Politix

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmThis week on Politix, Matt and Brian discuss:* The $83.3 million a New York jury ordered Donald Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll for sexually assaulting then serially defaming her.* The related GOP freakout that America’s most influential person (Taylor Swift) might not like Republicans very much!* Why Democratic Party leaders seem uninterested in pressing their “not led by a rapist” advantage.They also put a pin in the issue of immigration, and the simmering nullification crisis Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) is stoking along the U.S.-Mexico border. Then, paid subscribers hear a conversation with Leah Greenberg, cofounder of Indivisible, about whether it’s important to mobilize street protests against Donald Trump before the election (like the recent marches against the German far right), and the extent to which policy activism and policymaking contribute to the demobilization of the resistance. Further reading:* Dara Lind on how the Senate border security bill won’t actually fix the problem Republicans claim to want to fix. * Brian on how the judgment in the Carroll case explains Trump’s desperation to run Nikki Haley out of the GOP primary instead of letting her flame out.* Jonathan Chait on whether the anti-Trump coalition has irretrievably splintered.

Ron DeSantis's failed presidential campaign and the consequences of pandering to base activists. Analyzing how DeSantis fell short of perfecting Trumpism. Speculating on DeSantis's hypothetical performance if Trump had been disqualified. The importance of candidates having a genuine core purpose and being authentic in politics. Exploring the challenges of connecting with voters and the role of charisma in politics.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmThis week on Politix, Matt and Brian discuss:* Donald Trump’s predictable, big (but not actually all that big) victory in Iowa* Why leading Republicans (who know Trump is an electoral liability for the party) are trying to end the primary as quickly as possible, even with a semi-viable alternative who could make it a real race. * Whether the media screwed up by calling the caucuses for Trump minutes after they opened, or whether it marks a return to the ratings and profit-driven mania of their 2016 Trump coverage.Then, paid Politix subscribers get an in-depth look at a report by Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which proves Trump accepted payments from foreign governments (including millions from China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) throughout his presidency. Matt and Brian debate:* The political significance of Raskin’s findings.* Why Democratic leaders seem uninterested in flogging or building on the report. * What’s changed between 2006, when Democrats saw political value in exposing Republican corruption, and the Trump era, when they have more often than not downplayed it.

This week on Politix, Matt and Brian discuss:* Was Joe Biden’s January 6 speech a good speech? (No spoilers.)* Was Joe Biden’s January 6 speech good politics? (No spoilers.)* Was Joe Biden’s January 6 speech true? (Spoiler: Yes.)* How the truth of what Biden said affects the question of whether liberals should support Nikki Haley in open-primary states.* Glenn Greenwald’s imputation that Haley is worse than Trump, and only Democratic party hacks would prefer her to him.Plus, a Politix first: Twitter’s Will Stancil joins Matt and Brian as the show’s inaugural guest to discuss and debate the role of vibes in politics, and what if anything liberals, progressives, and Democrats can do to improve public opinion given the fractious nature of the center-left coalition. Further reading:* Brian on Biden’s pivotal speech.* Matt on how Trump will make material conditions (and thus maybe vibes?) worse.* Will on the social layer of politics (vibes). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politix.fm/subscribe

The podcast discusses the state of the 2024 election, Biden's declining popularity, candidates' failure to address Trump's shortcomings, making a case against Trump, effective messaging, Nikki Haley's Civil War controversy, and New Year's resolutions and promises.

Politix will be a weekly podcast about the 2024 election hosted by Brian Beutler of Off Message and Matthew Yglesias of Slow Boring. We'll bring you good-faith disagreement, points of consensus, brilliant guests, and do our best to maintain a consistent focus on what's really at stake in November. Subscribe for new episodes each Wednesday. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politix.fm/subscribe

What's up Positively Dreadful fans, it’s me Brian.I know this feed has been quiet for a couple months now, as I’ve been getting my new venture Off Message up and running. (Come check it out!) But I’ve got something exciting in the works, and I want all of you Dreadheads to be the first to know about it. So hopefully you can stay put just a little bit longer. Keep your eyes and ears on the feed. And I’ll share more details here in the coming days. Until then I also want to thank you all for listening every week, and for staying subscribed even after we posted our last episode. So more to come very shortly. Thanks again for listening. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politix.fm/subscribe