The Campaign Moment

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Did Trump make a mistake with Vance? Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

It’s only been two weeks since JD Vance became Donald Trump’s running mate, and he’s already getting a lot of attention. But maybe not for the reasons Republicans wanted.

Past comments from the Ohio senator about “childless cat ladies” and parents having more voting power in elections have unleashed a flurry of criticism from Democrats. Vance’s comments also fueled a new line of attack from opponents who are deriding him as “weird.”

Co-host and senior political reporter Aaron Blake speaks with “Campaign Moment” podcast producer Laura Benshoff about all things Vance, and what his unusual unpopularity could mean for the Trump campaign.

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

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

What connects Vice President Harris to young voters Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Maeve Reston, a national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential race. They talk about how Vice President Harris may tackle the Israel-Gaza conflict, new polling on the Harris-Trump matchup, and how Gen Z influencers and memes may engage young voters and buoy Harris’s campaign.

Today’s episode was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass and Drew Harwell.

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

7 options for a Kamala Harris VP pick Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

Vice President Harris remains on a fast track to the 2024 Democratic nomination – a virtual vote could make it official as early as next week. That means she will need to pick her running mate very soon. We started to talk through some possible VP picks on Tuesday and now return to the studio to hear how Aaron Blake’s reporting and analysis have led him to zero in on seven options. He and Elahe Izadi dig further into what potential candidates would – and wouldn’t – bring to a Democratic ticket with Harris at the top.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Harris hits the ground running. The GOP pivots. Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Colby Itkowitz, who covers voting and elections on the democracy team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi. They talk about how Harris polls against Trump, what it means for her to take over a campaign that was designed for President Biden, and how the GOP is reacting to her campaign.

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

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Post Reports: President Biden steps aside Jul 21, 2024

Show notes

On Sunday afternoon, President Biden released a statement announcing that he would stand down from seeking reelection in the 2024 presidential race. The statement came after weeks of mounting pressure from members of his party, many of whom expressed concern over his health and speculated whether he would be able to beat former president Donald Trump.

We're sharing this special edition of Post Reports today. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with White House reporter Tyler Pager about this monumental decision by the president and whether it puts Democrats in a better position to beat Trump.

The show was produced by Ariel Plotnick and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Trump's convention, Biden's crisis Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

Democrats flipped the typical convention script this week, dominating the news during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump at a rally Saturday, the GOP aimed to send a message of unity to the party faithful. In his acceptance speech, Trump initially seemed somber, telling the crowd, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.” They chanted back, “Yes, you are.” But he quickly regained his normal campaign posture, hammering Democrats over immigration and the economy. Meanwhile, new reporting from The Post shows that Biden is hearing concerns about his fitness to lead the ticket from senior Democratic figures like former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and former president Barack Obama.

Martine Powers and Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and writer of The Campaign Moment newsletter, speak with Dan Balz, the chief correspondent covering national politics, the presidency and Congress at The Post.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Charla Freeland. It was edited by Reena Flores and Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sam Bair.

Subscribe to The Campaign Moment newsletter here.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The calls are coming from inside the House Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

This week was supposed to be all about the GOP as delegates rally in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. However, Democratic infighting has taken center stage.

While an effort is brewing to secure President Biden’s spot on the ticket weeks before the Democrats’ convention, congressional leaders within his own party have told Biden his candidacy could imperil down-ballot Democrats.

Meanwhile, the president seems committed to pushing forward despite ominous polling. Can Biden’s endorsement of liberal ideas garner support from within the party and woo voters? Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks through all of this with senior congressional correspondent and columnist Paul Kane.

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Dark rhetoric is back at the Republican National Convention Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake is hopping on the mic solo before getting ready for Wednesday night’s speeches to run through the themes emerging midway through the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Speeches have been turning more ominous and he expects that will continue.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

On the GOP stage: MTG, Amber Rose and a union leader Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake sits down with The Campaign Moment producer Laura Benshoff for a special play-by-play episode of the most important moments of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee so far and what’s next for the GOP. They break down the moment when Donald Trump walked out onto the convention floor in his first major appearance since the assassination attempt. They also talk through the divisive rhetoric heard in several of the speeches Monday night and discuss the Republican Party’s efforts to reach new voters.

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

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

VP pick Vance, Secret Service scrutiny and more from Milwaukee Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

This week, amid calls for political unity and growing questions over presidential security, Trump faces one of the most consequential weeks in his campaign yet – the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will officially accept the Republican nomination for president.

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers speaks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and political investigations and enterprise reporter Josh Dawsey from the convention. They explore the weight of the ongoing investigation into the attempted assassination, its larger implications and what to expect from the convention this week. Also, they discuss the dropped charges in a legal challenge regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents, and the announcement of Trump’s running mate: Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Charla Freeland, and mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Thanks also to Ali Bianco.

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

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

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