Michael Brodkorb

A break down about polls, messaging, and the final days of the election

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by John Rouleau and Julius Hernandez to break down the following:

00:01:30 – Celebrating Two Years of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky!

• Podcast Anniversary: Becky and Michael reflect on two years of the podcast, expressing gratitude for each other and the meaningful conversations they’ve shared with guests over time.

00:03:00 – Minnesota Polls: Contrasting Results

• Poll Analysis: The group discusses recent MinnPost and KSTP polls showing varying leads for Harris and Trump in Minnesota.
• Julius and John on Poll Accuracy: Julius supports the MinnPost poll, suggesting Harris has a solid lead, while John explains the challenges of polling methodology and voter turnout predictions.

00:10:00 – Gender-Based Voter Trends and Male Support for Trump

• Trump’s Appeal to Male Voters: The discussion focuses on Trump’s efforts to engage young men, mainly through media figures like Joe Rogan.
• Shift in Male Voter Support: Becky and Julius debate if Trump has seen a decline in male support, especially among younger and Black male voters.

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Bonus Episode: Fmr. Rep. Joe Walsh in Minnesota, Kelly on Trump

On this special bonus episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr break down the following:

00:01:00 – Republicans and Independents for Harris Event

• Event Details: Michael describes the panel discussion, emphasizing former Rep. Joe Walsh’s enthusiasm and Tom Horner’s policy focus.
• Sobering Message: Michael reflects on Tom Heffelfinger’s remarks about the importance of the upcoming election, calling it a serious and thought-provoking discussion.

00:07:00 – John Kelly’s Revelations about Trump

• John Kelly’s Claims: Becky outlines John Kelly’s claims that Trump praised Hitler and admired authoritarian leadership styles.
• Response to the Claims: Michael shares his struggle with the timing and content of these revelations but acknowledges the credibility of Kelly’s account, given his stature.

00:11:00 – Balancing Free Speech and Political Discussion

• Challenges of Discussing Controversial Statements: Michael and Becky reflect on the difficulty of navigating such severe topics in political discourse without being hyperbolic.
• Trump’s Denial: Becky expresses skepticism about Trump’s denial, believing Kelly’s statements to be more credible.

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A break down on the GOP case for Trump-Vance vs. Harris-Walz

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by Ryan Wilson, the Republican-endorsed candidate for State Auditor in 2022, to break down the following:

00:01:00 – Ryan Wilson’s Op-Ed and Suburban Voter Appeal

• Discussion of the Op-Ed: Ryan explains why he wrote the op-ed supporting Trump-Vance, countering Michael’s prior piece supporting Harris-Walz.
• Key Policy Points: Ryan emphasizes how the Trump-Vance agenda supports the economy, family values, and public safety, targeting suburban families and middle-class voters.

00:04:00 – Economic Policy Debate

• Economics Policies: Ryan argues that the Trump-Vance ticket offers strong economic policies to support the middle class and job creation. At the same time, Michael criticizes Trump’s financial track record and praises Harris-Walz’s economic approach.

00:10:00 – Public Safety and Immigration

• Public Safety and Crime Policies: Ryan defends the Trump-Vance campaign’s focus on law enforcement and immigration policies, including border security and addressing the fentanyl crisis.
• Michael’s Counterpoint: Michael questions Trump’s immigration promises, arguing that previous campaign promises, like building the wall, were not fulfilled.

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A break down about polls, politics, and the road to Election Day

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr break down the following:

00:04:00 – JD Vance’s Visit to Minnesota

• Discussion of Vance’s Appearance: Becky and Michael analyze JD Vance’s private fundraising event and press stop at the 3rd Precinct in Minneapolis.
• Campaign Strategy Criticism: They debate the need for more public events and the absence of enthusiasm, suggesting that the Trump-Vance campaign focuses on raising money rather than engaging with voters in Minnesota.

00:12:00 – NBC Poll and Presidential Race Analysis

• Discussion of Poll Results: Becky and Michael discuss the latest NBC poll showing a neck-and-neck race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
• Gender Gap in Support: They highlight the significant gender divide in voter support, with Harris leading among women and Trump leading among men.

