Right now the F word is all over the news. Donald Trump's longest serving chief of staff, retired four-star Marine general John Kelly, said that Donald Trump is literally the dictionary definition of a "fascist" and Kamala Harris agreed. So is this going to be the Harris campaign's closing argument in the final 10 days? And should it be? Also, the quiet campaign that Democrats are starting to whisper into the ears of Republican women, especially women in Republican areas.
Oct 25, 2024•41 min
Where are we with two weeks to go? That's what my good friend, legendary radio broadcaster, Howard Monroe wanted to ask me on his show yesterday. And so we ran through all of it. Where do things stand? What could they turn on in the end? And is there hope for Democrats, as the polls have seemed to shift very slightly in Donald Trump's direction? And before we got into any of that, Howard wanted to talk about texting. What is the effect of all of these fundraising texts and emails that we're all ...
Oct 23, 2024•29 min
Jason Fields, Deputy Opinion Editor at Newsweek, shares the five sources of fresh insights in politics and current affairs that are worth spending your time on, give new insight or just freshen up what you thought you knew. Also, is Kamala Harris pulling off a major vanishing act? What's up with the Elon Musk's bizarre, illegal scheme to help Trump that came to light over the weekend? And how have things changed in the way we do political discourse in America? 00:40 Interview with Jason Fields: ...
Oct 22, 2024•39 min
We just crossed an invisible line in the 2024 election. Ever since the presidential debate, Kamala Harris has held a small but steady lead in the critical swing state polls. That made her the favorite to win in the election, even by a small amount. But this week that forecast slipped away. So we ask: is this really happening? Is this really a situation where Trump is now the favorite to win? Alicia laid out a case that it will not end up that close. And she remains confident that Trump cannot an...
Oct 18, 2024•46 min
What if I told you that we're looking at polling numbers in the wrong way? We're all inundated with polling right now as we enter the final three weeks of the 2024 election, and we're used to looking at those polls with one question in mind. Who's ahead? But today's guest says we shouldn't be looking at the margin. We should be looking at the share of the vote that each candidate is getting. And that tells us a LOT more about what's going to happen in the election. Our guest is Nate Moore, a pub...
Oct 15, 2024•43 min
Kamala Harris has every advantage -- money, ads, volunteers -- but is stuck in polling against Donald Trump. Matt, Paul and Alicia explore what's going on. We also delve into Bob Woodward's explosive claims about Trump's secret interactions with Putin during the COVID pandemic. Also, a friendly fight breaks out on misinformation in politics. And finally, a look at the wackiest unfounded conspiracy theory circulating online these days, plus our parody (note: you do actually have to cast your vote...
Oct 11, 2024•35 min
Painful as it is for Democrats (like us at the Beyond Politics podcast) to say, there's no denying that Donald Trump's economic pitch is working, especially among working-class voters. Despite significant backlash from non-partisan experts and economists, Trump is tied or ahead of Kamala Harris on the issue that voters say is most important to them. Why? And is there something Trump is saying that we should all be paying more attention to. Matt welcomes back Newsweek Opinion Editor Batya Ungar-S...
Oct 08, 2024•33 min
The Fallout from the VP Debate: Implications for 2024 and Beyond. The big VP debate may not significantly affect the 2024 election, but it raises critical questions for American politics. Here's a quick look at the top5 big questions for the future coming out of the debate 00:00 Introduction: The Impact of the VP Debate 03:30 Trump's Mental Triggers: A Potential Downfall 04:52 Vance's Strategic Positioning in the Republican Party 06:14 The Double-Edged Sword of Vance's Success 07:22 Democrats' R...
Oct 04, 2024•13 min
Decoding the 2024 VP Debate: Key Takeaways and Insights: Matt, Paul, and Alicia discuss the significant moments and lessons from the 2024 vice presidential debate. There is a lot going on under the surface, and even if the debate didn't move the needle that much in 2024, there's a lot to unpack about the future of the Republican Party, Trump's brain, and how we consume information in America. 00:56 Top Takeaways from the VP Debate 04:30 Analyzing JD Vance's Debate Tactics 09:16 Voter Perceptions...
Oct 02, 2024•44 min
Is the Presidential Race Over? Examining the Impact of the Mark Robinson Scandal: If Trump loses North Carolina, he has almost no chance at the presidency. Will the scandal be enough to end things? Also: the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the extensive history of corruption in New York politics; the huge strategic decision Democrats must make in the fight for the Senate; and, is there a 'war on pets in American politics? 00:20 The Mark Robinson Scandal 01:20 Impact on Trump's C...
