Is ‘American Carnage’ Campaign Gold?

Matter of Opinion

New York Times Opinion

Society & Culture, Ross Douthat, News, New York Times, Journalism

4.2 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 September 2020

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Trump re-election strategy has revealed itself: Cast American cities as hotbeds of chaos, and place the blame entirely on the Democratic Party. Yet why is unrest being seen as a weakness for Joe Biden, and not the man in charge? Is the media unthinkingly accepting a Republican narrative? This week on the podcast, Frank, Michelle and Ross argue about the protests and counterprotests in Portland, Ore., and Kenosha, Wis., and disagree over the politicization of the clashes. They debate the lines between vigilantism and rioting and discuss the role coverage plays in the perception of the violence. And as a fitting parting gift on his final episode of “The Argument,” Frank recommends a short story that goes from jocular to chest-gripping grief in just 10 pages. For background reading on this episode, visit nytimes.com/theargument.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Michelle Goldberg.
0:01.9	I'm Ross Douthit.
0:03.1	I'm Frank Bruney, and this is the argument.
0:07.0	Protests against police brutality have been reignited after the shooting of Jacob Blake,
0:14.8	and the Trump campaign sees an opportunity.
0:18.0	As counter-protests turn lethal, and the president continues to stoke division, what's the political
0:23.3	fallout of violence in American cities?
0:26.3	How did it become a cudgel against Joe Biden and the Democrats, and not an indictment
0:30.8	of the man actually in charge?
0:37.2	So guys, this is our peaches and herb moment.
0:39.4	We're reunited, and I'm speaking for myself, it feels so good.
0:42.8	I know, and for the last time.
0:44.6	It's wonderful to be back with you guys, even if Frank is poised to abandon us.
0:50.4	And I really missed you guys, you know.
0:52.1	Sure, I was sitting on a beach in Maine, you know, watching the time of the world go by,
0:57.7	watching my children play, but really, I was thinking about arguing about politics the
1:01.9	whole time.
1:03.9	You were looking at your lovely little children and thinking of Michelle and me, of course.
1:07.5	Of course.
1:08.5	I'm like, which one is more frank, and which one is more Michelle?
1:12.2	And my wife was like, what are you talking about?
1:17.0	So let's get right into our topic this week because it is a big one.
	...

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