21 Comments

I agree with Jessica Valenti’s observation: Trump clearly had no idea what mifepristone was and was trying to fake it with that answer. Reporters should have followed up.

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This Times piece is relevant to this morning's discussion.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/08/business/media/kamala-harris-press-interviews.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Bk4.jPkS._Qj1-VkufFk9&smid=url-share

I have no comment, but I see "influencers" and social media platforms are noted here. The term is apparently so new that my spell-checker doesn't recognize the plural version of the word. Has anyone else come across references like this? It's right out of the psychographics playbook.

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Thank you for the link to the NYT article. Wonderfully, there wasn’t a paywall!

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Subscribers are allowed to gift 10 articles per month and multiple sites count as one.

Here is another link I just posted elsewhere from the Washington Post.

https://wapo.st/3Ac1WjF

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I found it notable that when Harris approached the reporters yesterday, all of their questions related back to Trump. That’s not a dig at them, just that those opportunities to talk policy often become about Trump instead. I’d far rather hear about policy or the voters she’s talked to or what she had for breakfast than hear them ask for a comeback to his jabs.

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I'll give you an answer in Monday's newsletter!

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Have you covered the $10 million/Egypt topic? I looked and didn't see it but I may have overlooked it. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

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I have not. I really don't know anything much about it. It could be something. It could be that it looked like something.

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“She's not smart enough to do a news conference”

Says the senile old man who was holding one of the worst press conferences of all times, riddled with confusion, addlement, lies, smears, hate, fear, idiocy, racism.

He had more people (at his insurrection) than MLK? Everyone wanted abortion to go to the states? Harris is still turning black?

On the anniversary of when Nixon resigned, the gop ought to get rid of him, but they are all, every single one, cowards. I hope they keep him, because he is going to go down in flames, and that. Ames decent people happy.

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Just to make sure I have this right for future reference:

- August 2022 - All Republicans voted against the Inflation Reduction Act. It passed because all Democrats voted for it.

- April 2023 - Republicans later voted to repeal the energy tax breaks in that law.

- August 2024 - 18 Republicans whose districts have benefited from Biden's Inflation Reduction Act now want to keep those energy tax breaks in a letter stating that “Energy tax credits have spurred innovation, incentivized investment, and created good jobs in many parts of the country – including many districts represented by members of our conference.”

Those member are: Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.), Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).

Got it!

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I did hear about Tulsi Gabbard’s TSA tracking from Matt Taibi’s substack. It’s under the Quiet Skies program and it’s surveillance of”questionable “ people. While she’s been a critic of the administration & of the US’s foreign policy I don’t see her as a credible terrorist threat to require this surveillance. This is an interesting story to follow.

VP Harris’ team have been more disciplined and giving Trump room to make it about himself. But eventually she will need to risk a mistake or gaffe with a press conference and/or long interview.

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Wow. This insecure, weak, impotent loser sure puts a lot of stock on who should like him. He’s said it a hundred times, that he endorsed someone because he was liked by that someone.

His answer to why he picked JD “there’s no proof he didn’t f$#& a couch” Vance was, “ Eva use he liked me the most”.

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Off the record conferences? These people are running for President. What entities the press to information that the public doesn’t get to hear. How about the almighty “ the people’s right to know” that the 4th estate constantly cries about? Bull feathers. While we’re at it, when did reporters all become “ journalists? Growing up, I was neighbors with two reporters. But then again they didn’t go to Harvard or St Albans School.

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Nothing 'entitles' the press to go off the record with someone. Often, that's the only way someone will talk to us. I had it happen several times in the last week. So, you have to make a decision as a reporter - do you want to get nothing or find out some of the background?

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Also, "off the record" info can lead you to look for "on the record" information you might not otherwise look for.

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LMAO! The hardest question Harris had to field in the two-minute interview linked to above was about Waltz’s military record and she totally dodged the question. Trump’s “dodge” on the abortion issue did not sound like a dodge at all but consistent with his opinion that any legal restrictions on abortion should be decided at the state level.

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The 'dodge' is how he will vote on it. He lives in Florida.

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Relevance? He’s been clear: the issue is a personal one. The President should not be involved in decisions about whether or not a woman should have children.

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deletedAug 9
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Then why didn’t he answer the question of how HE, personally, will vote on the amendment?

“He’s been clear”. My god, that’s hilarious.

What’s the difference if it’s a president or a senator or a house member or a governor or a state senator or house member?

No one can make a decision on anyone’s choice.

But, I ask you again…. Why didn’t he just say yes or no?

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He dodge is that he said, as he has for his tax returns, his infrastructure, his health care plan, his proof that melania is a legal citizen, and a dozen other thing that he doesn’t understand … that he’d hold a press conference about it in a week or so. He never did what he said he would.

The questions was, how he’ll vote on the Florida Constitutinal Amendment to restrict abortion to 6 weeks.

A simple yes or no answer.

I guarantee he will never answer that question, he will never have a press conference on it. Have you not been alive for the last 8 years?

Also, when he says, “everyone wanted it to go to the states, do you think he told the truth?

That’s a yes or no answer also… I dare you to answer me.

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There’s nothing to dodge on Walz’s record. He served for 24 years. He decided to get out 2 months before he was to be told he would go to Iraq. JD Vance only served 4 years of which 6 months was in Iraq in a noncombat role as a correspondent. Tell me, who had the greater commitment? If anyone has stolen valor it is Vance!

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