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CNN Political Briefing

Latest episodes

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Oct 18, 2024 • 26min

Are We Prepared for Election Day?

Early in-person voting started this week in Georgia and North Carolina, and it won’t be long until voters nationwide are lining up at polling places on November 5. So, do election officials feel ready? CNN Political Correspondent Sara Murray has been reporting on how communities across the country are preparing for Election Day. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss what election officials are doing to combat disinformation and avoid repeating problems from 2020. They also discuss the “neighborhood fights” playing out in Wisconsin over ballot drop boxes and why you shouldn’t be surprised if tallying votes in Pennsylvania takes a long time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 11, 2024 • 28min

The Two Things That Will Decide The Election

Election Day is just a little over three weeks away, and there’s still no clear leader in this race. With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump still neck-and-neck, all eyes are on the battleground states. Doug Sosnik is a longtime Democratic strategist who’s known for his deep-dive political memos. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to share his insights on the current state of play and why he thinks the next 25 days are all about Harris’ ability to close the deal with voters who may not feel naturally aligned with her. He also explains why this election could yield the biggest gender gap in American political history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 4, 2024 • 28min

Masculinity on the Ballot

This could be a historic election when it comes to the gender gap. Women have strongly supported Vice President Kamala Harris while former President Donald Trump holds a significant advantage with men. And while women’s rights have been front-and-center in this election, the race has also raised questions about masculinity and male voters. Richard Reeves is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, a think tank that does non-partisan research on the wellbeing of boys and men in the US.  He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss the different models of American manhood on display in the race and why he thinks some male voters are feeling “politically homeless” during this election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 27, 2024 • 26min

The Gen Z Voter Vibe Shift

Earlier this year, enthusiasm for a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was low with Gen Z voters. It looked unlikely young voters would repeat their record turnout from 2020. But, there are signs of renewed excitement amongst the 18-to-29-year-old set with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket. A new Harvard Youth Poll this week showed that shift, with Harris commanding a 31-point lead among likely voters under 30. John Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to talk about Gen Z voters. They discuss the enthusiasm gap between young Democrats and young Republicans, how memes influenced Gen Z’s perceptions of Harris and a somewhat surprising issue that polls well with young voters.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 20, 2024 • 28min

What the Candidates’ Plans Could Mean for the Economy

This was a pivotal week for the US economy. The Fed announced its first interest rate cut since the pandemic — and it was a big one. Voters say they're thinking a lot about the economy during this election. In poll after poll, issues related to the economy rank at the top of voters’ priority lists. Catherine Rampell is an opinion columnist for the Washington Post and an economic and political commentator for CNN. She joined CNN Political Director David Chalian to talk about this week’s Fed decision, how Americans are feeling about their finances and what economists have to say about the presidential candidates’ plans for the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 13, 2024 • 32min

What the Debate Meant for the Race

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off on the debate stage for the first time this week. Harris landed jabs, and Trump struggled to stay on-message. But will their performances move the needle in this extremely tight race? And what should Harris’ and Trump’s campaigns focus on now with the big debate behind them? Karen Finney is a CNN political commentator and was senior spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Doug Heye is a Republican strategist who served as deputy chief of staff to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. They join CNN Political Director David Chalian to share their takes on the debate, the candidates’ paths to 270 and how the campaigns could reach on-the-fence voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 6, 2024 • 25min

The Two-Month Sprint to Election Day

The 2024 presidential race has reached a key turning point. Labor Day has passed, Election Day is just over eight weeks away, and the presidential nominees are set to face off on the debate stage in just a few days. New battleground state polls by CNN this week showed a very tight race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Stuart Stevens is a former Republican consultant who worked on George W. Bush and Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns. He’s now an author and an advisor to the Lincoln Project — a group opposed to Donald Trump’s candidacy. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss the state of the race. They talk potential strategies for next week’s debate, the sprint to Election Day and why Stevens thinks this race won’t be as close as many people predict.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 30, 2024 • 23min

The Critical Latino Vote

More than 36 million Latinos are eligible to vote in the 2024 election, and both Democrats and Republicans are competing fiercely to win their votes. Earlier this summer, polls showed former President Donald Trump could build significantly on gains he made with Latino voters in 2020. But, with Vice President Kamala Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket, those numbers could be shifting. Mark Hugo Lopez is the director of race and ethnicity research at Pew Research Center. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to take a closer look at this critical voting bloc and how the political views of Latino voters have changed in recent years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 23, 2024 • 29min

Inside the DNC: How Democrats Have Pivoted Under Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted her party’s nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention—just a month after President Joe Biden stepped aside and gave her his endorsement. After joining the show for the Republican convention last month, POLITICO’s Ryan Lizza is back to talk all things DNC with CNN Political Director David Chalian. They met at the CNN-POLITICO Grill, steps from the convention floor inside Chicago’s United Center, and broke down what the first three nights of the convention revealed about how the Democrats’ strategy has shifted since Harris took Biden’s place at the top of the ticket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 16, 2024 • 28min

Harris on Policy, Then and Now

Jasmine Wright, a political reporter for NOTUS, who has closely followed Kamala Harris since her 2019 presidential campaign, shares insights on Harris's evolving policy positions. They discuss the Vice President's current cautious economic strategies compared to her earlier proposals and how challenges like inflation and immigration affect her political standing. Wright explores the complexities of Harris’s healthcare stance and the implications of her past campaign hurdles, highlighting her adaptation as she prepares for another election run.

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