The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Episode: Inside a Trump 2024 Rally in Iowa

Date: September 27, 2023
Host: Tyler Foggatt
Guest: Benjamin Wallace-Wells

Overview

This episode provides an on-the-ground look at a Trump 2024 rally in Dubuque, Iowa, through the eyes of New Yorker staff writer Benjamin Wallace-Wells. Discussing his recent reporting, Wallace-Wells contrasts the current scene with his prior experiences at Trump rallies in previous election cycles. The conversation examines how the tone, crowd, and strategy of Trump’s campaign events have shifted, the dynamics within the Republican field, and how issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy are being communicated to voters as the Iowa caucuses approach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Changing Atmosphere of Trump Rallies

• Smaller, Milder Crowds:

  • Recent rally in Iowa felt "weirdly mundane," with 800–1,000 attendees versus previous rallies that drew thousands (01:37).
  • Shift from “boisterous” and “blood-curdling” energy in 2016 to a more typical Republican primary event.
  • “It was much less boisterous, much less deranged, much less destabilizing than the Trump rallies I went to.” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (01:37)

• Panel Discussions & Normalization:

  • Rally featured a panel of Republican officials discussing immigration—an element of generic party gatherings rather than a Trump-centric spectacle (04:33, 04:35).

Trump’s Messaging and Identity in 2024

• Old Rhetoric, New Packaging:

  • Trump still delivers the occasional “crazy” remark (e.g., windmills killing whales) but the overall tone is less revolutionary.
  • “If you read through the quotes that Trump is giving and you select the five craziest ones, ...you would still say, man, this guy sounds kind of unhinged, kind of deranged. But... there is not the kind of ...hostility ...that Trump has targeted in the past.” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (05:16)

• Electability as a Core Message:

  • Trump frames himself as the most “electable” candidate, pointing to his 2016 victory and moderate (by GOP standards) abortion stance (07:02).
  • “He actually won. He actually became president... who actually got some of the stuff he wanted done.” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (09:41)

• Abortion Stance:

  • Trump positions himself with exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother’s life, critiquing rivals for stricter bans (08:20–08:47).
  • Quote:

    “Like Ronald Reagan before me, I believe in the three exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. I believe in that. I think it's very important. Without the exceptions, it is very difficult to win elections.” — Donald J. Trump [08:20]

• Immigration Messaging:

  • Trump’s rhetoric mostly repeats past claims—taking credit for strong border policies and blaming Biden for "chaos" (12:28).
  • Wallace-Wells notes “He sort of lied, basically... I stopped all this. And then Biden came in and it started again.” (12:28)

The Dynamics in the Republican Field

• Fragmented Opposition:

  • DeSantis, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, and others all focus on Iowa, but none have emerged as the clear alternative (24:27).
  • “The failure of the DeSantis campaign... was just he could not effectively establish himself as the lone alternative to Trump.”—Benjamin Wallace-Wells (24:27)

• Endorsements and Party Shift:

  • Despite high-profile defects (former advisors, VP, and others opposing Trump), the broader Republican party apparatus remains aligned behind him (27:37).

Trump’s Longevity and Changes in Appeal

• No New Policy Ideas:
  • Trump “seems like he's repeating himself. There's just not any new ideas.” (15:40)
• Contrast with Biden:
  • Trump’s age less of a liability for his base compared to how Biden’s is perceived nationally.

How Voters See the Stakes

• Economy & Perception:
  • Trump still benefits from a lingering reputation as an economic manager; Biden’s efforts at recovery aren’t resonating as much as expected (18:08).
  • “People simply can't believe that this guy [Biden] fixed all these complicated technical things… It must have been outside the realm of government.” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (19:25)
• Criminal Trials:
  • Current thinking: Trump’s indictments galvanize primary voters but could damage him with independents/general electorate (30:52).
  • “This helps him in the primary and hurts him in the general election? I think is the general sentiment I've gotten…” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (30:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the New, Tamer Feel of Trump Rallies:
  “You kind of come out of it and say, you know, he's not tamer, exactly. He's not saner. Exactly. But something about this is different for sure. It's much less insurrectionary. It's not envisioning some revolution of the party…” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (05:20)
• On the Shift in Party Identity:
  “There is a kind of weird dynamic here where he is personally considerably more isolated... but at the level of the party, he has moved the party towards him.” — Benjamin Wallace-Wells (27:37)
• Voter Sentiment on Trump’s Legal Troubles:
  “The more criminal trials Trump faces, the more his supporters will support him.” — Cited by Tyler Foggatt from a woman at the rally (30:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening and Trump Rally Setup: 01:19–02:37
• Comparing 2016 to 2024 Rallies: 02:37–04:33
• Immigration Panel and Moderated Tone: 04:33–05:20
• Trump’s Rhetorical Style and Electability Messaging: 05:20–07:35
• Abortion Policy Discussion: 08:20–09:38
• Trump’s Image & Party Shift Since 2016: 10:24–12:09
• Immigration and Republican Sentiment: 12:09–15:18
• Aging and Energy: Trump vs. Biden: 15:18–17:30
• Policy vs. Personality in 2024 Elections: 17:30–19:25
• Trump the ‘Economic Genius’ Reputation: 19:25–22:24
• State of the 2024 Iowa Field: 24:27–27:04
• Endorsements and Party Realignment: 27:04–29:13
• Shrinking Rally Sizes, Waning ‘Revolution’ Spirit: 29:13–30:21
• Impact of Criminal Trials: 30:21–33:11
• Expectations for the Next GOP Debate: 33:11–34:28

Conclusion

The episode explores how Trump’s 2024 campaign events have lost their earlier volatility and spectacle, instead resembling standard Republican fare even as Trump’s unique charisma and controversial rhetoric persist. Benjamin Wallace-Wells’s reporting from Iowa reveals that, while Trump’s revolutionary posture has faded, the party remains in his image, and the opposition has yet to coalesce. Despite legal troubles and a smaller following at rallies, Trump’s status as the Republican frontrunner remains secure thanks to a fragmented field and the perception that he is still the party’s best bet for beating Biden, even as questions about turnout and the impact of upcoming trials loom.

Read more:
Benjamin Wallace-Wells’s companion piece, “Is Trump Just an Ordinary Republican?” is available on newyorker.com.