October 31, 2024

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Letters from an American" – October 31, 2024

Hosted by Heather Cox Richardson, "Letters from an American" delves into the historical contexts shaping contemporary politics. In the October 31, 2024 episode, Richardson navigates through the tumultuous political landscape leading up to the upcoming elections, highlighting pivotal moments, strategic maneuvers, and the underlying forces influencing voter behavior.

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1. House Speaker Mike Johnson's Stance on the Affordable Care Act

The episode opens with a focus on House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, and his recent comments regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare.

• Context of Johnson's Remarks:

  During a closed-door campaign event on a Monday, Johnson addressed his plans to dismantle the ACA. Despite his claims that his statements were taken out of context, the transcript indicates otherwise.

• Notable Quote:

  "The ACA is so deeply ingrained. We need massive reform to make this work and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that."
  (00:26) – Political Analyst

  This highlights Johnson's clear intention to overhaul the existing healthcare framework rather than merely repealing it.

• Reactions Within the GOP:

  GOP figures like Utah Senator Mike Lee have publicly supported Johnson's stance, with Lee reposting the video and urging the immediate termination of Obamacare.

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2. Donald Trump's Response and Historical Attempts to Repeal the ACA

The discussion transitions to Former President Donald Trump's recent statements concerning the ACA, juxtaposed with his historical actions on the matter.

• Trump's Denial vs. History:

  Trump asserted on social media that he never intended to repeal the ACA, a claim contradicted by his 2016 campaign platform which advocated for a full repeal. His administration's actions in 2017—including an executive order and a House vote to repeal the ACA—underscore his commitment to dismantling the law.

• Notable Quote:

  "I never mentioned repealing the Affordable Care Act, never even thought of such a thing."
  (00:59) – Political Analyst

  This statement is challenged by past initiatives aimed at undermining the ACA, suggesting either a strategic shift or a disconnect in Trump’s current narrative.

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3. Campaign Activities and Strategic Outreach

Richardson outlines the contrasting campaign strategies of Trump and Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris as the election nears.

• Trump's Rally in Albuquerque:

  Facing potential Democratic victories in traditionally Republican-leaning New Mexico, Trump held a rally in a private airplane hangar after the city declined to host it due to outstanding debts from a previous event. At this rally, Trump attempted to mend his image following inflammatory remarks made at a recent Madison Square Garden event.

  • Notable Quote:

    "Look, I came here. We can be nice to each other. Or we can talk turkey. I'm here for one simple reason. I like you very much..."
    (02:52) – Political Analyst

    This illustrates Trump's effort to realign with voters affected by his earlier controversial statements.

• Kamala Harris’s Campaign Efforts:

  Harris has been actively campaigning in swing states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, emphasizing transparency, choice, competition, and expanding affordable healthcare—aligning with Johnson's free-market approach to healthcare reform.

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4. Gender Gap in Voting and Backlash from Right-Wing Figures

A significant portion of the episode addresses the emerging gender gap in voting patterns and the ensuing backlash from conservative factions.

• Voting Trends in Pennsylvania:

  Nearly half of the ballots cast early in Pennsylvania are from voters over 65, with registered Democrats constituting about 58% of early votes compared to 35% for Republicans. Additionally, women constitute a substantial portion of new voters, with 56% of early votes being cast by women.

• Right-Wing Backlash:

  Conservative figures express alarm over the increasing female voter turnout supporting Harris. Notable reactions include:

  • Newt Gingrich:

    "To lie is just one further example of the depth of their corruption..."
    (06:03) – Political Analyst

  • Jesse Waldman of Fox News:
    Compares a wife voting for Harris to having an affair, stating it "violates the sanctity of our marriage."
    (06:18) – Political Analyst

  • Pastor Dale Partridge:
    Advocates that wives should vote according to their husbands' directions, maintaining unity in marriage extends to political choices. However, he notes limits to submission, especially when it conflicts with moral beliefs.
    (06:42) – Political Analyst

• Public Sentiment and Activism:

  Women, in response to these pressures, have been actively ensuring the secrecy of their votes. Democratic campaigns have highlighted the history of women's suffrage to not only honor past struggles but to reinforce the importance of securing voting rights against potential regressions.

