America Votes: A Cross Border Conversation (Part One)

On this episode of The Middle we're co-partnering with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Cross Country Checkup to broadcast live from WDET in Detroit, Michigan for a cross-border conversation about what's at stake for Americans and Canadians ahead of the U.S. Presidential Election. Jeremy is joined by Cross Country Checkup host Ian Hanomansing, CBC Washington Correspondent Alexander Panetta, Democratic Strategist Yvette Simpson, Republican Strategist T.W. Arrighi and Michigan Public Political Director Zoe Clark. #Trump #Harris #2024 #Canada #trade #voting #climatechange #economy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
High mental podcast listeners, It's Jeremy Hobson, but I have
a special guest with me for this episode of the podcast,
Ian Hannah Mansing.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
The host of Cross Country check Up on CBC Radio
in Canada.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
You can just barely hear the Canadian accent there, but
Ian and I are in Detroit, and the next two
podcast episodes that you are going to hear over the
next couple of days are our live special that we
did on Sunday, October twentieth, and we were live across
the whole US and Canada taking calls from around the
countries to hear what people in the US are thinking

(00:32):
ahead of the election and what Canadians think about that,
because you actually do care about our elections.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's a boot time.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Okay, take a listen. Hope you enjoy the show, and
we'll be back with another hour of this tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Hello to Michigan. We win Michigan, We win the whole
ball again.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
It is so good to be back in Michigan.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
And we are live in Detroit, Michigan.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
While Trump intends to take America backward to the failed
policies of the past, Hi am you.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
And Hannaman seeing the host of cross country checkup in Canada.
If we lose this election, this country has finished.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
I really believe it. This country is fish and I'm
Jeremy Hobson, host of the Middle in the US.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Donald Trump left us the worst attack on our democracy
since the Civil War.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
This is America. Votes across border conversation.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
The whole country is going to be like you want
to know the truth, It'll be like Detroit. Our whole
country will end up being like Detroit or CESI President, we.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
Are live in Detroit, taking your calls right now from
across Canada and the United States.

Speaker 5 (01:44):
Hey, I am Michael Scio and I'm in Chicago, Illinois.

Speaker 6 (01:49):
My name is Larry Michael.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
I'm calling Trump Massachusetts. Our question today, what's at stake
for you in the US election? You can call us
right now at one eight eight eight for to one,
say eight three three three one eight eight eight four
one six eight three three three To.

Speaker 7 (02:06):
Me, the two most important issues right now are abortion
and gun control.

Speaker 8 (02:12):
Number one issues for me in this election is definitely
the economy and the horrible housing.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
As you heard there, there's a lot at stake for
Americans in this election.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
And that's true as well for Canadians, America's closest ally
and the largest trading partner.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
No matter what happens in Canada, we'll be better off
with Kamala Harrison the White House.

Speaker 6 (02:31):
Well, I'm a pro life Christian and I'll be paying
a lot of attention to the discussion over abortion right.
I'm very thankful to President Trump.

Speaker 8 (02:38):
I'm hoping some of that will rub off into Canadian politics.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Today we're taking calls from both sides of the border,
across Canada and the United States, from Minnesota to Nevada,
Phoenix to Philadelphia.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Our question what's at stake for you in the US election? Again?
You can call us at one eight eight eight four
one six eight three three three, or you can go
to CBC dot com slash aircheck.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
I mean Hannaman seeing and.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
I'm Jeremy Hobson.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
We're live on CBC Radio, CBCDUS Network and CBC USED
dot CA.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
And on NPR stations across the United States. This is
America Votes Across Border Conversation, a co production between CBC
The Middle and WDET in Detroit. And for anyone who
wants to watch us live on TikTok or YouTube. We
are at CBC News. We're coming to you just a
few miles from the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, where ian

(03:32):
Just this morning, literally thousands of Canadians and Americans ran
the Detroit Marathon, running together across the bridge from the
US into Canada and then they come back into America.
And that bridge, of course, is where hundreds of millions
of dollars worth of trade flow across the Detroit River
each day. So we're going to try to end the
next you little bit here as we get going with

(03:54):
this live program here from both Canadians and Americans really
have a conversation on both size about this very crucial election.
And I wonder if, first of all, you've been here
in Detroit covering the story in Michigan for The National,
which is CBC's nightly TV newscast, what are you hearing
about from Americans, especially since you're going to them as

(04:16):
a Canadian asking them what's going on.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, first of all, when you're a Canadian talking to Americans,
everyone is willing to talk to you.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
Because you're so polite.

Speaker 2 (04:22):
That's what I'll tell you. When you're a TV reporter
on the Canadian side, sometimes it's hard to coax people
to speak I had no problem coaxing anybody to speak
over the last couple of days here. The other thing is,
you know, we arrived here on Thursday night. On Friday,
both of the presidential candidates were here as well. Detroit
and Michigan more broadly, so important to this US election.
This is one of those swing states, you know. From

(04:44):
some people, I did sense a little bit of fatigue.
There's so many political ads here, there's so much attention
being heaped on this state. Also got a sense that
a lot of people are looking at micro issues that
no matter how big the issues are in this election
for the United States and Canada, I would say there
were a lot of people who were just saying, I'm
concerned about you know, blank, abortion rights, the economy, right,

(05:07):
just very you know, very specific issues that affect their life.
I'm really curious, and my friends have been asking me
this question too. Why are you interested? And by you
I mean not just Jeremy, but the NPR stations that
are carrying this live right now.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
Well, look, I think we always want to hear what
our fellow Americans think about about this election, why they're voting,
whether it is as you say, sort of micro issues
or Is it about the economy, is it about immigration?
Is it about abortion? But also I think it's important
for Americans to remember that whoever we elect is, as
we always say, the leader of the free world. It

(05:42):
goes well beyond our borders. And to be able to
actually have a conversation today and hear from people in
Canada are closest allied, the largest trading partner of the
United States, about why this election matters to them, I
think is going to be really interesting for our listeners
across the United States. So let's find out. Actually, as
we get started from CBC's Washington correspondent Alex Panetta, who

(06:05):
is with us from Washington, what's at stake here? Alex?
We mentioned trade there is that the main thing for
Canada as you look at whether it's going to be
Conala Harris or Donald Trump as the next president.

