A break down of post-Labor Day politics: From polls to debates

Sep 4, 2024

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr break down the following:

00:01:14 - Labor Day Weekend Recap

• Michael's Family Wedding and State Fair Experience: Michael shares his experience attending a wedding and visiting the Minnesota State Fair.
• Becky's Weekend Getaway: Becky discusses her relaxing getaway with college friends in Wisconsin.

00:06:25 - Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Interview Breakdown

• Review of the Joint Interview: Michael and Becky analyze the first joint interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. Michael appreciates the calm and policy-focused nature of the interview, while Becky discusses the challenges Walz faced during the interview and how Harris handled specific questions.

00:09:45 - Kamala Harris' Policy Highlights

• Middle-Class Focus: Becky highlights Harris's critical points on supporting the middle class, the"opportunity economy," and tax credits for small businesses and first-time homebuyers. Michael and Becky agree that Harris performed well, though there were some moments of contention, particularly regarding her stance on fracking and criticism of Trump.

00:12:45 - Discussion on Trump and Press Conferences

• Press Conference Comparison: Michael and Becky discuss the difference in transparency between the Trump and Harris campaigns. Michael defends Harris's systematic approach, and Becky expresses frustration over the limited press conferences from the Harris-Walz team.

00:20:00 - Minnesota Poll Results

• Post-DNC Polls: Discussion of recent polling results in Minnesota, showing Harris up by five points over Trump, with a notable 18-point lead among women. Michael and Becky reflect on the gender divide in support and how Trump's stance on abortion is affecting his numbers.

00:25:30 - U.S. Senate Race in Minnesota

• Royce White vs. Amy Klobuchar: Poll results show Amy Klobuchar leading Royce White by 14 points. Michael and Becky discuss the lack of financial support and general momentum for White's campaign compared to Klobuchar's strong position.

00:33:45 - Importance of Abortion as a Key Issue

• Rising Significance of Abortion: Michael and Becky discuss how abortion has risen to the second-most important issue for voters in Minnesota, particularly in light of recent stories shared by women about their personal experiences with reproductive rights.

00:39:00 - Upcoming Presidential Debate Preview

• Harris vs. Trump Debate Preview: The upcoming presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is discussed. Michael and Becky are eager to see how the candidates will handle their first face-to-face interaction.

00:48:00 - Wall Street Journal Article on Peggy Flanagan

• Peggy Flanagan's Role as Lieutenant Governor: Michael and Becky analyze the Wall Street Journal article discussing Peggy Flanagan's progressive influence on Tim Walz and her potential future as Minnesota governor if Walz becomes vice president.

UPCOMING EVENT: The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky has been invited to join the 2024 MinnPost Festival on September 28th. This is an exciting full-day event with speakers from Minnesota and some national voices.

The Break Down will be hosting a live podcast from the event and would like to invite you to join us. Click here to purchase tickets! Use the code BREAKDOWN to take advantage of a 30% discount. 

We would love to see you in person!