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5. Trump's Escalation to Violent Rhetoric and Anti-Cheney Sentiment

The episode delves into Trump's increasingly aggressive rhetoric targeting within his own party, specifically aimed at former Representative Liz Cheney.

• Attacks on Liz Cheney:

  Trump escalated his campaign rhetoric by making threatening remarks about Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming known for encouraging women to vote against Trump.

  • Notable Quote:

    "Let’s put her with a rifle, standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. Okay, let's see how she feels about it."
    (07:16) – Political Analyst

• Affiliations with Authoritarian Leaders:

  The episode also touches upon Tucker Carlson's associations with authoritarian figures like Viktor Orban and Vladimir Putin, highlighting a concerning trend of embracing undemocratic leaders.

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6. Endorsements Bolstering Kamala Harris’s Campaign

As the election draws closer, Harris is garnering significant endorsements from influential figures and organizations, strengthening her campaign's position.

• LeBron James’s Endorsement:

  The basketball icon released a poignant one-minute advertisement juxtaposing Trump's racist statements with the violent days of the civil rights movement, emphasizing the enduring nature of hate.

  • Notable Quote:

    "When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. Vote Kamala Harris."
    (08:25) – Political Analyst

• The Economist and Mike Bloomberg:

  Both the renowned publication and former NYC Mayor Bloomberg have publicly endorsed Harris, citing the risks of another Trump term and praising Harris's vision and bipartisan approach.

• Conservative Voices Against Trump:

  Conservative Judge J. Michael Ludig penned an influential op-ed in The New York Times, urging Republicans to formally reject Trump.

  • Notable Quote:

    "The former president is unfit for office... There could be no higher duty of American citizenship than to decisively repudiate Trump."
    (09:14) – Political Analyst

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7. Support from Democratic Governors and Symbolic Gestures

Democratic governors across several states have shown unified support for Harris, often using symbolic gestures to reinforce their commitment.

• Halloween-Themed Endorsements:

  Governors like Wes Moore of Maryland, Janet Mills of Maine, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, and Phil Murphy of New Jersey participated in Halloween events dressed as Tim Walz, Minnesota Governor and Harris’s running mate. Whitmer emphasized the importance of voting and encouraged planning through platforms like @iwillvote.com.

  • Notable Quote:

    "No tricks this Halloween, just dressing up as our friend Tim Walz, excited to elect him and Kamala Harris."
    (10:27) – Political Analyst

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8. Conclusion and Production Notes

The episode encapsulates a critical juncture in American politics, highlighting the deep divisions, strategic campaigning, and the high stakes of the upcoming election. As the nation stands on the precipice of choosing its next leadership, the narratives woven throughout the episode underscore the profound historical and societal implications of this electoral battle.

• Production Acknowledgment:

  Letters from an American is produced at Soundscape Productions in Dedham, Massachusetts, with music composed by Michael Moss.

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This summary captures the essence of the October 31, 2024 episode of "Letters from an American," offering listeners a comprehensive overview of the key discussions, strategic movements, and pivotal moments shaping the current political climate.

Transcript

[Reporter]

October 31, 2024 House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, has responded to.

[Political Analyst]

News stories about his plan to get rid of the Affordable Care act or.

[Reporter]

Obamacare, by claiming his comments at the.

[Political Analyst]

Closed door campaign event on Monday were taken out of context.

[Reporter]

But they weren't.

[Political Analyst]

The tape is clear. Johnson said that Republicans want massive reform to the Affordable Care act, also known as Obamacare. When an attendee asked, no Obamacare, johnson laughed and agreed, no Obamacare. The ACA is so deeply ingrained. We need massive reform to make this.

[Reporter]

Work and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that.

[Political Analyst]

Maga. Utah Senator Mike Lee reposted the video.

[Reporter]

Of Johnson and commented, kill Obamacare now.

[Political Analyst]

Trump today posted on social media that he never mentioned repealing the Affordable Care act, never even thought of such a thing. But this was either a memory lapse or a lie, because in 2016 he ran on repealing the ACA and his 2016 platform called for a full repeal of Obamacare. Within hours of taking office in 2017, Trump issued an executive order weakening the.

[Reporter]

Law, and when the Republican dominated House.

