BIG speeches and another BIG garbage row

Oct 30, 2024

Kamala Harris delivered a powerful speech in DC, rallying support while criticizing Trump as a 'petty tyrant.' A controversial joke by Biden sparked a political firestorm, raising questions about messaging in a polarized climate. The effects of misinformation on social media are explored, revealing users cashing in on false content. Meanwhile, the role of TikTok in shaping the views of young Puerto Rican voters underscores the evolving dynamics of voter sentiment. The complexities of engaging diverse demographics in this fragmented landscape are also examined.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Political Rhetoric and Rally Dynamics

01:49 • 7min

The Political Fallout of Offensive Jokes

09:04 • 4min

Social Media's Influence on Voter Sentiment and Immigration Discourse

12:55 • 2min

Navigating the Political Divide

14:38 • 3min

Monetizing Misinformation on Social Media

18:04 • 17min

Navigating Social Media Influence and Podcast Engagement

35:31 • 3min

Kamala Harris attracted a huge crowd in DC for one of her final speeches of campaign.

But the event’s been overshadowed - at least in part - by a gaffe from Joe Biden that’s caused another row about garbage.

Sarah’s there for the speech.

And, Marianna’s been speaking to users on X who share content that includes election misinformation, AI-generated images and unfounded conspiracy theories, who say they are being paid "thousands of dollars" by the social media site.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent • Sarah Smith, North America Editor

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This episode was made by Purvee Pattni in Florida, with Chris Flynn and Catherine Fusillo on London. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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