On Wednesday night, Fox Business and Rumble hosted the second Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in beautiful Simi Valley, California. Bari Weiss and The Free Press’s very own Peter Savodnik watched live in the spin room as the seven candidates—Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Tim Scott, and Doug Burgum— took the stage to spar over questions about union strikes, inflation, income inequality, the cost of childcare, the border, China, crime, policing, drugs, gun violence, education, Russia, Ukraine. . . really, nothing new.
But of course, the man they really wanted to spar with and the man leading the polls by a landslide still refuses to play ball. So, we sent TFP reporter Michael Moynihan to check in on the elusive Donald Trump, who spent his night on the other side of the country speaking to a crowded room, which he claimed would be full of striking auto workers. (Though, Moynihan had a hard time finding them.) Trump’s Detroit visit came just one day after President Biden went to the picket line in Wayne County to march with union members outside a General Motors plant—an unprecedented move by a sitting president.
On today’s episode, as the two likely 2024 candidates battled to portray themselves as the voice of blue-collar Americans, what were the seven GOP hopefuls hoping to achieve by squabbling at the Reagan Library instead of marching with striking auto workers? Who were the biggest winners and losers of this very strange tale of two cities? And with nearly 60 percent of GOP voters backing Trump, is anyone emerging as a viable Trump competitor, or is it time to face the fact that we’re tumbling toward a 2020 rematch between two very old men that no one really wants to see happen?
Music in this episode by blue dot sessions
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Bari’s analysis of conservative thought and politicians is pathetic. Sure, she realized the NYT, and, by extension, much of the MSM is partisan and corrupt. Admitting there’s a problem is just the first step.
Her views on Kellyanne Conway and Kari Lake are shallow left wing characterizations and she’s a bit surprised it seems that they provided insights she found noteworthy.
Vivek gives an awesome answer on how one cannot blindly follow ideals but adapt to the situation at hand that goes right over her head. I don’t think she is capable of parsing nuance in right wing views.
Thankfully, TFP has some writers I enjoy. I tip my cap to Bari for eschewing the corrupt MSM and starting TFP. However, moving forward I’ll treat Bari’s analysis of the GOP like she’s George Costanza - whatever she says, I’ll consider the opposite to be true.
More Moynihan! 🙌🏼