[Political Analyst]

Voted to repeal the law, Trump held a celebration in the Rose Garden and declared the ACA essentially dead. Senator John McCain, a Republican of Arizona, bucked Trump to protect the ACA then, and Trump began this year's campaign with.

[Reporter]

A promise to get rid of it before backing off.

[Political Analyst]

Even still, the vague promise in the.

[Reporter]

2024 platform to increase transparency, promote choice.

[Political Analyst]

And competition, and expand access to new affordable health care sound a lot like.

[Reporter]

Johnson's promise to restore the free market to health care. While Democratic nominee vice Presidential Kamala Harris.

[Political Analyst]

Has been campaigning in the swing states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Trump today held a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a state President Joe Biden won by almost 11 points in 2020 and that Democrats are likely to win in 2024. Trump had to hold the rally at.

[Reporter]

A private airplane hangar after city officials.

[Political Analyst]

Refused to rent the Albuquerque convention cent the campaign because it still owes Albuquerque almost $445,000 from a similar rally in 2019. Once there, he made it clear he was trying to repair some of the damage caused by the extraordinary racism and sexism on display at his Sunday rally at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

[Reporter]

Where a comedian called Puerto Rico a.

[Political Analyst]

Floating island of garbage. Courting offended voters, he said, don't make.

[Reporter]

Me waste a whole damn half a day here, okay? Look, I came here.

[Political Analyst]

We can be nice to each other.

[Reporter]

Or we can talk turkey.

[Political Analyst]

I'm here for one simple reason. I like you very much and it's good for my credentials with the Hispanic or Latino community. That outreach might not be enough to bring back the voters lost after the Madison Square Garden event. The campaign is seeing other weaknesses as well. Meredith McGraw and Jessica Piper of Politico reported today that nearly half of the ballots already cast in Pennsylvania have come from voters over the age of 65. And although the numbers of registered older voters are divided evenly between the parties, registered Democrats have made up about 58% of Pennsylvania's early votes, compared to 35% for Republicans. Those numbers might well simply reflect different.

[Reporter]

Approaches to mail in ballots, but they.

[Political Analyst]

Also might explain why Trump is already claiming fraud in Pennsylvania. He is also seemingly nervous about Pennsylvania because women are voting there at a much higher rate than men in the.

[Reporter]

Early vote, 56% to 43%, and Democratic.

[Political Analyst]

Women are the biggest group of new.

[Reporter]

Voters in the state.

[Political Analyst]

New voters who were too young eight years ago to hear the Access Hollywood.

[Reporter]

Tape in which Trump bragged about sexually.

[Political Analyst]

Assaulting women have been hearing it on TikTok lately as younger users record their.

[Reporter]

Reactions to it and call out their.

[Political Analyst]

Older male relatives for voting for anyone who would talk as Trump did.

[Reporter]

I moved on her and I failed.

[Political Analyst]

Trump says in the tape.

[Reporter]

I'll admit it, I did try and fit. I moved on her like a but.

[Political Analyst]

I couldn't get there and she was married, trump said.

[Reporter]

You know, I'm automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet.

[Political Analyst]

Just kiss.

[Reporter]

I don't even wait.

[Political Analyst]

And when you're a star, they let you do it.

[Reporter]

You can do anything, grab them by the you can do anything, he said.

[Political Analyst]

The Harris campaign and pro Harris organizations leaned into the history of women's suffrage today with videos highlighting those who fought.

[Reporter]

So that women could vote and reiterating, we are not going back to assist.

[Political Analyst]

Those women who might not feel safe letting their husbands know how they voted. Women have been posting notes in women's public bathrooms assuring other women that their vote is secret. A Democratic advertisement voiced by actress Julia Roberts powerfully makes the point that women do not have to tell their husbands how they vote. Right wing figures like Charlie Kirk have.

[Reporter]

Expressed alarm at the gender gap in voting as well.

[Political Analyst]

There has been a right wing backlash.

[Reporter]

To the idea that women will vote.

[Political Analyst]

For Harris while letting their husbands assume they're voting for Trump. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican.

[Reporter]

Of Georgia who famously cheated on both.

[Political Analyst]

Of his first two wives, expressed dismay.