00:22:00 – Swing State Polling and Election Predictions

• Analysis of Swing State Trends: Michael and Becky discuss the tight polling margins in swing states and the possibility of an “October surprise.”
• Flip-of-the-Coin Election: Michael predicts the race will remain very close until Election Day, emphasizing the volatility of daily polling shifts.

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Bonus Episode: A Break Down on Debunking Misinformation about FEMA

On this special bonus episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by Bryan Strawser, Principal and CEO of Bryghtpath.

Introduction and Guest Introduction

• Michael Brodkorb introduces the podcast and mentions Becky Scherr’s absence due to illness. He also welcomes guest Bryan Strawser, an expert on emergency management, to discuss misinformation related to FEMA and hurricane relief.

00:01:00 – Bryan Strawser’s Background

• Bryan shares his professional background, including his previous work at Target and expertise in crisis management, emergency preparedness, and disaster response.

00:02:15 – Overview of How Emergency Response Works

• Bryan explains the structure of disaster response, highlighting that emergency management is locally led, state-managed, and federally supported. He outlines the role of FEMA in providing logistical support and funding in coordination with local and state authorities.

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A break down about bridging the divide: civil discourse and campaign realities

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by guests Rep. Elliott Engen and Julius Hernandez to break down the following:

00:01:00 – Panel Introductions

• Introduction of Guests: Michael introduces Representative Elliott Engen, a Republican from White Bear Lake Township, and Julius Hernandez, Director of Advocacy for the Institute of Digital Humanity. They briefly discuss their personal history working together on a campaign in 2020.

00:03:00 – Importance of Bipartisan Conversations

• Setting the Tone: Michael emphasizes the importance of civil discourse between Republicans and Democrats during the election cycle. He praises the platform for fostering conversations between people of differing political views.

00:04:00 – Representative Elliott Engen’s Campaign Experience

• Campaign Insights: Representative Engen shares his experience campaigning in 2020, highlighting the shift in voter concerns from abortion and post-Roe issues to a broader frustration with both political parties.

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A Break Down about the VP Debate, Melania Trump’s New Comments on Abortion, Becky’s Review of Ryan Seacrest on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

On this special bonus episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr break down the following:

00:00:00 – Introduction

• Hosts Introduction: Becky Scherr and Michael Brodkorb introduce the episode, discussing the topics for the day, including the vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, Melania Trump’s statement on abortion, and the performance of new “Wheel of Fortune” host Ryan Seacrest.

00:01:00 – Vice Presidential Debate Recap

• The VP Debate: Becky describes the debate as civil and issue-focused, a departure from recent political events. Becky and Michael express surprise at the lack of provocations or “fireworks” despite some mild back-and-forth between Vance and Walz.

00:03:00 – Vance’s Debate Performance

• JD Vance’s Goals and Performance: Becky and Michael discuss Vance’s debate performance. Becky argues that Vance successfully positioned himself as an intellectual and credible vice-presidential candidate. Michael expresses skepticism about whether this intellectual image helps Vance connect with voters.

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A break down about legislative races, MN02, and the Vance – Walz debate

On this episode of The Break Down with Brodkorb and Becky, Michael Brodkorb and Becky Scherr are joined by Will Davis and Anna Mathews to break down the following:

00:00:00 – Introduction and MinnPost Festival Recap

• MinnPost Festival Recap: Becky and Michael recap their first in-person podcast at the MinnPost Festival, where they discussed the Republican Party’s future in Minnesota, took audience questions, and highlighted the positive reception they received.

00:02:30 – Minnesota House Legislative Races

• House Race Overview: Becky, Will and Anna discuss the 134 seats up for grabs in the Minnesota House, the current balance of power (70 Democrats, 64 Republicans), and the potential impact of the upcoming election on the Democratic trifecta.
• DFL Confidence: Will Davis expresses confidence in the Democratic field game and candidate quality, predicting that the DFL will retain the trifecta.
• Republican Perspective: Anna Mathews shares optimism about the Republican Party’s volunteer efforts, citing high turnout and positive polling results outside Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

00:08:00 – Impact of Tim Walz on Down-Ballot Races

• Walz as a Running Mate: Michael Brodkorb and Becky discuss the impact of Gov. Tim Walz being Kamala Harris’ running mate on down-ballot Republican races, noting that Walz’s presence could energize Democrats and Republicans in Minnesota.

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