THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent

Joining the discussion is Jesse Jenkins, a Princeton professor and insightful commentator on the energy transition. He dives into Donald Trump's recent rally remarks, revealing a troubling perspective on competition with China in the electric vehicle sector. Jenkins highlights the stark contrast between U.S. and Chinese EV markets, critiques Trump’s tariff approach, and emphasizes the importance of bipartisan support for green energy initiatives. His insights underscore the urgency of advancing clean energy manufacturing for a competitive future.

Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President with a recent surge in favorability, discusses her evolving political landscape. Joined by Nick Ahamed, deputy exec director of a Democratic Super PAC, they analyze how Harris is making strides to connect with undecided voters amid a tight race against Trump. The conversation highlights the crucial role of engaging young voters through entrepreneurship and relatable narratives. As Harris inches forward in polling within battleground states, they explore the strategies needed to rally the Democratic coalition for optimal turnout.

Celinda Lake, a seasoned Democratic pollster, shares her perspectives on the escalating tensions in U.S. politics. She analyzes Donald Trump's furious social media rants following his debate performance and how they reflect deeper issues within his campaign. Lake discusses surprising gains by Kamala Harris in recent polls and what she needs to do moving forward. Their conversation also touches on the implications of Trump's rhetoric for democratic values and the broader responsibility of politicians to uphold these principles.

Celinda Lake, a veteran Democratic pollster, offers fresh insights into the current electoral landscape. She discusses Trump's escalating fury over recent debates and media portrayals. Lake reveals surprising data showing a post-debate surge for Kamala Harris, particularly among independents. They analyze the psychological dynamics behind Trump's claims of victory and his challenges within his own voter base. Lake also emphasizes the need for Democrats to enhance outreach, especially to younger voters and communities of color.

Tensions in Springfield, Ohio, are escalating as inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants spreads. Residents, particularly from the Haitian community, face heightened fears of violence, exacerbated by baseless claims and a recent bomb threat at City Hall. The conversation uncovers how extremist political messaging distorts community dynamics, feeding misinformation and division. As this small town grapples with these challenges, the implications for democracy and the upcoming elections become increasingly concerning.

After Kamala Harris’s shellacking of Donald Trump at the debate, Trump ventured on to Fox News, where he attacked the moderators as deeply biased against him. Incredibly, he even said their network, ABC News, should have its broadcasting license revoked. This is really a show of weakness: what enraged him is that real scrutiny was applied to the lies he can air unchallenged on right wing media. We talked to Media Matters senior fellow Matt Gertz—author of a new piece on Trump’s debate struggles—about Trump’s retreat into the MAGA media bubble, why that’s so politically perilous for him, and what it all says about today’s GOP. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Sheffield, a writer and podcaster at Flux and former conservative, joins to dissect the recent twisted rants by J.D. Vance about Haitian immigrants eating pets. Sheffield unveils how these lies serve as a disturbing tool for dehumanization in MAGA propaganda. The conversation explores the dangerous influence of misinformation in political narratives, particularly on immigration, and underscores the significant disconnect between such rhetoric and the reality of vulnerable communities. Join them as they unravel this alarming trend.

Lakshya Jain, a data analyst from Split Ticket, brings insightful analytics to the table as he discusses the upcoming debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. He emphasizes the importance of engaging undecided voters and building a supportive coalition for Harris. Jain outlines strategies Harris can utilize to convey her message effectively, particularly on hot-button issues like abortion and economic concerns. He offers a cautiously optimistic perspective on Harris's chances to prevail by harnessing her unique narrative and connecting with diverse voter demographics.

In this thought-provoking discussion, A.B. Stoddard, a columnist for The Bulwark and a staunch critic of Donald Trump, dives into the alarming threats Trump has made against his enemies and his disturbing rhetoric on immigration. Stoddard sheds light on how Trump is preparing his supporters for potential violence post-election and critiques the normalization of authoritarian tactics in today's political climate. With polls showing a tight race, the episode raises urgent questions about voter awareness and the challenges facing Democrats in conveying the gravity of Trump's dangerous message.

During an event billed as a speech about the economy, Donald Trump was addled and confused, rambled incoherently, and launched into strange non sequiturs. Yet The New York Times’s initial news story made the event sound far more normal than it was. Is the press doing an adequate job of analyzing Trump’s deteriorating mental state? We think the answer is an emphatic “no.” We talked to former reporter Meredith Shiner—author of a recent piece for The New Republic about the successes of GOP media ref-working—who explained why the press largely fails to scrutinize Trump’s mental unfitness for the presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices