Podcast Summary
Steve Schmidt's optimistic outlook for Biden's victory: Steve Schmidt, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, compares the current political climate to the 1980 Reagan-Carter race and believes Vice President Biden will win due to public disapproval of Trump's rallies and rejection of minority rule under a Trumpist regime.
Steve Schmidt, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project and communications strategist, believes that the upcoming presidential election will result in a significant victory for Vice President Joe Biden. He compares the current political climate to the 1980 Reagan-Carter race, where the bottom began falling out for Jimmy Carter in the final weeks of the campaign. Schmidt, who has deep faith in America, sees the "walls tumbling in" for President Trump and feels the "stench and decay of defeat" in the air. He also notes that Trump's rallies, which disregard public health guidelines, are putting downward pressure on his own numbers due to public disapproval. Overall, Schmidt's optimistic outlook for the election is rooted in his belief that the majority of Americans will reject minority rule under a Trumpist regime that's hostile to American democracy.
2016 and 2020 Elections: Different Factors and Outcomes: The 2020 election is about Trump's fitness to lead and the harm he's caused, while the 2016 election was about underestimating Trump and FBI intervention.
The 2016 and 2020 presidential elections share a numerical similarity, but the underlying factors and outcomes were vastly different. In 2016, the Clinton campaign underestimated Donald Trump's potential to win in key states, and the FBI's intervention in the final weeks shifted the focus from Trump's unsuitability for the presidency. In contrast, the 2020 election is primarily about Trump's fitness to lead and the significant harm he has caused to the country. The lack of opposition from the Republican party to Trump's divisive rhetoric and actions is a critical issue in this election. The outcome of the election will have far-reaching consequences for the United States, both in terms of policy and the nation's spirit and soul.
The 2020 election goes beyond Biden vs Trump, it's about American democracy: Former GOP strategist Steve Schmidt warns of Trump's divisive rhetoric, assaults on institutions, and disregard for peaceful transition. Predicts major losses for GOP in Senate elections. The Lincoln Project gains power as a Republican-led PAC.
The 2020 election is not just about Joe Biden versus Donald Trump, but also about the state of American democracy and the role of certain politicians in undermining it. Steve Schmidt, a former Republican campaign strategist, highlighted Trump's divisive rhetoric, assaults on institutions, and disregard for the peaceful transition of power. He also predicted a significant loss for the Republican Party in the Senate elections. The Lincoln Project, a Republican-led political action committee, has also gained significant attention for its rapid rise as a powerful brand in American politics. The discussion underscores the gravity of the current political climate and the potential consequences of the upcoming election.
A political organization formed to fight Trump, The Lincoln Project, became a major antagonist during the 2020 election: The Lincoln Project, a group formed to oppose Trump, raised over $1M and impacted the 2020 election, but the end of Trump's presidency doesn't mean the end of Trumpism or Republican extremism
The Lincoln Project, a political organization formed in response to President Trump, came together out of concern for the direction of the country during the 2020 Democratic primaries. With a clear mission to fight Trump and expose him as an existential threat, the group raised over $1,000,000 and became a principal antagonist in the campaign. However, the end of Trump's presidency is not the end of Trumpism. The Republican Party is expected to become more extreme, with figures like Tucker Carlson potentially leading the charge. The power within the Republican movement is believed to reside with right-wing media outlets like Fox News, Sinclair, and OAN, as well as talk radio hosts. The Lincoln Project's impact may be felt beyond the 2020 election, as it serves as a cautionary tale of how political parties can shift in response to changing circumstances.
Challenges in Reforming the Republican Party: The Lincoln Project targets Marco Rubio and Ron Johnson, advocating for renewed civil rights, voting rights, and election security acts, reaching large audiences through media.
The Republican Party is deeply entrenched in conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the legitimacy of elections, and this makes it a challenging environment for reform. The Lincoln Project, an organization aiming to promote democracy and challenge the Republican status quo, identifies Marco Rubio and Ron Johnson as key targets in the 2022 cycle. They plan to advocate for renewed civil rights, voting rights, and election security acts, among other reforms. The Lincoln Project's success can be attributed to their ability to reach large audiences through media, including their LP TV streaming platform, which has attracted millions of viewers. Ultimately, the dividing line in American politics is between those who believe in democratic expansion and equal opportunities for all, and those who seek to restrict these rights. The Lincoln Project is committed to fighting for the former.
Competing against larger adversaries with speed and agility: Effective political organizations prioritize speed, agility, and talent aggregation to shape the narrative and present clear choices to the public
Effective political organizations need to produce great content, distribute it efficiently, measure impact, and make decisions quickly. This approach, inspired by military strategies like the OODA loop and the tactics of underdog fighters like the North Vietnamese commander General Diap, allows small organizations to compete against larger adversaries. By focusing on speed and agility, and aggregating the talents and skills of a diverse group of people, these organizations can shape the narrative and present a clear choice to the public. The success of this approach is demonstrated by the story of the podcast mentioned in the discussion, which used these principles to effectively challenge a powerful political figure.
Targeting Trump as primary audience for opposition in 2020: Effective strategy to distract Trump and allow opposition to focus on priorities, potential power shift in Dem Party for 2024, focus on economic recovery and COVID-19 control, need for power dynamic reset, importance of respectful approach towards political opponents
The strategy of targeting Trump as the primary audience for opposition during the 2020 election was a novel and effective approach. By goading Trump into reacting, the opposition was able to distract him and divert his energy, allowing them to focus on other priorities. Looking ahead to 2024, the aging Joe Biden may not run for re-election, leading to a potential power shift within the Democratic Party. The focus on economic recovery and COVID-19 control is expected to suppress political tensions, but the race for the White House will likely begin early on both sides. Biden's campaign has been successful in bringing the country together, and there is a need for a power dynamic reset in Washington. The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett highlighted the importance of balancing institutional power and avoiding a punitive or disrespectful approach towards those who voted against the Democratic Party. Overall, there is a sense of optimism that the country will begin to heal and move forward.
Leadership in times of crisis: During crises, competent and calm leaders like Sherman, Grant, and Biden bring hope and progress. Basic resources and opportunities are crucial for a nation's success, and conversations about the future are necessary.
Throughout American history, the country has produced the right leaders in times of crisis. The speaker shares the story of William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses Grant, who expressed pessimism about Lincoln's election but later recognized his greatness. Joe Biden, at 77 years old, is seen as the right leader for the current moment of profound crisis. The country cannot succeed when a significant portion of the population lacks basic resources and opportunities. We need to have conversations about building a better future for the next generation. The speaker also references Franklin D. Roosevelt, who saved capitalism, democracy, and the world but recognized that the US-led liberal global order would not last forever. In times of crisis, competent and calm leadership is essential for healing and progress.
The American era is ending and a new era is beginning: Trump's presidency left lasting damage, it's crucial to repair relationships and alliances for security, safety, and prosperity in the new era.
We are witnessing a significant shift in history as the most influential events of the last century begin to fade from living memory into the pages of history. The American era, which was conceived by FDR and built by presidents like Truman, Eisenhower, and Obama, is coming to an end due to the actions of Donald Trump. Trump's presidency, despite being profoundly failed and damaging, has left a lasting impact on the nation and the world. As we move into a new era, it's crucial that we repair our relationships and alliances to ensure security, safety, and prosperity in this century. Steve Schmidt, a co-founder of The Lincoln Project and a former Republican strategist, believes that Trump's presidency has been the worst in history due to the damage he has caused and the direction he has taken the nation in. It's up to the next presidency to address these challenges and move forward.
