Oct 31, 2024
On this episode
of The Break Down with
Brodkorb and Becky, Michael
Brodkorb and Becky
Scherr are joined by John Rouleau and Julius Hernandez to break down the
following:
00:01:30 - Celebrating
Two Years of The Break Down with Brodkorb and
Becky!
- Podcast
Anniversary: Becky and Michael reflect on two years of the
podcast, expressing gratitude for each other and the meaningful
conversations they've shared with guests over time.
00:03:00 - Minnesota Polls: Contrasting
Results
- Poll
Analysis: The group discusses recent MinnPost and KSTP
polls showing varying leads for Harris and Trump in
Minnesota.
- Julius
and John on Poll Accuracy: Julius supports the MinnPost
poll, suggesting Harris has a solid lead, while John explains the
challenges of polling methodology and voter turnout
predictions.
00:10:00 - Gender-Based Voter Trends and Male
Support for Trump
- Trump's Appeal to Male Voters:
The discussion focuses on Trump's efforts to engage young men,
mainly through media figures like Joe Rogan.
- Shift
in Male Voter Support: Becky and Julius debate if Trump
has seen a decline in male support, especially among younger and
Black male voters.
00:15:00 - Reproductive Rights and Voter
Motivation
- Impact
of Abortion on Voter Decisions: The group explores how
abortion remains a priority for both male and female voters,
especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
- Conversations with Republican
Men: Michael shares insights about Republicans supporting
Harris-Walz due to their stance on reproductive rights.
00:20:00 - Geographic Voter Trends and
Split-Ticket Voting in Minnesota
- Rural
vs. Urban Voter Divide: Trump continues performing well in
rural areas, while Harris leads in urban and suburban
regions.
- Impact
of Split-Ticket Voting: Becky and the panelists speculate
that Minnesota voters may back Harris-Walz at the top of the ticket
while voting for Republicans in legislative races.
00:31:00 - Suburban Voters and Legislative
Control
- Suburban Swing Districts: The
conversation shifts to the importance of suburban voters in
deciding control of the Minnesota House and Senate.
- Voter
Priorities: John and Julius highlight the frustration with
polarized politics and the potential for moderates to push for
legislative balance.
00:40:00 - Kamala Harris's CNN Town Hall
Performance
- Town
Hall Analysis: The panel reviews Kamala Harris' CNN Town
Hall, praising her efforts but noting areas where the messaging
could have been stronger.
- Challenges of Differentiating from
Biden: Julius argues that Harris's campaign struggles with
separating her identity from Biden's presidency while maintaining
voter trust.
00:45:00 - Trump's Madison Square Garden Rally
and Controversial Comments
- Event
Criticism: The group discusses Trump's rally, criticizing
its focus on inflammatory rhetoric and lack of meaningful outreach
to undecided voters.
- Strategic Mistake: Michael
points out that focusing on a base-only strategy this close to the
election could limit Trump's ability to attract swing
voters.
00:50:00 - Kamala Harris' Speech at the
Ellipse
- Positive Message and Unity:
Michael and Julius praise Harris' speech for its inclusive tone and
focus on national unity.
- Comparison with Trump's
Messaging: The panel contrasts Harris' coalition-building
approach with Trump's divisive rhetoric.
01:00:00 - Double Standards in Media Coverage of
Harris and Trump
- Media
Bias Discussion: The panel debates whether the media holds
Harris to a higher standard than Trump, citing differences in
scrutiny.
- Public
Perception of Candidates: Julius suggests that the double
standard in coverage may affect voter perception and create
additional challenges for Harris's campaign.
01:16:00 - Nikki Haley Criticizes Trump
Campaign's Outreach to Women
- No
Haley: Becky discusses Nikki Haley, sharing that Haley has
not communicated with Trump since June and is waiting to be called
to campaign for him. Scherr expresses shock that there has been no
outreach to Haley,
- Haley Not Needed: Rouleau
argues that Haley's support within the GOP is overstated,
suggesting that while she is an eloquent spokesperson, her impact
as a surrogate might be limited in a presidential race.
01:22:00 - Halloween and Michael Reads Mean
Posts
- Halloween: The discussion
shifts to everyone's excitement about Halloween.
- Michael Reads Means Posts:
Michael reflects on the challenges of supporting candidates across
party lines by reading mean comments he has received on social
media.
01:30:00 - Closing Remarks and
Reflections
- Anniversary Reflections: Becky
and Michael thank the audience and guests for their support
throughout the podcast's two years.
- Looking Ahead: The hosts tease
future episodes and encourage listeners to stay engaged in the
political process.
The Break Down with Brodkorb and
Becky will return with a new episode this week.