Speaker 9 (06:18):
It's obviously huge. I mean three quarters of everything Canada
sells into the world comes to the United States. You know,
the United States sells a lot to Canada, about a
fifth of it's exports. We are your largest customer, but
the United States is on a different level when it
comes to Canada's exports. You are our economic lifeline to
the world, and so this election is really important, and

(06:39):
every US election frankly carries implications for Canada, and the
Marque economic promise of this campaign, the one in bright
blinking lights is Donald Trump's pledge threat to impose a
ten percent tariff on every single import from around the world.
Ten percent tax. Now, obviously this would be hugely damaging
for Canada if he through with it, and we'll get

(07:00):
to that in a second, that word if. But I've
also seen analysis that would be damaging in the United States,
so that the Peterson Institute did an interesting paper on
this a few weeks ago that Americans would end up
suffering even more than other countries. Now, the reason I
say if is I do believe that the United States
has a series of things it wants from Canada, and
there are reasons to believe that Trump would not impose

(07:22):
a blanket across the pord tariff, in part because of
the things his team has said. They've kind of winked
and said, look, he's going to use this as a
negotiating employ Now, what does the United States want from Canada? Well,
I think Kamala Harris can ask for some of these
same things if she's If she's elected in twenty twenty six,
the USMCA Canada calls it cosma. The exactly exactly comes

(07:43):
up for renewal. It's a long process that could last
up to ten years starting in twenty twenty six. So
we know that the current Biden administration would like to
see Canada do a few things differently on dairy and
the way it imports American dairy. On digital taxes, you know,
Canada always get got fed up with the slow pace
at which the international community was coming to terms on

(08:03):
a digital services tax, things like Google, Facebook, those kinds
of companies. Well, Canada went and imposed its own. The
A Biden administration is not happy about it. Auto parks,
there's some differences on how you calculate what counts as
an Asian part versus a North American park. So these
are things that Canada and a Harris administration would have
to work out. But Trump would show up sooner, maybe
in twenty twenty five with brass knuckles saying if you

(08:25):
don't do what I want right, you're getting this ten
percent tariff.

Speaker 1 (08:28):
Well, and by the way, he said ten percent, and
then he said on some things twenty on some things
one hundred on some things one thousand percent tariff. I
don't know if any of those were Canadian goods. But
beyond trade, what are the other things that come up
in terms of the relationship and the stakes for Canada
in this election.

Speaker 9 (08:44):
We have a huge security relationship, and I'll just mention
three things. Number one the Arctic all right, on September eleventh.
I don't know if many Americans know this, but on
September eleventh, the order to shut down North America's airspace
was given by a Canadian general who was in charge
of the at that moment. Of the Norah had a
partnership in Colorado, right this joint airspace collaboration. The border

(09:06):
Canada and the United States share a border. There is
a lot of irregular migration through that border as well,
not nearly as much as through Mexico. But you know,
there's Canada's face pressure to slow down irregular migration, and
that's the reason the Trudeau government Canada has put in
visa requirements on Mexican travel. And then there's obviously a
spending on defense in general. So the Biden administration would

(09:27):
love to see Canada spend a whole bunch more, to
modernize our Arctic infrastructure more quickly, to spend more on
our military. The Trump administration would ask for the same things,
but once again with a much more brush brusque aggressive style.
Like I spoke with someone who's rumored to potentially be
the next National Security advisor if Trump wins, and he said,
if Canada doesn't up its military spending beyond what it's

(09:49):
committed to, we might start threatening tariffs. So basically to
link the trade and economic issues to start trade and
military issues. So Canada could face a lot of pressure
to spend more on its military, spend more in the Arctic,
but to do so under threats if Trump is elected.

Speaker 1 (10:04):
That's Alex Panetta, Washington correspondent for the CBC. Alex, thank you.
And we've got two strategists, one Republican, one Democrat who
are going to be joining us for the entire special.
We're going to meet them in just a few minutes.
But in the meantime, we want to hear from you,
the listeners in Canada in the United States. Give us
a call one eight eight eight four one six eight
three three three. We're asking you what's at stake for
you in this election? We want to hear from you

(10:26):
if you're a Trump supporter, a Harris supporter, an independent
eight eight eight four one six eight three three three,
or you can text us at two two six seven
five eight eight nine two four.

Speaker 2 (10:36):
And our first caller is in Washington, d C. Jason Zeidenberg,
and Jason, welcome to the program. What's at stake for
you in this election?

Speaker 10 (10:45):
What's at stake for me is whether or not we're
going to have an effectively run country, whether or not
it'll be run by people with competence, with people that
know the systems that they need to work on and
have the right policies. When I called in and spoke
to when I spoke to your staff, I did want
to let the people know that I heard something different

(11:08):
on the doorstep yesterday in Pennsylvania where I was with
about fifty other people canvassing on behalf of the Harris
Waalfs campaign.

Speaker 2 (11:17):
And what's that? What different did you hear?

Speaker 10 (11:22):
You hear often in the media, and you'll hear in
progressive media things like Project twenty twenty five. You'll hear
a lot about January sixth and the election denial that
did not come up once on the doorstep in York, Pennsylvania.
At best, we had some good conversations about grocery prices
and the cost of living. But I think the things

(11:44):
that are motivating Democrats to be involved in selection are
not necessarily the things that are going to motivate motivate
people to vote. And this was a democratic leaning constituency.
This was not in the pans. It is not Republicans.
These were people that were ide'd who were Democrats. So

(12:05):
what resonated for them grocery prices, cost of living Project
twenty twenty five, January sixth. You know, the fraid of
American democracy didn't come up once.

Speaker 1 (12:16):
Hey Jason, I hear a Canadian accent? There? Are you
able to vote in this election? Are you just canvassing
for Harris?

Speaker 10 (12:23):
I am a dual citizen of Canada and United States.
I've canvassed in every provincial and federal election.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Good held. By the way, Derem.

Speaker 1 (12:32):
I listen to people talk all day. I can hear
an accent. You know who it is?

Speaker 4 (12:35):
There?

Speaker 10 (12:36):
If I have one pitch to anybody that can hear
my voice is despite what I just said, If you're
motivated by what the outcome of this election could be
get on a bus, get on a train, write postcards,
call people, and just keep bringing it back to core
messages that we all care about, like grocery prices, like

(12:57):
the cost of living, and keep it very focused on
what people, what we all are experiencing right now in
this climate.

Speaker 2 (13:05):
Jason, we only have seconds left before we have to
take a break. But are you worried given the fact
that you are a Harris supporter.

Speaker 10 (13:13):
I'm a little more worried after the first canvas yesterday,
but I want to preface that by saying I will
still be going to Pennsylvania every Saturday and through election Day.
Have weakened my motivation?

Speaker 2 (13:25):
Okay, Jason, thank you very much, And if you'd like
to take part in the program, you can give us
a call right now one eight eight eight four one
six eight three three three. You're listening to America Votes
a Cross Border Conversation. More of your calls coming up.

