Former President Trump is circumventing traditional media and instead conducting interviews with independent podcasters and internet personalities, as he seeks to reach young independent voters in a fast-changing media environment. - Podcaster Lex Fridman, a computer scientist whose YouTube page has more than 4 million followers, is the latest independent media personality to land an interview with Trump.
- Trump and Fridman discussed Joe Rogan, medical marijuana, aliens and Jeffrey Epstein over the course of their hour-long talk released on Monday.
- Many of the podcasters and influencers Trump has spoken with are popular with young men, who have swung to the right in recent elections.
- Trump has credited his 18-year old son Barron Trump for introducing him to comedian Theo Von and streamer Adin Ross, both of whom interviewed Trump over the summer.
The interviews have garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube, but also play across other platforms, such as Twitch, Kick, X, TikTok and Instagram.
"I do this and a a lot of people see it," Trump told Fridman. "You have traditional television, which is getting a little bit older and maybe less significant, it could be less significant, I don't know. But it's changing a lot, the whole plane of platforms…has changed a lot in the last 2 or 3 years. But from a political standpoint, you have to figure out what people are doing, what they're watching, and you have to get on. I just see that these platforms are starting to dominate, they're getting very big numbers…you wouldn't do those numbers on radio, you wouldn't do them on television." A rundown of some of the interviews and content Trump has filmed since June: - "This Past Weekend" with comedian Theo Von. Von explained to Trump what it's like to take cocaine. The YouTube interview has more than 13 million views.
- Golfer Bryson DeChambeau's "Break 50," in which they teamed up to play best ball from the red tees and shot 22 under par. The video has more than 12 million views on YouTube.
- Logan Paul, a 29-year old influencer, interviewed Trump in an episode that has more than 6.5 million views. Trump said it's "very possible" that aliens exist, and he gifted Paul a T-shirt with his mugshot on it.
- "The All-In Podcast" with investors and entrepreneurs Jason Calacanis, David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya. Sacks and Palihapitiya have raised millions of dollars for Trump. The episode has more than 3.2 million views on YouTube.
- Trump's interview with 23-year old streamer Adin Ross has more than 2.5 million views on YouTube. Their picture in front of a Tesla Cybertruck emblazoned with Trump raising his fist in the air after being shot has nearly 1.3 million likes on Instagram. Ross tried to give Trump the Tesla and a Rolex, and the former president promised to keep TikTok alive.
- X owner Elon Musk, who says their conversation last month was viewed more than 1 billion times. Trump discussed the assassination attempt against him in the interview, which lasted for more than two hours.
The interviews have not made much news on the policy front, but they've kept Trump on the front-lines of the culture, underscoring the fractured media environment that has been disruptive for traditional news outlets. Traditional news outlets have also largely been shut out by Vice President Harris's campaign. Harris has so far only sat for an interview with CNN since becoming the presumed nominee more than a month ago.
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Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Jonathan Easley, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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© Yalonda M. James, San Francisco Chronicle via Associated Press; and Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press |
Campaigns enter post-Labor Day sprint
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The race for the White House between Vice President Harris and former President Trump appears headed for a photo finish with nine weeks to go before Election Day. "In 2020, the election came down to about 40,000 votes across the battleground states," Harris campaign chair Jennifer O'Malley Dillon wrote in a memo on Sunday. "This November, we anticipate margins to be similarly razor-thin." Here's a snapshot of where the polling is at, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ averages: National: Harris +3.9 AZ: Harris +0.1 GA: Harris +0.4 MI: Harris +1.6 NV: Harris +0.6 NC: Tied PA: Harris +0.7 WI: Harris +3.4 - In 5 of the 7 states, the candidates are either tied or separated by less than 1 point.
- The Hill/Decision Desk HQ model gives Harris a 55 percent chance of winning, while Nate Silver's model gives Trump a 56 percent chance of winning.
Harris will return to the campaign trail Wednesday with a visit to New Hampshire, which the Trump campaign was eyeing before President Biden dropped out. Trump said on TruthSocial that Harris is visiting New Hampshire because her campaign sees "problems" there, but that's not reflected in recent polling. Harris leads by 7 points in New Hampshire, according to the 538 average. From there, Harris will campaign Thursday in Pittsburgh. Trump does not have any public events announced until Saturday, when he'll hold a rally in Mosinee, Wis. With the candidates largely off the campaign trail, their surrogates are fanning out to pick up the slack. - Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are among those embarking on a bus tour to promote access to abortion. The bus tour started in Palm Beach, Fla., near to where Trump lives.
- Trump has tried to come to the middle on abortion, saying a 6-week abortion ban is too restrictive. But he's on the record saying he'll oppose Amendment 4, the ballot measure to overturn Florida's abortion ban.
Democrats believe abortion measures will drive their voters to the polls in November.
"I think you're gonna see Florida in play and Amendment Four puts it on the map in a big way." - Klobuchar on CNN. Trump has led most recent Florida polls by between 3 to 7 points. Trump's surrogates are also fanning out on a "policy tour," with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) headlining an event on Tuesday in Georgia, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) speaks in Mesa, Ariz.
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© Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press |
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Harris campaign doles out cash to down-ballot Democrats
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Vice President Harris's campaign is giving nearly $25 million to committees working to elect down-ballot Democrats with the aim of winning full government control in November. The money will boost Democrats running for the House and Senate, who were already raising more money than Republicans. How the money will be spread out: - $10 million to the Democratic Senate campaign arm.
- $10 million to the Democratic House campaign arm.
- $2.5 million to the committee to elect Democrats to state legislatures.
- $1 million to the Democratic Governors Association.
- $1 million to the Democratic Attorneys General Association.
The Hill/Decision Desk HQ gives Republicans a 67 percent chance of winning back the Senate, and the GOP is the slight favorite to maintain control of the House, at 56 percent. The Hill's Al Weaver outlines the five Senate seats most likely to flip in November. - West Virginia is almost certain to go for Republicans. If the GOP flips one mores seat, they'll secure a majority in the upper chamber unless they fumble away a seat in a deep red state.
- The other states in play all feature Democratic incumbents running for reelection: Montana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, the current Congress faces a host of tricky issues when they return to work next week. Topping the list, according to The Hill's Emily Brooks: - Congress is facing a potential government shutdown when funding for fiscal 2024 expires on Sept. 30.
- Congress has until Sept. 20 to address a $3 billion budget shortfall for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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"Musk, Zuckerberg and our government censors," by Abigail Shrier for The Free Press. "The U.S. has a military recruiting crisis," by Gil Barndollar and Matthew C. Mai for Vox. "Americans are losing faith in 4-year college degrees," by Patti Waldmeir for The Financial Times. |
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The first presidential debate is one week away. 17 days until early in-person voting begins in Minnesota and South Dakota. 28 days until the vice presidential debate between Vance and Walz. 63 days until the 2024 general election.
139 days until Inauguration Day 2025. |
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Wednesday - Harris campaigns in Portsmouth, N.H.
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There a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: jeasley@thehill.com |
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