[Reporter]

At the idea that a woman might.

[Political Analyst]

Need to keep her vote secret from.

[Reporter]

Her husband for them to tell people.

[Political Analyst]

To lie is just one further example of the depth of their corruption, he said. How do you run a country saying wives should lie to their husbands, husbands should lie to their wives?

[Reporter]

I mean, what kind of a totally.

[Political Analyst]

Amoral, corrupt Sikh system have the Democrats developed? On the Fox News Channel's the Five this Morning, host Jesse Waters said that if he found out his wife was going into the voting booth and pulling the lever for Harris, that's the same.

[Reporter]

Thing as having an affair.

[Political Analyst]

That violates the sanctity of our marriage.

[Reporter]

Christian pastor Dale Partridge posted, in a.

[Political Analyst]

Christian marriage, a wife should vote according to her husband's direction. He is the head and they are one. Unity extends to politics.

[Reporter]

This is not controversial.

[Political Analyst]

But, he added, submission does have limits. A wife doesn't need to submit to her husband in sin, in this case.

[Reporter]

Voting Democrat tonight at an event with.

[Political Analyst]

Right wing host Tucker Carlson in Glendale, Arizona, Trump seemed to move beyond misogyny to murderous intent.

[Reporter]

He turned his increasingly violent rhetoric against.

[Political Analyst]

Former Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican of Wyoming who has urged Republican women to vote against Trump. She's a radical war hawk, he said. Let's put her with a rifle, standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. Okay, let's see how she feels about it. Let's see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face. Carlson is friendly with authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has undermined democracy in his own country and is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Today, Orban posted that he had just.

[Reporter]

Got off the phone with President Trump.

[Political Analyst]

I wish him the best of luck for next Tuesday.

[Reporter]

Only five days to go.

[Political Analyst]

Fingers crossed. Meanwhile, a lot more major endorsements for.

[Reporter]

Harris have been coming in today.

[Political Analyst]

Basketball legend LeBron James released a powerful one minute ad with clips of Trump's many racist statements and drawing a straight line from him back to the most.

[Reporter]

Violent days of the civil rights movement. Hate takes us back, it says.

[Political Analyst]

In a post sharing the video, James.

[Reporter]

Wrote, when I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me.

[Political Analyst]

Vote Kamala Harris. James has 53 million followers on X. The Economist today endorsed Harris, warning that a second Trump term comes with unacceptable risks. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg also posted on social media that he had voted for Harris without hesitation and added that he hoped undecided voters would join him. Trump is not fit for high office.

[Reporter]

He wrote in a Bloomberg op ed.

[Political Analyst]

He praised Harris positive vision and bipartisan outreach. Conservative Judge J. Michael Ludig published an op ed in the New York Times.

[Reporter]

On Tuesday, titled My fellow Republicans, it's time to say Enough with Trump.

[Political Analyst]

The former president is unfit for office, ludig wrote. When we entrusted our Constitution and our.

[Reporter]

Democracy to him before he betrayed us, Ludig assured readers that there could be.

[Political Analyst]

No higher duty of American citizenship than.

[Reporter]

To decisively repudiate Trump.

[Political Analyst]

He reminded his fellow Republicans that they had always proudly claimed they would be the first to put country above all else when the time came. That time has come.

[Reporter]

All Americans, but especially Republicans, will live.

[Political Analyst]

With their decision the rest of their lives. The choice for America next Tuesday, Ludig.

[Reporter]

Wrote, could not be clearer.

[Political Analyst]

Ever since Vice President Harris tapped Minnesota.

[Reporter]

Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.

[Political Analyst]

Democratic governors have been demonstrating their support.

[Reporter]

For one of their own.

[Political Analyst]

Today for Halloween, Democratic Governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Janet Mills of Maine, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.

[Reporter]

And Phil Murphy of New Jersey, each dressed to match a photograph of Tim Walls. No tricks this Halloween, whitmer posted. Just dressing up as our friend Tim Walls, excited to elect him and Kamala Harris. If you haven't yet, make a plan to [e-mail].

[Narrator]

Letters from an American was produced at Soundscape Productions, Dedham, Massachusetts. Recorded with music composed by Michael Moss.