Sep 27, 2024•44 min
What would Trump's actual policy plan be if he got back into office? We can tell an awful lot from what he tried to do the first time, and most of it came at the expense of less wealthy Americans. Bob Greenstein, founder of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, joins us to discuss the far-reaching implications of Donald Trump's budget proposals during his presidency. 00:00 Introduction: The Hidden Details 03:13 Trump's Budget Proposals: A Deep Dive 20:29 The War on Poverty: Progress and Ch...
Sep 24, 2024•35 min
Alicia's Fiery Rebuke and Trump's Scandalous Rhetoric: Unpacking the Fallout Matt, Paul, and Alicia dive into the aftermath of Donald Trump's racist claims about Haitian immigrants. Alicia passionately criticizes Trump's loyal followers and the consequences of their actions on communities like Springfield, Ohio. The discussion also explores the broader issue of heated political rhetoric from both sides, the implications of Trump's radical policy proposals, and recent polling trends in the presid...
Sep 20, 2024•49 min
PART TWO OF TWO-PART MINI SERIES FINALE. As Kamala Harris rises in the polls following her crushing performance over Donald Trump in their debate, we look at the key moments and the hidden psychological strategies that led to the rout. This is the final episode of 'The War to Win Minds' miniseries, and Matt Robison and psychologist Lauren Goldstein run down a dizzying array of mental tactics that were on display and that we will continue to see in the 2024 campaign, including maybe the most impo...
Sep 18, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
PART ONE OF TWO PART MINI SERIES FINALE. We dive into the explosive psychological strategies behind the Kamala Harris -Donald Trump presidential debate. In this episode of 'The War to Win Minds' series, Matt Robison and psychologist Lauren Goldstein break down the mental tactics used to sway voters and what Harris did to break Trump's brain. Discover how Harris dismantled Trump's arguments and left him floundering by employing clever, counterintuitive methods. 01:50 Psychological Insights into D...
Sep 17, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this quick reaction show, Matt, Paul, and Alicia dive into the aftermath of the recent debate, discussing who won, who lost, and why both parties should maybe feel frustrated. Kamala Harris is broadly considered the winner against Donald Trump but how much will it matter? And will Taylor Swift's endorsement of Harris matter even more? 00:54 Who Won the Debate? 03:23 Debate's Impact and Media Critique 06:15 Republican and Democratic Reactions 11:23 Missed Opportunities 17:19 The Flaws of Presi...
Sep 11, 2024•34 min
In episode 3 of our mini series 'The War to Win Minds,' hosts Matt Robison and Lauren Goldstein delve into the concept of social proof, its influence on political campaigns, and why it's Donald Trump's not so secret weapon in the 2024 campaign. 00:32 The Power of Social Proof 03:21 The Reagan-Mondale Debate Experiment 06:35 The Elevator Experiment 07:50 Asch's Social Conformity Experiment 10:30 Social Proof in Political Campaigns 14:12 Trump's Use of Social Proof 15:32 The Double-Edged Sword of ...
Sep 10, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Is the Kamala-mentum waning? It's a question that was raised in Politico and that's being pushed by the Republican side, especially the Trump campaign. We have some data and some insights from where the campaigns are spending their money. Also, we ask why would Kamala Harris go to New Hampshire? The unfolding legal situations for hunter Biden and Donald Trump, both in court today. And a cute animal story that goes in a disturbing direction.
Sep 06, 2024•38 min
ABC Legal Analyst Kim Wehle explains how the Supreme Court's decision granting immunity to US Presidents is way more far-reaching that it appears. When paired with the "pardon power," Presidents now wield a devastating one-two punch of power. Wehle is the author of a fascinating new book on the history and law of the pardon, and why Americans need to understand just how dangerous this power has become. Also: a look at the current legal situations involving Donald Trump, Jack Smith's refiling of ...
Sep 05, 2024•31 min
Episode Two of The War to Win Minds: The Hidden Psychology of Political Persuasion. Matt Robison and Dr. Lauren Goldstein dive deep into the liking principle and break down campaign ads to show how politicians like Kamala Harris use similarities, compliments, attractiveness, and associations shape to change voters' minds and shape public opinion. Learn strategies used by campaigns to make their candidates more likable in ads from Barack Obama, Raphael Warnock, and Kamala Harris. 00:37 The Cartoo...
Sep 03, 2024•26 min
Matt, Paul, and Alicia discuss Donald Trump's unhinged rant on Truth Social plus the recent Arlington National Cemetery incident, which has pushed Trump to new levels of insanity. The panel explores what triggered Trump's meltdown: Jack Smith's refiled case against him. They also question why, despite Trump's outrageous behavior, the race remains a 50/50 toss-up. Plus, the 10-year anniversary of 'Tan Suit Gate' involving former President Barack Obama. 00:00 Introduction: Trump's Unhinged Rant 01...