Speaker 1 (13:42):
This is America Votes Across Border Conversation. I'm Jeremy Hobson
along with Ian Annahmancing from the CBC. We're live across
Canada and the United States, coming to you from WDET
in Detroit. We're taking your calls from across both countries.
Our question what's at stake for you in the US election?
You can text us at two two six, seven, five

(14:02):
eight eight nine two four, or you can call us
at eight eight eight four to one six eight three
three three.

Speaker 2 (14:10):
Let's bring in two strategists who will be with us
throughout today's show as we take your calls. Tw Ariggy
is a Republican strategist and former communications aid to Mike
Bompeo and Senator Lindsay Graham. He joins US from Washington,
d C. I Vet Simpson is a Democratic strategist. She
also served as the CEO of Democracy for America, which
organized to try to defeat Republican candidates, and she is

(14:33):
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tw let me start with you the
election just over two weeks away. As I know you're
well aware, what does Trump and the campaign need to
focus on in these final few days.

Speaker 11 (14:45):
He needs to hit the battleground states hard as he's
doing I saw him today at a McDonald's. But it's
to keep the pressure on in the battleground states that
are going to decide the selection. We know the seven well,
but stay to the core. Two messages that are defining
the selection, which are the economy, as your previous caller
talked about, and immigration. He can really drill down on

(15:10):
those two topics and hit where Vice President Harris has
been weak in her responses to that, He'll be good.
The thing is is we have We're now four years
into a Bide administration, three and a half years into
a Bide administration with Kamala Harris as vice president. People

(15:31):
are largely dissatisfied with the direction of this country, largely
dissatisfied with the performance of this administration, and the Vice
president has had a tough time thus far trying to
differentiate herself from the president. So Donald Trump can say
we need to turn the page from this past era

(15:52):
and go to his bread and butterations of the economy
and immigration and stay out of the hateful rhetoric. He'll
be all right.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
I know you'd love to debate tw on what you
just said, but let me just ask you this, what
do you feel the Harris campaign needs to be making
its priority at this point?

Speaker 4 (16:09):
I think doing exactly what the caller said, Organize, organized, organize,
and most of these battleground states people are already voting.
So that's the challenge, right she's got to persuade people
while she's encouraging people to go out to vote. And
it's really tempting at this stage to try to convince
new people, especially people who you think you might be
able to have a conversation with and change their mind.

(16:29):
But strategy says, you really don't.

Speaker 12 (16:31):
Have the time to do that.

Speaker 4 (16:32):
Use your energy and your resources to fire up your
base and get people out. And I would be tracking
turn out in every single state with early voting. And
what we know about Democrats is we tend to vote early,
we tend to win early, and Republicans tend to catch
up on election day. So if they can really ramp
up the early vote number, it'll help us hopefully come
out with a win on election day.

Speaker 1 (16:52):
Well, Eve, what are you seeing in terms of that
early vote at this point? And also in a place
like we are here in Michigan with a huge Arab
American population, in fact, Dearborn, I think the first city
in the country to be majority Arab American, a lot
of anger about the situation in Gaza. What are you

(17:12):
seeing at this point? How much of a problem is
that going to be for Kamala Harris.

Speaker 4 (17:16):
You know, I was at the convention, and I think
one of the things I heard her say that has
calmed down some of the very Muslim constituencies that we
brought together to win in twenty twenty is that she
actually was the first president to acknowledge that Palestinian light
lives matter. She even said she supports a two state solution,
So I think that kind of calmed things down. I

(17:37):
also think she kind of pulled away from the US's
role in that conflict. Joe Biden was in it. We're
going to fix this thing, We're going to make this thing,
We're got to.

Speaker 13 (17:46):
Bring this thing to an end.

Speaker 4 (17:47):
And I don't think she's made such promises. I think
she's acknowledged that Benjaminett and Yahoo is the leader of
Israel and that he's making decisions that the United States
does to have direct control over.

Speaker 1 (17:57):
And I think if she continues.

Speaker 4 (17:58):
To do that, she'll be in great shade. It is tough, though,
because we did rely a lot on that constituency in
twenty twenty, and we did lose some very important organizations,
and also, you know, Biden, we have to win Pennsylvania
and we have a similar challenge with Jewish voters in Pennsylvania,
So it'll be interesting to see how those two states
turn out when we think about the Gaza conflict being

(18:20):
in the middle of this.

Speaker 1 (18:21):
Tw You mentioned the McDonald's appearance by Donald Trump. You
he acted as a fry cook today at a McDonald's,
I believe in Pennsylvania. But aside from that, he's pulled
out of some big interviews. He didn't do the interview
with sixty minutes. He won't debate Kamala Harris again. Is
the strategy right now to just lay low, stick to

(18:42):
the rallies and little photo ops like the McDonald's thing,
and not do any hard hitting interviews between now and
the election.

Speaker 11 (18:50):
Well, I would quarrel with that notion. Pamla Harrison didn't
go to the Al Smith dinner, she didn't go to
the Chicago Economic Club which Trump went to. I think
he's been everywhere. He just did like fifteen podcasts last
week that did all very well, as Harris has as well.
I think it's a smart idea, So I don't believe
that's the strategy. I think, look, you got two weeks left,

(19:12):
you better put the pedal to the medal. And I
think he's he's doing a pretty good job. Obviously, he's
not a spring chicken, so it's it would be tiring
for anybody. But no, I think he's he's doing the
right things. I would like to see him debate again,
but I understand why he wouldn't. I think the strategy
is held of the medal two weeks. Let's rock and roll.

Speaker 1 (19:33):
That is tw Arighi Republican Strategist and Ivette Simpson is
also with US Democratic Strategist stand by. We're going to
be bringing you back throughout the program, but of course
we are taking your calls live right now or question
what's at stake for you in the US election? You
can call us at eight eight eight four one six
eight three three three or text two two six seven five,
eight eight nine two four.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
We have a lot of people who are calling in.
We're eager to hear voices from across Canada and the
United States, people who's support either of the presidential candidates,
or perhaps don't support either one and may not be
voting this time around. We'd love to hear your reasoning
behind it. And as we say in our question, what's
at stake for you in this election? Walter Reagan is

(20:14):
calling us from Vancouver, British Columbia. Hi Walter, Hello, what's
at stake for you and your family?

Speaker 14 (20:23):
Well, actually not all that much game, because we returned
to Canada two years ago. We had lived in the
United States for twenty five years, but it was just
getting too crazy. I guess my wife and I realized
that even if Trump has gone, trump Ism is going
to live on, and we just didn't want to continue
to live in America. Or that was the case.

Speaker 2 (20:44):
That's a pretty big decision to move out of a
country because you are concerned about the politics. What specifically
worried you, Well, there were.

