Ronna McDaniel drama, the RFK factor and Trump 'running for his freedom'
Mar 29, 2024
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Senior political reporter Aaron Blake and investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey discuss the increasing role of election denial in the Republican National Committee, the drama around Ronna McDaniel, efforts to recruit a third-party candidate, the influence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and why Donald Trump is 'running for his freedom'.
RNC loyalty now hinges on belief in election fraud, sparking staff screening process.
Media outlets face challenges balancing providing balanced perspectives while avoiding promotion of false claims.
Deep dives
Trump's Golf Course Victories
Donald Trump has claimed victory multiple times in golf tournaments at his own golf courses, including against much younger competitors in regular club championships. Trump's tendency to declare himself the winner of these events has sparked a discussion on what competition people would declare themselves champions in if given the chance.
Republican National Committee Reshuffle
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has undergone significant changes, with former President Trump replacing leadership to align more closely with his election denialism stance. This shift has led to a screening process for RNC staff where belief in the 2020 election being stolen serves as a litmus test for loyalty to Trump.
Hiring Controversy at NBC
The hiring of Ronna McDaniel, former RNC chair, as a political contributor at NBC sparked backlash due to her support for Trump's election denialism. The quick reversal of this decision by NBC following public criticism highlights the challenges media outlets face in providing a balanced perspective while not promoting false claims.
Third Party Candidates in the Election
Third party candidates, such as those from no labels and independence groups, are attempting to disrupt the political landscape in the upcoming election. Efforts to bring in candidates like Chris Christie have faced hurdles, with challenges in securing ballot access and concerns over potential impact on major party candidates.
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 investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how election denial is becoming more central to the Republican National Committee, what to make of this week’s NBC/Ronna McDaniel drama, the latest on efforts by a group trying to recruit a third-party candidate, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. factor and why Josh says former president Donald Trump is “running for his freedom.”
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