Pretend I'm on the Ballot
Summary
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson analyze Trump’s midterm convention as a failed attempt to reverse his low approval ratings and discuss the legal chaos surrounding mail-in ballots and Missouri redistricting. They interview Jacob Weisberg about his new book, Profiles in Cowardice, which examines why prominent figures like Jeff Bezos and Brad Karp capitulated to Trump’s pressure in his second term. The episode concludes with a reflection on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, exploring how the event’s legacy of overreaction and civil liberties erosion continues to shape modern p…
Topics discussed
Intro, Slate Plus promo, and Upwork sponsorship
Analysis of Trump's midterm convention and base rally
Democratic strategy and the impact of Trump's chaos
Supreme Court rulings on mail-in ballots and gerrymandering
Battleground races and Josh Turek's Senate campaign
Sponsorships: Built, Upwork, and BetterHelp
Jacob Weisberg on 'Profiled in Cowardice': Bezos and Paul Weiss
Contagion of cowardice and university responses to Trump
Pressures on Republicans: conformity, money, and social exclusion
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney: missed opportunities for courage
Institutionalism vs. principle: Harvard and Dartmouth College
Internal resistance in government and the case of Steve Schwarzman
Psychology of bullying: Trump, Megyn Kelly, and Mitch McConnell
Sponsorships: NPR Politics Podcast and Bombas
25th Anniversary of 9/11: Unity, fear, and loss of confidence
Contributory factors to America's defensive posture post-9/11
Cocktail Chatter: Census changes, books, and US Open tennis
Cocktail Chatter: Sci-fi, marine biology, and Slate Plus promo
Outro, credits, and final sponsorships
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