Speaker 14 (20:53):
A couple of things that, you know. I lived in
Loudon County, just outside DC, and it was the rhetoric
was getting pretty overheated around LGBTQ and other issues, books
and schools. It was just getting crazy. I mean, you
couldn't listen to a news broadcast without you know, some

(21:18):
maga Republican making some incredibly stupid statement. And finally it
was also I have a transgender child and I did
not want them at all to live in the United States.
It would just be too dangerous for them. Under you know,
I lived through one Trump administration. I have no interest

(21:39):
in living through a second if it would happen. In God,
I hope it doesn't.

Speaker 2 (21:44):
All right, Walter, thank you very much for your call.
Our number here on Cross Country Checkup and the Middle
in Canada and the United States. One eight eight eight
four one six eight three three three.

Speaker 1 (21:54):
Just before we go to another call, let me just
we heard from that caller about the transgender issue. T
w I RIGHI let me just ask you. I've seen
that the Trump campaign has been putting out a lot
of ads right now in the final days about transgender issues.
Is that is that a big part of the strategy
right now?

Speaker 11 (22:15):
Look, I think all people should be treated with dignity,
love and respect. But there is a absolute issue surrounding
some elements of the transgender issue. For example, uh, trans
men playing or trans women playing with biological females and sports.

(22:36):
That is a huge issue. I've seen polling in which
it is deeply unpopular among all segments of the population,
and there is very very little wiggle room on that.
So yes, you will see him stamp his foot on
that issue because it cuts across so many segments of people.

(22:56):
I don't believe it's a cornerstone of his campaign. But
I do believe that that sports issue especially is part
and parcel to things that are driving people crazy about
the modern left and this sort of new fangled ideology
that isn't just love and respect everyone, it's let's do

(23:16):
something that is so by common sense nature.

Speaker 12 (23:20):
Bad and do it anyway.

Speaker 11 (23:22):
So he will talk about it. I don't believe it's
of course.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
I will say there are there are good people that
would say, by common sense nature, it's not bad. But
it's definitely an issue that that is energizing a lot
of people. So let's get to another call an American,
Jeff Bone who's in Pembroke, North Carolina. Jeff, what's its
sake for you this election?

Speaker 8 (23:44):
Him? I'm actually a dual citizen, but I've been in
the United States for five years when I accepted a
job at a university, and so I wanted to focus
on the impact on students of undergraduate age, specifically issues.
And I'll just pick up on the last caller. I
receive literature being in a state that's that play for

(24:06):
both the Democrats and the Republicans, and that was definitely
highlighted as Jeremy you mentioned that Trump has issues with
students participating in sports, with not being associated with their
gender at birth. I just find that bizarre that the
awesome powers of the presidency would be assigned to an

(24:26):
issue like that. And I as a teacher, I see
that it impacts my students.

Speaker 1 (24:32):
In what way.

Speaker 8 (24:35):
It's an exclusion issue. They're not They're not being I
think there it's not just being ignored. But I think
there's an outright hostility to young people and the fact
that these aren't issues that impacts them, and they're actually
very welcoming and caring to each other, and I just
don't see why there would be policies that target.

Speaker 14 (24:58):
Them that way.

Speaker 1 (25:00):
Thank you for that. I want to go to a
Vet Simpson just briefly on that, the Democratic Strategist. What
do you think of this issue? And you hear Jeff
talk about how young people react to it. Is this
something that energizes young people in a different way that
it might energize parents in the country.

Speaker 4 (25:15):
I think so. I mean, I think one of the
themes that Kamala and Tim Wallas have been hammering on.
I think what's really important is get government out of
my personal life. I don't want you in my bedroom.
I don't want you in my doctor's office. I don't
want you telling me how to raise my kids. I
don't want you talking. I don't want you discriminating against
different types of people based on who they are. And

(25:36):
I think the young people are really galvanized by that.
It's interesting because the Republican Party used to be the
small government party, and now they want to be in
everybody's business. And so I think Kamala is doing a
great job of saying, these are decisions that need to
be made by the people who are affected by it.
Donald Trump shouldn't be telling you how to raise your
kids or telling your kids what they can and can't do.
This is not an issue that the president should be

(25:57):
talking about.

Speaker 13 (25:58):
But I know that it's it is.

Speaker 4 (26:00):
Galvanizing a lot of people on the right because this
is one of those red herrings, right, just like when
they talk about late term abortions, which are so rare
and are almost always to protect the life of the mother,
but they keep hammering and saying, oh, I think at
one time Trump said you can abort a baby after
is born, which.

Speaker 1 (26:16):
Was completely ridiculous.

Speaker 4 (26:18):
So I think Kamala continuing to say these are not
decisions that your government should be making. These are decisions
that the people in power at the place at the
time should be making. But they know that this issue
is very divisive and they're working in the beer and division.
As always, young people are definitely going to protect those
freedoms for sure.

Speaker 2 (26:35):
You're listening to America votes across Border Conversation. We're live
on CBC Radio and CBC News Network and on NPR
stations across the United States. What's at stake for you
in the US election? Our number is one eight eight
eight four one six eight three three three. We are
broadcasting from WDET in Detroit, and our next caller, Michael Johnson,

(26:56):
is also in Detroit.

Speaker 8 (26:57):
Hi, Michael, Hey, how you doing.

Speaker 2 (26:59):
I'm doing well, And an issue that is really important
to you is an issue that's important to a lot
of people, particularly in Michigan.

Speaker 12 (27:06):
Tell us about that, well, it's the ongoing genocide of
the Palestinian people in the occupied territories of so called Israel,
specifically in the city of Gaza and Kamala Harris and
the Biden administration, any kind of future Trump administration, it
supports it wholesale. And you have a strategist on here

(27:27):
for the Dems, who's saying, well, it's not in Yahu,
and I wish we could control him. We control him
with money, our money, all of our tax dollars go
to these weapons of death that are used to blow
up pregnant women, that are used. The bullets are used
to have a systematic pattern of headshots for children, and

(27:48):
we contribute to this. So any talk of well, it's
out of our control is a lie, and it's condescending
to Michigan voters specifically, are our Arab neighbors, our Muslim
and anyone who has a shred of humanity here because
we see through it. And Kamala Harris is condescending and
she deserves to lose the state.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
So, Michael, how will this translate into how you vote
or whether you vote in this election.

Speaker 12 (28:15):
Voting in this federal election, and frankly, voting in any
federal election, it's a crime against the general humanity of
this world. We support death in destruction around this planet.
And so do not vote in this election. Do not
listen to the Dems, don't listen to the Republicans. You
don't have to vote. We should to be doing everything
not to vote, not to participate in these genocidal politics.

