A break down of the Harris – Trump presidential debate!

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and BeckyMichael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by Will Davis and Preya Samsundar to break down the following:

00:01:30 – Acknowledging September 11th

  • Tribute to 9/11: Becky acknowledges the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th attacks, honoring the victims and first responders.

00:02:30 – Kamala Harris’s Debate Performance

  • Initial Impressions of Harris’s Performance: Preya critiques Harris’ shaky start and argues that she failed to define herself, focusing more on baiting Trump than addressing critical issues.
  • Will’s Take on Harris: Will praises Harris for handling Trump’s attacks well and maintaining composure throughout the debate.

00:07:00 – Michael’s Take on Harris

  • Michael’s Positive Review: Michael believes Harris found her footing and ultimately delivered a powerful performance.

00:09:30 – Becky’s Review of Harris’s Debate Tactics

  • Harris’ Strengths: Becky discusses Harris’ eye contact and connection with voters, emphasizing her ability to directly relate through the camera and criticize Trump.

00:11:00 – Donald Trump’s Debate Performance

  • Will’s Critique of Trump: Will criticizes Trump for appearing flustered and failing to stay composed, noting his tendency to recycle old talking points.
  • Preya’s Perspective on Trump: Preya acknowledges Trump’s weaknesses, including his lack of message discipline, but argues the moderators were biased against him.

00:17:00 – Moderators and Bias

  • Preya on Moderator Bias: Preya expresses frustration with the moderators, arguing they fact-checked Trump extensively while letting Harris avoid tough follow-ups.
  • Michael and Will Debate the Moderators’ Role: Michael and Will defend the moderators, emphasizing Trump’s frequent deviations from the truth, but acknowledge the perception of bias.

00:23:30 – Speaking Time and Attack Strategy

  • Speaking Time Breakdown: Becky notes that Trump spoke for 43 minutes compared to Harris’ 37 minutes, but Harris spent more time attacking Trump.

00:25:00 – Key Issues Discussed in the Debate

  • Discussion of Key Debate Issues: The group discusses critical issues such as the economy, abortion, democracy, and immigration, highlighting moments where both candidates succeeded or faltered.

00:35:00 – Trump’s Messaging Issues and Missed Opportunities

  • Trump’s Missed Opportunities: Michael criticizes Trump for veering off-topic, particularly on immigration and January 6th, allowing Harris to dominate specific debate segments.
  • Missed Policy Focus: Preya mentions that Trump failed to focus on relevant issues such as the fentanyl crisis or border security.

00:47:00 – Abortion and Democracy as Debate Highlights

  • Harris’ Strong Abortion Stance: Becky praises Harris for her compelling storytelling about abortion, contrasting it with Trump’s faltering response.
  • Trump’s Failure to Address Democracy Concerns: Becky criticizes Trump for mishandling questions on democracy and January 6th, missing an opportunity to reassure voters.

00:59:00 – Trump’s Endorsement of Viktor Orban

  • Discussion of Trump’s Praise of Viktor Orban: Will expresses concern about Trump’s praise of Orban, a controversial figure, furthering fears about Trump’s stance on democracy.

01:02:00 – The Impact of Trump’s Messaging on the Republican Party

  • Michael’s Concerns for the Future of the Republican Party: Michael discusses the long-term effects of Trump’s messaging on the GOP, with Preya and Will agreeing that the party is struggling with message discipline and credibility.

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