FiveThirtyEight Politics Reaction Podcast: Trump Goes Long
Mar 5, 2025
The hosts dive into President Trump's historic State of the Union address, highlighting its theatrical elements and political implications. They dissect the Democratic response from a newly elected senator, focusing on her moderate stance amid a divided landscape. The discussion also reflects on the challenges of crafting effective responses to such speeches, while examining public sentiment toward Trump's rapid policy changes and the disconnect with Congress. Insights on the evolving political narrative make for a lively, late-night conversation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump's Long Speeches
- Trump's State of the Union addresses averaged an hour and 20 minutes during his first term.
- This was nine minutes shorter than the record at the time.
Nixon's Brisk Addresses
- Richard Nixon had the shortest average State of the Union address time since LBJ, at 35 minutes.
- Jimmy Carter followed closely at 36 minutes.
Focus on Weak Point
- A significant portion of Trump's address focused on economic issues.
- This is interesting, as polling shows this is one of his weaker areas.