(28:40):
It's a simple moral issue, all right, Drike, All.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Right, Michael, thank you very much for calling in. I'm
sure there's some of you who are listening on either
side of the border that might want to take issue
either with the issue that he is going to decide
we'll keep him away from the ballot box this time around,
or even that notion that you shouldn't vote at all.
Ad eight four one six eight three three three. If
you'd like to take part in that conversation.

Speaker 1 (29:04):
Yeah, probably a lot of listeners even yelling at their
radio when he said that, Yeah, we want to hear
from you, by the way. Eight aight, eight four one
six eight three three. So you let's stick in another
call before we have to take a quick break. Andy
Miller is from Houston. Andy, what's the big issue for you.

Speaker 5 (29:21):
Hi, Well, it's dialogue. I'm concerned that there will hardly
be dialogue anymore, almost an end to conversation. The truth
has become subjective, and it shouldn't.

Speaker 1 (29:33):
Be because politics have just become so difficult over the
last many years. Are you speaking from experience? You can't
talk to your neighbors about what's going on.

Speaker 5 (29:44):
Neighbors friends, family. You know, everything has become very divisive
where the truth, yeah, is subjective, and you know it's
what confirmation bias, what people want to believe, instead of
actually having dialogue being humbled by diale I remember, you know,
I was on a totally opposite side of the politics

(30:05):
that I am. Now, I don't necessarily pick and choose.
I'm an independent, but it wasn't until you know, I
was humbled and had to critically think that I was
able to change my mind. But it does take the
ability to have that, you know, elasticity, so to decide

(30:28):
go ahead.

Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, I was just going to ask, So you're you're
in the state of Texas, which is you know, kind
of a not quite a swing state, but it's sort
of close at this point, it's getting there. How is
this going to translate into how you vote? And you've
got a big Senate race in Texas too, between Ted
Cruz and the Democrat Colin al Red.

Speaker 15 (30:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (30:46):
Absolutely, So I'll be transparent. I was a long time
Republican and even a libertarian. I was a delegate for
Ron Paul a long time ago. Still a libertarian, but
you know, I'm more of a centrist. But I do
you know pick and choose left and right? In this case,
you know I won't be choosing Ted Cruz. But I

(31:06):
do see a landscape where you know, people are looking
at who invests in them the most. They're becoming somewhat
disillusioned with certain politicians. But it is at a very
granular level. It's not at a wire level, and it
depends on what they consume and who they're around. It's
again confirmation bias.

Speaker 1 (31:28):
What about in the presidential right? What about in the
presidential race? Andy, you what are you going to do there?
As a former Libertarian, I'll be voting for Harris. Okay,
Andy Miller in Houston, thank you very much for that call.
Such interesting calls in from all over the country, a
lot of people very passionate about the issues at play
here in this election.

Speaker 2 (31:47):
Well, I think one of the things I loved about
Andy's call is it's a reminder of how thoughtful and
disciplined so many voters are. Right, you will hear the
range as we have to an extent so far in
the program, from one person defiantly saying we don't vote,
voting as immoral, to other people who have made their
decision to Andy's you know, it truly sounds like she
assesses the issues and moves from candidate to candidate, you know,

(32:09):
so that's fantastic.

Speaker 1 (32:10):
Well, one of the things she brought up there was
sort of the issue of civility, which after the debate
between the vice presidential candidates Vance and Walls, that's one
thing a lot of Americans on both sides were very
happy about was that it was actually much more civil
than the politics we've seen so far.

Speaker 2 (32:25):
And we're curious about how you feel on these issues,
both in Canada and the United States. Eight eight eight
four one six eight three three three, or go to
CBC dot CA a slash aircheck.

Speaker 1 (32:39):
You're listening. If you're just tuning in, you're listening to
America votes across border conversation. We're across the United States
and Canada. We're asking you what's at stake for you
in the US election. You can text us at two
two six seven five eight eight nine two four or
you can call eight eight eight four one six eight
three three three. And we've got two guests here with us,

(33:01):
tw Ariggi, who is a Republican strategist, and Evett Simpson,
who is a Democratic strategist, and I guess let's get
back to the phone. Absolutely, and lourieu Bravender is with
us from Saint Mary's County, Maryland. Loriie tell us, what's
its sake for you in the election?

Speaker 15 (33:19):
Hi?

Speaker 3 (33:19):
Yes, Well, for me, the primary issue of most importance
is women's rights, primarily right now reproductive freedom, but not
just reproductive freedoms. If you look back in history, you know,
even nineteen seventies, not that long ago, women in Iran
were college professors. They were out in public wearing miniskirts.

(33:41):
It changed that quickly. And the Heritage Foundation has been
working behind the scenes for the last fifty years in
congruence with the evangelical community to write this diabolical new
set of a new set of new societ. They want
to change society. They want to take back rights from women,

(34:04):
from people of color, from the gay and lesbian community,
LGBTQ community. And I have a twenty two year old daughter,
and so for me, there is nothing more important than
making sure that the basic freedoms that we have as
Americans are not going to be eroded. And my other
concern is, I think we've all seen that Trump is

(34:27):
obviously in cognitive decline at this point in time, So
I don't see him. If he did happen win the election,
he's not going to be president for four years. He
might be president for one and then they're going to
pull him out and it's going to be President jd.

Speaker 6 (34:42):
Vance.

Speaker 3 (34:42):
And anyone who's worried about the price of groceries instead
of being worried about the prospect of JD. Vance as
President of the United States is due for a serious
wake up call if that were to happen.

Speaker 1 (34:55):
Laurie, thank you very much for that call. I want
to let tw Riggi, a Republican strategists respond. I guess
you could start with the with the idea that Trump is,
you know, nearing eighty years old. And what do you
say to Laurie who says that he would only be
president for a short period of time if he wins,
and then JD Vance will become the president.

Speaker 11 (35:13):
I disagree with the short hits. I don't see it
in those terms. I actually think bigger scandal is why
they've let Joe Biden sit in the presidency for three years.
Why hasn't Vice President Harris stepped in when he is
absolutely been and cognitive designed me still is that's a
bigger scandal to me than Donald Trump has seventy eight,

(35:35):
who seems to have a lot of energy and is
out and about all the time. That seems bigger to me.
But I digress. In terms of jd Vance, look, jd
Vance is definitely the air apparent to the America First agenda.
The Republican Party is going through a little bit of
an identity crisis similar to the one we had in

(35:55):
the nineteen twenties in terms of trade, in terms of
some economic policies. But Jadie Vance is an incredibly bright man.
He has a very good vision for the future of America.
I think he'd make a great presidence.

Speaker 1 (36:07):
What about the fact though, GW that's he now is
saying publicly that he thought he thinks that Trump won
the twenty twenty election.

Speaker 11 (36:16):
Yeah, and Donald Trump lost the Dorothy Dorothy election. Jade
Vance is wrong about that. But people who are surprised
he is saying it are crazy because he would never
go against Donald Trump, who obviously thinks that. And again,
I want to just say this for the record. It
is a distraction from the core issues facing American and

(36:38):
I believe this is why Vice President. Harris has had
trouble breaking through and sustaining a lead because she is
keeps hammering home the fact that Donald Trump won't acknowledge
he lost in twenty twenty. Everyone in America knows that
he thinks he won. Everyone in America knows he thinks
he one needed. But the issues that matter to them,
like the economyan immigration, Trump keeps talking about and Harris

(37:00):
is bogged down with this other thing. It might motivate
some voters, but a lot of people, like your first caller,
are concerned about the prices.

Speaker 2 (37:07):
But tw to have a presidential candidate and a vice
presidential candidate say that Trump won the last election is
not just a technicality. I mean as a Canadian when
I watched that, I think to myself, you're speaking about
a core value in a country that considers itself the
democratic leader in the world, and that is free and
fair elections, Like, how can it be that you are

(37:30):
so and other people ought to be You would feel
should so casually accept that the presidential and vice presidential
candidates would say that.

Speaker 11 (37:39):
I don't so casually think that I think he lost.
I wish he would acknowledge it, but he isn't and
he'll never he never will. And Chris Wallace has a
book out right now that says that the nineteen sixty
election was stolen in a ran So there are examples
where things go awry. I don't think that I wish
the president would say that there isn't concernable. The political

(38:02):
reality of the fact is is Donald Trump has the
momentum in this race because of the issues that are
facing America's day to day life, not because of the
twenty twenty elections.

Speaker 1 (38:14):
I want to give Yvetta a chance to weigh in here.

Speaker 13 (38:15):
Evet oh so much to say, so little time.

Speaker 4 (38:20):
Everyone is not acknowledging that Donald Trump did not win
that election.

Speaker 13 (38:23):
Jd Vance is one of them.

Speaker 4 (38:25):
Donald Trump and a lot of people who support him
not to mention the links that he went to to
try to make that happen. Don't forget about January sixth,
and the fact that he continues to contend that if
this election doesn't go the way he wants it to go,
he will do it again. So I agree that that
is a fundamental principle in democracy. Right, we vote, we win,
the person gets installed. No violence, don't try to accoup

(38:46):
to take over Congress don't do that technically or otherwise.
And so I do think it's a fundamental flaw and
the fact that you just acknowledge that jd. Vance either lied,
which he did, about what he thinks, or he actually
believes it, which is not becoming a vice president or
a president. And I think that's the distinction that Kamala
is making in this election. You can have a liar
in chief or you can have someone who has integrity

(39:08):
and honest about the most fundamental thing that America is,
which is a democracy.

Speaker 1 (39:13):
Let me just ask you one more thing about what
the caller brought up the last caller about abortion. This
is the first election that will happen since the Dobbs decision.
Presidential election, since the Dobb's decision, which has had a
big impact on all the other elections that have happened
since Dobbs. This is not an issue that's being talked
about day after day right now. But do you think

(39:34):
that this is that abortion is going to be an
issue that ends up swinging this election?

Speaker 2 (39:39):
I believe so.

Speaker 1 (39:40):
I believe women.

Speaker 4 (39:40):
We needed a reason for women and people who love
women to come out and support the Democratic Party on
this issue. And I think the Republicans know they went
too far on that issue, which is why very few
of them are talking about it. I think that we
should be talking about it more. If you think about
some of the ballot initiatives that have happened in the
last couple of years in states like my state, Ohio,

(40:00):
or in states like Kansas where they tend to be
red states. But on this issue, we got a lot
of cue overwhelming support on this particular issue. I think
we should be talking about it more. And I do
think it's going to be fundamental to this election.

Speaker 2 (40:15):
If at Simpson Democratic Strategist, and we are interested in
hearing from you in Canada and the United States, are
number one eight eight eight four one six eight three
three three. We have a break coming up. But let
me squeeze in a call right now from Rob Osward,
who's in Barry, Ontario. Hi, Rob, Hi, how are you good?
What's at stake for you in the US election?

Speaker 14 (40:34):
Well?

Speaker 6 (40:35):
As a Canadian just watching this whole election thing unfold,
Canada as a whole was way better off when Trump
was in. Our economy was booming. When the American economy booms,
the Canadian economy booms. Okay, so for business wise and
just overall general economy, Trump was great and he was

(40:56):
great that our economy here was great because Canada feeds
up American economy so strongly. So without a doubt, you know,
Trump in is a win for Canada. As for if
I had to pick pick, Kamala Harris is a complete disaster.
I should have started off my comment with you know,

(41:16):
I grew up in a middle class family. You know
she is a complete empty suit.

Speaker 2 (41:24):
That's pretty strong. A complete empty suit.

Speaker 6 (41:27):
Yes, complete empty suit. She can't why why cannot she
even go on?

Speaker 16 (41:31):
And do.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
Have we lost your Rob? Sounds like we have. For
the record, it's nothing we did on this end. So
I'm not sure if Rob is maybe going into the
tour not censoring, you know we're not, but we have
lost you know what, you can contact us again. If
I'm looking, I can actually look through the glass to
the control and Rob you may be back. No he's not. Okay,
Well we'll keep working to that. I don't understand the

(41:55):
hand signals I'm seeing through the window. It's so much
easier when I'm in Vancouver and the producers are in
Toronto and I can just pretend they're not there. But
you know what, Jeremy, let's go back to the phone.

Speaker 1 (42:03):
Well, and Ian, let me just ask you that view
from Rob in Canadian politics right now, Justin Trudeau, who's
on the left, is not very popular at the moment,
and he's got an election coming up potentially in the
next year.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
Yeah, so that's true. And then the question is has
US politics affected Canadian politics? You've got to keep in
mind Canadians obviously will know this, but your American listeners,
our American listeners may be surprised. Pretty well, everybody who
has cable television in Canada has access to CNN, and
so what's on CNN has a big impact on kind

(42:39):
of the political culture in Canada. Some people subscribe to Fox,
and of course online a lot of people get information
from the United States. So what gets said in the
United States is heard in Canada. When your politics become
more polarized, when the tone becomes a little coarser, my
sense is that we're seeing that happen in Canada as well.

(43:01):
But of course people can call up and let us
know they what they feel about that. And our number
here is one eight eight eight four one six eight
three three three.