Aug 30, 2024•36 min
***Don't forget to check out our mini-series on the hidden psychology of political campaigns on YouTube or Spotify .*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDbNEHJ_pV4 RFK Jr.'s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and his subsequent endorsement of Donald Trump would, until very recently, have been viewed as a watershed. But when it finally went down late last week, it barely made waves. Will it matter? 02:59 RFK Jr.'s Support Base and Its Implications 09:42 Kamala Harris's Campaign Strate...
Aug 29, 2024•31 min
Episode One of The War to Win Minds: The Hidden Psychology of Political Persuasion. A limited series where PhD psychologist Lauren Goldstein and veteran campaign manager Matt Robison break down political ads to show the science behind how political campaigns fight and win the battle for our brains. In this episode: how one brilliant Kamala Harris ad explains the two pathways into our minds, and which one really works to win elections. *** WATCH ON YOUTUBE at https://youtu.be/ZDbNEHJ_pV4?si=9f4lH...
Aug 27, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1
What do Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party need to do in the final stretch of the campaign to secure a win against Donald Trump? Paul, Matt, and Alicia take stock of where we are and where we need to get to. They also break down Harris' acceptance speech and the DNC's overall performance, the importance of upcoming debates, and the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. 00:55 Analyzing Kamala Harris's Acceptance Speech 01:35 Critique of the Democratic Convention 04:54 Discussion on Political ...
Aug 23, 2024•45 min
Was last night's set of Democratic Convention speeches a game changer for Dems? Paul, Alicia and Matt think it quite possibly was, and got into such a heated discussion about it over text that they decided to take it right to the podcast. We cover why Doug Emhoff hit a grand slam, what Michelle did that worked so well, and why Barack Obama's speech marked a critical shift in Kamala's strategy. 00:57 Reactions to Obama's Speech 04:11 Alicia's Take on Dougie's Speech 05:23 Obama's Subtle Jabs and ...
Aug 21, 2024•31 min
Today, an unvarnished and unbiased deep dive into the numbers and the scenarios for the 2024 election with former executive director of the Republican Party in Florida, Jamie Miller. We ask what are the best strategies and likeliest potential outcomes for the presidential race as well as down-ballot races? And we try to step outside either party's partisan perspective to see where the opportunities and pitfalls are. 00:00 Introduction: Beyond Politics with Matt Robinson 00:02 Stepping Outside th...
Aug 20, 2024•38 min
With polling data showing Kamala Harris bursting into the lead ahead of Donald Trump, what do they need to do at the upcoming conversation to keep the momentum going and propel them into November. Also, why are voters suddenly rating Harris ahead of Trump on the economy? Also, the controversy surrounding Olympic gymnast Jordan Childs and the governing body's decision to take away her medal. 01:43 Polling and Kamala's Momentum 05:27 Communication Tips for Dems 08:58 Balancing Policy and Values 13...
Aug 16, 2024•39 min
Alicia Prestonhas reached a stunning conclusion: Trump's chances for 2024 are over, and Republicans' only hope is for every Senate, Congress, and gubernatorial candidate to fend for themselves. We talk about Trump’s blunders, the rise of Kamala Harris in the polls, and the weird attack on Tim Walz’s military record. 01:05 Trump's Mar-a-Lago Press Conference 02:41 Alicia's Bold Prediction 06:22 Republican Party's Dilemma 20:22 Heroism and Military Service 21:55 Swift Boating and Political Strateg...
Aug 09, 2024•43 min
Matt was getting interviewed live on the radio when the news broke that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was the surprise VP pick for the dems. Here's the analysis getting worked out in real time. And here is the Newsweek article that Matt wrote right after describing what we can read between the lines about this pick, and why it might be sneaky good news for Democrats. https://www.newsweek.com/3-things-we-can-read-tim-walz-vice-presidential-pick-opinion-1935427 00:42 Breaking News: Tim Walz as VP No...
Aug 06, 2024•32 min
With Kamala-mentum becoming very real, we dive into Donald Trump's pretty insane strategy to put out that fire with gasoline by questioning whether Kamala Harris is actually Black. Is there any chance it could help him? Also, a massive deal that gained the release of 16 unjustly imprisoned people in Russia. And the "weird" wave sweeps America. 00:00 Introduction and Trump's Controversial Strategy 00:32 Breaking News: Massive Prisoner Release 02:33 Diplomatic Implications and Political Reactions ...
Aug 02, 2024•39 min
Dan Perry, former Middle East editor for the Associated Press, unpacks the complex, unfolding situation surrounding the assassination of both Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, including the potential "good news" scenario that this could create an off-ramp to end the war and bring Israeli hostages home, or the possibility that things could escalate. Perry writes "Ask Questions Later" , a substack with unparalleled analysis of the Middle East and world affairs. Subscribe here: https://danperry.substack...
Aug 01, 2024•28 min
