despite criticisms of lacking empathy, Biden emphasized the need for peaceful protest and maintained a firm stance against violent and disruptive behaviors.
Political Ramifications of Biden's Response
Biden's handling of the protests poses challenges within the Democratic Party and attracts attention from Republicans. Republicans, seizing on the protests, criticize Biden's response, creating a complex situation for Democrats. Biden's history of caution and past views on protests, shaped by his political background, influences his approach to the current campus demonstrations, leading to delicate political dynamics and potential voter implications.
Impact of Vice Presidential Picks and Political Controversies
The episode delves into potential vice presidential picks for Trump, featuring discussions around figures like Marco Rubio and JD Vance. It also highlights unexpected controversies, such as the revelation in Kristi Noem's memoir about the shooting of her unruly dog. The political fallout from such personal anecdotes can influence public perception and vice presidential considerations, showcasing bipartisan reactions and strategic maneuvering in the political landscape.
It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and White House reporter Cleve Wootson join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how President Biden responded this week to the campus protests over the war in Gaza and what that could mean for his support, whether voters are paying attention yet to former president Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York related to a hush money payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, and what a story South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem reveals in her new book about killing a dog could mean for her prospects to be Trump’s running mate.
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