Speaker 1 (43:12):
Let's go to Natalie, who is in Houston, Texas. Natalie,
welcome and let us know what is at stake for
you in the selection.

Speaker 15 (43:20):
Thank you for this soccortunity. What is at stake for
me as civility? I am disappointed in the Republican Party.
I feel like we don't have two candidates to even
consider when the entire platform has just been about sensational
wising and name calling and making up ridiculous stories like

(43:42):
people are eating dogs and cats. It hasn't allowed room
to consider policies and ideas. I'd like to get back
to having at least two parties that are discussing policies
and ideas. I'd like to return to civility. We may
not agree with each other, but you know, things like
saying someone's an empty suit, that you don't like the

(44:05):
suit they're wearing, but tell me what it is about
their policy that you don't agree with.

Speaker 1 (44:10):
Well, and Natalie, what what's the top what's just real quick?
What's the top policy for you right now?

Speaker 2 (44:15):
Top?

Speaker 1 (44:15):
ISSI?

Speaker 15 (44:17):
The top policy probably for me is the economy, and
I think a close second one is getting out of
people's social issues. Will you marry? What you do with
your body is up to you. That should not be
something that government is getting involved in and leaving things

(44:37):
legal allows people to be adults and make their own
decisions and not control them. Telling people which books should
be published, how they should be praying, who they should
be praying to is just it's the antithesis of everything
our country is supposed to be about. So it's disappointing

(44:58):
and I'd like to see a get back to, like
I said, at least two parties where we can have
real candidates and that not the name calling.

Speaker 1 (45:07):
And Natalie, yeah, we've got it. Thank you so much
for your call. Tw RIGHI a plea to go back
to policies and not not talk about think, not do
the name calling. Do you think that you know, if
Trump wins, it's probably not going to be what happens.

Speaker 11 (45:25):
No, but there'll be plenty of policies too. You will
not find an argument for me for in favor of
name calling. I'm not a fan of it. But there
will be policies that go along with it. There will
be a new tax bill, there is going to be deregulation.
There's going to be a cleaning up of the federal government,
which is badly needed. Uh, And so you're going to

(45:48):
see policies come in with Trump that are that mimic
what he's been saying on the campaign trail. So yes,
I am all for sign me up for an era
of kinder feelings. But I would also stress that it
is Donald Trump who has been shot at twice now,
who had been deemed a fascist in all these names.

(46:08):
He has violence against him, and there's not a whole
lot of ownership on the Democratic side that they should
tone down their rhetoric to let there be peace on
earth and let it begin with me, not let it
begin with that other guy.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
Let's go back to the phones now one eight eight
eighty four one six eight three three three. We're hearing
voices from across Canada and the United States. Jules Hadley
is in Vancouver. Hi, Jewles, Oh there, how are you.
I'm doing well? What's at stake for you in the
US election?

Speaker 6 (46:36):
Well?

Speaker 7 (46:37):
I have a business and I think seventy percent of
my clients are in the US, but I also have
many friends and clients and surviors who are over there,
and many of many of them are trends.

Speaker 10 (46:51):
Now.

Speaker 7 (46:52):
One of the problems which I see is that so
many of them are worried about their healthcare being denied
or stopped. When someone goes into transition, it's not just
a decision which has made quickly and the doctor says yes, okay,
here's a prescription and off you go. It takes years
to even get there. There's a lot of psychological prep.

(47:12):
There are many, many talks with doctors, and ultimately what
happens is really a sort of a group decision between
the patient, the doctor, and their family and their general
social group before any king moves forward. It's being talked
about as though it's an issue where you just click
a switch and we're going to stop it or something
like that. But most of all, it's been talked about

(47:34):
by people who have absolutely zero experience of even meeting
a trans person. Now, this is obviously problematic. It's been
turned into this dog whortle, and even this morning, i
think on one of the CBC board because it had
come on to the A gendera a lot more around sport,

(47:54):
the entire number of transports people in the US might
add up to twenty five or thirty as a sort
of a serious level, and yet it's being put up
as this kind of this issue that people supposedly unifying behind,
it's really just a sort of a populist dog little.

Speaker 2 (48:15):
And go ahead, finish your thought.

Speaker 7 (48:19):
One of the big problems here is that the way
arguments are being put is they're being very, very simplified.
And there's a huge problem with the lives which are
being pushed out from the Trump side. And I would
say the Republicans, but it's really not Republicans, it's Trump's people.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
So when you say lies on this issue, give me
an example.

Speaker 7 (48:41):
Okay, Well, for example, he's talked about the whole dog
eating issue down in Springfield and created an enormous problem there.
But as far as transgender people are concerned, as there's
often this trope that, oh, you're going to go to
a school, the teachers are going to say it's okay
to be trans, and the next thing, you're going to
be trans.

Speaker 2 (49:00):
Jules, let me ask far from the truth. Let me
ask you about the first thing you talked about, which
is your business. Where you do business. I think you
said with a lot of people in the United States
on that very different plane of issues, how do you
feel about the election? What's at stake for you as
a business person?

Speaker 7 (49:19):
Well, I think anybody who understands how tariffs work understands
right away. Just the moment tariffs are applied, the average
American consumer will have a massively lower amount of spendable income.
And by massively, I'm talking about twenty percent. If there
are tariffs in the order of twenty twenty five thirty

(49:40):
percent on Chinese products, well, that comes straight out of
the consumer's pocket. It's nonsense to talk about it being
paid for by China, Absolute nonsense. This is passed on
to the consumer. Now, if people have less money, they're
going to spend less on consumer goods. As a business person,
this absolutely affects me because I have to pete for
every one of those dollars a lot more actively.

Speaker 2 (50:04):
Jules, one quick question before we have to go. As
a Canadian living in Vancouver, A, do you pay a
lot of attention to the US election? And B where
do you get your information from?

Speaker 7 (50:17):
I I'm enjoying our wonderful rainy weather in Vancouver. I
have basically if America sneezes, we capture cold. I get
my information from Reuters, Associated Press, DBC and CBC. All right, Jules,
I look for the most independent information I can get
intentionally because I realized it is so weighted now in
the US.

Speaker 2 (50:37):
All Right, Jules, thank you very much for your call,
you know, thank you for a great program.

Speaker 1 (50:40):
Thank you. You know. It's it's maybe raining in Vancouver,
it's sunny and beautiful in Detroit. Sure where we are
just the I think the third most exciting thing going
on in Detroit today. There's a Vikings Lions game, there's
the marathon happening, and of course this live cross border conversation.
I just want to read an email that came in
to our inbox from Laney in Somerville, Massachusetts, who says,

(51:04):
what's most at take for me in this election is
much more encompassing that just me. It's about democracy in
our lives. We want to hear from you. You can
go to CBC dot Ca slash Aircheck, or you can
call us at eight eight eight four one six eight
three three three. We're coming up on five pm here
in Detroit and along the East coast two pm on

(51:26):
the West coast. I'm Jeremy Hobson, host of the Middle
in the United States, along with Ian Hannah Maansing of
CBC's Cross Country Checkup.

