Episode description

San Luis, Arizona, has a population of around 40,000 people. Most still vote for Democrats, if they vote. But in the 2020 presidential election, Democrats saw their advantage drop by 36 percentage points here since 2016. 

This swing is one indicator of the inroads Republicans have made in recent years in traditional Democratic strongholds, gains that former president Donald Trump hopes will propel him back into the White House. That strategy relies on winning over young, non-college-educated men. 

We meet a family in San Luis, where debates over whom to vote for dominate the dinner conversation, and we travel to other key swing states where Latino men are aligning with the GOP to better understand this emerging political trend.

Host Martine Powers speaks with voting reporter Sabrina Rodriguez about her reporting on Latino communities in battleground states, and they also break down the fallout from racist and sexist remarks at a recent Trump rally in New York City. 

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff, with help from Sabby Robinson. It was mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Monica Campbell, with help from Maggie Penman and Reena Flores. Thanks to Nick Baumann. 

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