VP Debate Night: Vance Sanitized Trumpism, Walz Called Himself a Knucklehead
Politics

VP Debate Night: Vance Sanitized Trumpism, Walz Called Himself a Knucklehead

Politics tamfitronics If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIREDVice Presidential candidates governor Tim Walz and US senator JD Vance faced off last night in their first and only debate. Will Vance’s repackaging of Trump’s record on issues like abortion and January 6 land with independents and swing state voters? Where was the fiery Walz who won social media by calling Republicans “weird?” And will any of this really matter on election day? WIRED’s Tim Marchman and Makena Kelly join Leah to discuss.Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Makena Kelly is @kellymakena. Tim Marchman is @timmarchman. Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here.Mentioned this week:No, Tim Walz Is Not...
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The VP Debate Shows How Performance Shapes Our Democracy
Politics

The VP Debate Shows How Performance Shapes Our Democracy

Politics tamfitronics What are Vice Presidential debates for? In the frenzy of deciding what to think after a debate that basic question often gets lost. Debates generate a distinct news cycle as mainstream media plan for, cover, and finally discuss and fact-check the event. Researchers are divided in how to interpret these cycles. One side says: this is all pseudo-events, generated for the media, by the media. Manufactured sites, imagined to be authentic. The other side argues, no, these debates are media events that bring societies together in a common viewing experience, offering a chance to discuss core values and particular policies, ultimately generating social cohesion.The J.D. Vance-Tim Walz VP debate was both. A maddening amount of punditry combined with moments when we had chances to consider what topics, delivered by whom, should define who...
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Pelosi: Iran Is Stronger Because of the ‘Failed Policy of Donald Trump’
Politics

Pelosi: Iran Is Stronger Because of the ‘Failed Policy of Donald Trump’

Politics tamfitronics Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) claimed Wednesday on CNN’s “Inside Politics” that Iran is in a stronger position “nuclear wise” because of the “failed policy of Donald Trump.”Pelosi said, “We want to avoid a bigger war. As you know, full well, that masterfully President Obama had a plan to reduce the capacity of the Iranians to produce a nuclear weapon. The next president in line, he came in and eliminate it that unfortunately, because now Iran is on a path again for enriching uranium or fully taking it closer to having the capacity for a weapon.”She continued, “I don’t know how close they are to that and if i did, I wouldn’t say. So again, we want to avoid a bigger war. We do know that Hezbollah and Hamas are proxies...
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ANALYSIS: Mr Slick versus Mr Earnest Nice Guy? Civilised US VP debate stuck to policy ideas, but won’t move dial for voters
Politics

ANALYSIS: Mr Slick versus Mr Earnest Nice Guy? Civilised US VP debate stuck to policy ideas, but won’t move dial for voters

Politics tamfitronics Well, okay, it was not a blow-out, especially since initial polling indicates a basic 50-50 split among registered voters about who bested whom. Concurrently, it will not be a debate that will go down in history the way the John Kennedy-Richard Nixon, the Jimmy Carter-Gerald Ford, or the Ronald Reagan-Walter Mondale, let alone the 1858 Abraham Lincoln-Stephen Douglas, debates have been recognised.There were no decisive “gotcha” lines; no shut-the-door on an opponent, rapier-like one-liners sealing the deal. Instead, this debate was, taken as a whole, a civilised, even respectful conversation over actual policies, plans and hopes between two coherent candidates. Again, drawing upon initial polling, both candidates somewhat improved their reputations with voters on things like their suitability to step in as president, if necessary. Similarly, the likability quotient for both candidates...
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