Beyond Politics Matt Robison and Paul Hodes

Are Democrats really shedding massive amounts of support from African American voters? There are certainly warning signs of trouble -- including a New York times poll showing Trump getting the support of more than 20% of Black Americans. But Mario Broussard and Ana Robinson of Global Strategy Group say that the actual picture is a lot more nuanced than that, and that if the numbers suggest anything, it's that there are things Biden and the Democrats can do to hold on to the critical core of the Democrats' base.

01:21 Young Black Women's Voting Enthusiasm and Economic Struggles

04:49 The Impact of Abortion Rights on Young Black Women Voters

15:27 Economic Concerns Among Black Voters

26:34 Messaging Strategies for Democrats: Addressing Key Voter Concerns

32:31 The Role of Social Media and Influencers in Engaging Young Voters

After a major standoff, Trump and Biden have agreed to two presidential debates. Did Biden win this exchange? And how much does it really matter? Also, a quick breakdown of Michael Cohen's testimony, and the question of whether Trump's political defenses in the hush money trial are actually kind of working. Plus, a very weird New York Times poll from this week and a continued run of voting results that Donald Trump should be finding downright scary. Plus, our closing segment has snakes on a plane. No, really.



And we closed with snakes on a plane. No, literally. I mean, it. Snakes on a plane,



00:00 Opening Remarks: The Role of Debates in Politics

00:46 Debating the Debates: Trump vs. Biden

02:27 The Circus of Presidential Debates

04:26 Breaking Tradition: The New Debate Format

06:19 The Argument Against Debates

10:53 Character and Policy in Debates

17:02 Strategic Analysis: Biden vs. Trump Debate Dynamics

19:29 Trump's Debate Strategy and Poll Analysis

20:16 Breaking Down Trump's Legal Challenges

20:25 The Michael Cohen Testimony: A Deep Dive

25:50 Analyzing Trump's Defense Strategies

30:56 Voter Sentiment and Election Predictions

35:40 Quirky News Roundup: Bees, Zebras, and Snakes

Lauren Goldstein of Change Research dives into a fascinating study aims to get inside the minds of voters and could help explain why they feel so negative about the most important issue of the 2024 election - the economy. Also, why they do things differently than most opinion researchers, and how that can help change the way we talk to voters.



01:38 Exploring the Real Economic Pain Points of Voters

05:20 The Psychological Underpinnings of Financial Comparisons

10:09 Addressing the Generational Divide and Economic Pessimism

17:08 Strategies for Effective Political Communication

23:13 The Secret Handshake and Used Car Fraud Metaphors

31:29 Innovative Approaches to Public Opinion Research

34:37 The Importance of Listening and Adapting Messaging

Was the big, headline grabbing testimony from Stormy Daniel actually the most significant thing that happened in the Trump trial this week? We make the case that the answer is actually...no. Trump should be a lot more worried about three other developments. Plus, what's driving the Biden administration's pause on arms transfers to Israel? And why did RFK Jr. say that a piece of his brain is missing???



00:53 Exploring the Impact of Stormy Daniels' Testimony

05:14 The Hypocrisy Surrounding Pornography

08:56 The Legal Significance Beyond the Headlines

13:32 Trump's Legal Risks and Public Opinion Dynamics

17:30 Debunking Polling Myths and Misinterpretations

21:34 Analyzing the Middle East Ceasefire Negotiations

25:19 The Grand Bargain: Biden's Middle East Strategy

32:56 The Controversial Views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

What are the things you have to get right to succeed in the world of politics? What's the secret sauce to winning a campaign? (hint: it's actually not what most people think) And what are the unwritten rules that you have to know to be a member of Congress or to work in Congress? We tacked these questions and much more this week, when Matt was honored to be a guest on one of the top podcasts in the world aimed at political insiders, the ProPolitics podcast hosted by Zac McCrary. We're bringing you the full episode here, and check out their feed and consider subscribing if you want to hear more from the biggest insiders in DC.

This week, politics has been kind of amazing because there's been such a strange mix of ultra serious issues filled with moments that are just hilarious. We unpack the latest developments in the Trump trial and how Donald Trump's own lawyer ended up introducing some really humiliating evidence about him. Also, the crackdown on student protesters and how Lauren Boebert managed to beclown herself. And then of course, we had to talk about the most bizarre story of political self destruction that any of us have ever seen, which happened to a prominent Republican this week.

01:00 The Trump Trial: Legal Analysis and Hilarity

04:01 The Gag Order Debate: Trump's Legal Challenges and Strategies

17:56 Campus Protests: A Mix of Serious and Ridiculous

20:34 The Quirky Protesters and Their Demands

21:20 The Satirical Take on Modern Protests

23:06 Lauren Boebert's Campus Stunt Goes Viral

26:04 Christy Noem's Controversial Animal Stories

32:41 The Debate Over Marijuana Legalization

36:30 Closing Thoughts and Goodbyes