The Campaign Moment

Latest Episodes:

The RFK Jr. effect Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with politics producer Laura Benshoff about how much Trump stands to gain from RFK Jr.’s endorsement and what kind of impact other third-party and independent candidates like Cornel West, Chase Oliver and Jill Stein might have on the presidential race.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Jenna Johnson and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Harris’s speech and the standout moments from the DNC Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Elahe Izadi, co-host of “Post Reports,” and senior political reporter Aaron Blake sit down with White House reporter Cleve Wootson at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to talk about the highlights from Harris’s speech. Harris focused on her middle-class upbringing and how she would protect abortion access and reproductive rights, and she cast herself as a candidate who would bring normalcy and competency to the White House.

They also revisit the most memorable speeches of the four-day convention and look ahead to what the next two months might look like for Harris.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Coach Walz’s ‘freedom’ game plan Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

There’s a new rallying cry for the Democratic Party: “Freedom.” On Wednesday, the third night of the Democratic National Convention, speakers from Oprah Winfrey to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro made the case for why Democrats should be considered the party of patriotism.

And then there was Tim Walz. The Minnesota governor formally accepted the nomination for vice president and in his speech made several nods to his previous jobs, focusing especially on his time as a high school football coach. But beyond his biography, he also sought to draw distinctions between how Republicans talk about the idea of freedom and the ways Democrats do, for example on the subject of reproductive rights.

On today’s episode, Aaron Blake and Elahe Izadi break down this latest spin on the Democratic Party’s message – and how Walz fared as its newest messenger.

Today’s episode was produced by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy.

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Nancy Pelosi's not sorry Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter and co-host of “The Campaign Moment” Aaron Blake talks with Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter for The Post who has covered Pelosi for years. They walk through the strings Pelosi reportedly pulled to get Biden to withdraw, earning her the nickname “The Godmother” – after the mafia movie “The Godfather” – from some Democratic delegates at the convention. They also run down her appearances around the convention and why some Biden allies may seek revenge.

Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick with help from Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. It was mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Biden’s swan song Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Biden received a warm welcome at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday evening when he walked on stage to address his party. Thousands of Democratic delegates packed in the arena chanted “Thank you, Joe!” and pumped signs saying “We love Joe” as he gave his speech.

“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Matt Viser about Biden’s historic address and what the first night of the convention tells us about the current strength of the Democratic Party.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Ariel Plotnick.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Harris's policy agenda, and Dems’ down-ballot dreams Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake and congressional reporter Liz Goodwin talk with “Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers about the economic policies that Harris’s campaign unveiled Friday, and whether Democrats could win a trifecta in November and make those proposals reality.

They also look ahead to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, where President Joe Biden will address delegates after withdrawing from the race last month.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Harris's expanding path to victory Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with Lenny Bronner, a data scientist who works on election models at The Post. They talk about new polling numbers in battleground states and how Harris has put Trump on defense in states like Nevada and Arizona.

Today’s show was produced by Trinity Webster-Bass and Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Rennie Svirnoskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The new electoral map, Walz's record and an expensive primary loss Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter covering the House of Representatives, to talk about House Democrats’ enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris’s VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – a former member of Congress himself. They also discuss takeaways from the primary loss of Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Walz’s military and governance record, and former president Donald Trump’s campaign event slowdown.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Allison Michaels, Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass.

Subscribe to The Campaign Moment Newsletter here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Why Kamala Harris is betting on Tim Walz Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's Campaign Moment newsletter. They talk about why Vice President Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, his strengths and weaknesses, and how he compares with the GOP’s vice president pick, JD Vance.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Trump’s ‘is she Black?’ attack and Harris’s VP front-runners Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

In an interview with panelists at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, former president Donald Trump questioned Vice President Harris’s racial identity, saying she only recently started calling herself Black. Also, the leader of Project 2025, the controversial right-wing policy group, is stepping down. And the Harris campaign has hit some major fundraising goals and is expected to announce her running mate any day now.

Plus, read The Post’s exclusive investigation into a secret probe into whether Trump took money from Egypt here.

Co-host Martine Powers talks with reporters Issac Arnsdorf, who covers Trump, and Tyler Pager, who covers the White House, about what to make of it all.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. Thanks also to Ali Bianco.

Subscribe to The Campaign Moment Newsletter here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

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