DeepSummary
The episode begins with a discussion of recent polls showing Donald Trump leading Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race. The panelists analyze the potential reasons behind Biden's low approval ratings and Trump's surprisingly strong support among minority and women voters. They debate whether these early polls are reliable predictors or if voter sentiments could shift as the campaigns intensify.
The conversation then shifts to the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to keep Trump on the ballot, despite efforts by some states to disqualify him under the 14th Amendment's 'insurrectionist' clause. The panelists criticize the Court's reasoning, arguing that it essentially nullifies that constitutional provision and expands judicial supremacy.
Later, the panelists are joined by Franklin Foer to discuss his Atlantic article 'The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending.' They explore the rising anti-Semitism on the progressive left, fueled in part by criticism of Israel's policies, and whether American Jews' longstanding privileged status is under threat. The episode also touches on topics like the disproportionate media coverage of Trump and the panelists' TV show recommendations.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Recent polls show Donald Trump leading Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race, with Trump performing surprisingly well among minority and women voters despite Biden's policy accomplishments.
- The Supreme Court unanimously ruled to keep Trump on state ballots, but its reasoning effectively nullifies the Constitution's 'insurrectionist' clause and expands judicial supremacy over Congress.
- Journalist Franklin Foer argues American Jews are facing an erosion of their historically privileged status in the U.S. due to rising anti-Semitism fueled partly by criticism of Israel on the progressive left.
- The media's framing of Trump, whether as a sideshow personality or a serious threat, could significantly shape public perceptions during the election.
- Biden faces pressure to appear vigorous and energetic to counter voter concerns about his age, though the panelists view such efforts as overcompensating.
- There are debates around whether to amplify or downplay media coverage of Trump, with risks of overexposure normalizing his behavior or excessive downplaying allowing misconduct to go unchecked.
- American Jews face a difficult balancing act regarding their identity, with increasing pressure to distance themselves from or denounce Israel's policies while still maintaining their cultural/religious ties.
- The intense polarization and fragmentation of political discourse in America is enabling fringe anti-Semitic viewpoints and conspiracies to gain more mainstream traction.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I feel like there's a connection here with the media coverage, which is if the media coverage is kind of sober, then that's one thing. But if it treats Trump as, like, the guy who hosted the Apprentice, that's another America.“ by Emily Bazelon
- “America doesn't want this election and it's going to get it good and hard. But the choice between the two will be brought front and center. And Donald Trump's, his record and his behavior now will be something that voters will be paying or forced to pay more attention to.“ by John Dickerson
Entities
Person
Company
Product
Podcast
Book
Episode Information
Political Gabfest
Slate Podcasts
3/7/24
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Biden v. Trump polls and Super Tuesday, the Supreme Court’s decision to leave Donald Trump on the ballot, and whether The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending with The Atlantic’s Franklin Foer. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener Chatter to gabfest@slate.com and you might be picked to chatter live.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
538: Latest Polls
Shane Goldmacher for The New York Times: Voters Doubt Biden’s Leadership and Favor Trump, Times/Siena Poll Finds
Mark Joseph Stern for Slate: The Supreme Court’s “Unanimous” Trump Ballot Ruling Is Actually a 5-4 Disaster
Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: Nine Justices in Search of an Excuse to Nullify Section 3 of the 14th Amendment
Kate Shaw, Melissa Murray, and Leah Litman for Crooked Media’s Strict Scrutiny podcast: SCOTUS Restores Trump to the Colorado Ballot, Unanimously (Kind Of)
Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending
Elena Schneider and Melanie Mason for Politico: AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates
Center for Antisemitism Research: 24% of Americans Harbor Extensive Antisemitic Prejudice, Up From 20% in 2022, Survey Finds
Romain Chauvet for The Times of Israel: ‘I’m afraid every day for my children’: As antisemitism soars, French Jews flee to Israel
Here are this week’s chatters:
Emily: Madaleine Rubin for The Texas Tribune: Sean Teare unseats Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in primary; Serena Lin for the Austin American-Statesman: Incumbent José Garza wins Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney; Stefanie Dazio for AP: Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón advances to runoff; Mensah M. Dean for The Trace: In Philadelphia, a Program Offers Some People Arrested for Unlicensed Guns a Second Chance; and Jenice Armstrong for The Philadelphia Inquirer: Philly program keeps gun offenders out of prison. I’m