Speaker 15 (51:36):
Well.

Speaker 1 (51:36):
Our US stations are taking a break now for the news.
Thank you for joining us. If you're tuning in across Canada,
we will continue today's show live our question what's at
stake for you in the US election? Again our number
eight eight eight four one six eight three three three
or go to CBC dot CA a slash aircheck. And
here in Detroit we are joined by one of the
best political journalists, and that would be Zoe Clark, who's

(51:56):
political director from Michigan Public and host of co hosts
It's Just Politics. She's here with us in the studio.

Speaker 13 (52:02):
Hi, Zoe here me Hello, Hi, Ian Hi.

Speaker 1 (52:05):
It's great to have you here. And I got to
say Zoe. On the way in from the airport in Detroit,
I was talking to an Uber driver who was saying
that there's been it was so difficult to loop around
the airport because of the Secret Service over the last
couple of days. Because the candidates are here now.

Speaker 16 (52:20):
They have taken up semi permanent residents. We're going to
start taxing them exactly.

Speaker 1 (52:25):
So where are they going and who are they going
after right now?

Speaker 16 (52:28):
Yeah, we decided to actually start mapping it just so
we could keep track, and it's just fascinating to watch
right now, you know it is both enthusiasm building, right,
you need to go where the fish are, fish where
the fish are. So you're seeing a lot of visits
to Detroit. I mean to your point this weekend alone.
Kamala Harris was in Detroit on Saturday, Donald Trump on Friday.

(52:52):
They will be back. Barack Obama is coming here, Michelle
Obama is coming here.

Speaker 13 (52:57):
We should know.

Speaker 16 (52:57):
Part of this is because early voting has actual started
in the city of Detroit for the first time in
a presidential election on Saturday, which is just fascinating to
watch into itself.

Speaker 13 (53:08):
The second though.

Speaker 16 (53:09):
Aside from that just turnout, is this idea of talking
to folks who feel like the system has sort of
left them. I was talking to a very smart political
analyst who has run analysts now used to be consultant,
who has run Republican campaigns, And if you actually look
where jd. Vance and Donald Trump are going, its area
is actually outside of larger cities, right to communities that

(53:32):
really feel like they've been lost.

Speaker 1 (53:34):
Subly heard of. The suburbs.

Speaker 16 (53:36):
Beyond the suburbs actually more rural, which is just fascinating
to watch the suburbs really has been a Harris campaign
in the last week, particularly trying to get suburban women out.

Speaker 2 (53:46):
I just wanted to mention to people who are listening
right now on CBC Radio and watching on CBC News Network.
This is a special live edition of Cross Country Checkup
and The Middle on our network in Canada and on
NPR stations across the United States. Jeremy Hobson is my
co host and the host of The Middle.

Speaker 1 (54:03):
Yes and by the way, The Middle is also available
as a podcast in partnership with iHeart Podcasts on the
iHeart Apple wherever you listen to podcasts. If you want
to sign up, we'd love to have you. But Zoe Clark,
what are the polls telling you about the race?

Speaker 2 (54:16):
Here?

Speaker 1 (54:16):
We've seen it get very tight, even tighter now in
Michigan than it was before, at least according to the poles,
which who knows how accurate that well, And.

Speaker 16 (54:24):
We've talked about this before, Like what we do when
we're talking about poles is we do not look at
one pole. One pole does not a campaign make. What
we look at, though, is trends, and what we know
is months ago, when Donald Trump was in the race,
it was not looking good. For the Democrats, particularly in Michigan.
And sorry, sorry did I just see Trump?

Speaker 14 (54:42):
God?

Speaker 13 (54:43):
Sorry, Biden was in the race. Trump is still in
the race. When Biden was right, it was not looking good.
He drops out.

Speaker 16 (54:50):
Harris is in, and enthusiasm spikes, right, and we start
to see a competitive race, not even a competitive race,
but a few weeks ago, really Harris starting to take
Now the polls are showing Wait a second, this again
is a really really close race, and we are seeing that.

Speaker 13 (55:08):
I mean, it could be a toss.

Speaker 16 (55:10):
Ive had a turn of a screw at this point,
and this is going to be a campaign that is
decided in inches, not yards. And the blue wall states, right,
So this is Wisconsin, this is Michigan, this is Pennsylvania.
This is why you are seeing the candidates just continue
to come here.

Speaker 1 (55:25):
And on the issue of the blue wall. In the
last two presidential elections, you win one, you win the
other two. Just that's the way it's worked out. Is
that a coincidence or do you think that the three
states you mentioned, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania are likely to all
go the same way? Whichever way that is.

Speaker 13 (55:41):
It's a fascinating question.

Speaker 16 (55:42):
And Jeremy I have stopped making predictions since twenty sixteen,
but what I will say is I wouldn't be shocked
if yet again. Right these are states that have been
hard hit by factory closing, and these are manufacturing areas
that workers just feel like they are not getting their
fair share.

Speaker 13 (56:00):
The economy is a big.

Speaker 16 (56:01):
Deal to But as we've also seen in American politics over
the past eight ten years, anything can happen. You know,
things are looking actually a little better for Harris right
now in Pennsylvania than in Michigan. That was the opposite
than I would have said even ten days ago.

Speaker 2 (56:17):
I ask you this question to answer not as a
political analyst, but as a Michigander, partially because I want
to say the word Michigan. I love it.

Speaker 16 (56:24):
Well, just let you know Ian though very quickly you
are you're your controversy right now because some people are Michiganian.
Oh okay, So you have to team Michigand or a Michiganian.

Speaker 2 (56:33):
Okay. Well, I'll ponder that while I ask you this question.
I've never been in a swing stage just before an election.
I am shocked at the number of ads that the
TV shows that have been watching political ad after but
are people kind of happy with the attention they're getting
or is there fatigue?

Speaker 16 (56:49):
We exhausted ian, We're so tired, both me as a
citizen and me as even a political journalist. No, And
it's not just exhaustion. I mean, I think folks are anxious.
I think folks are ready for this to be over
and it's not. And it's millions and millions and millions
of dollars. And it's not just in the presidential race.
Right we have an open US Senate seat that will
help to determine the makeup of the US Senate open

(57:13):
as well, one of the most expensive, if not expensive
races that we're seeing in the country as well.

Speaker 13 (57:18):
So people are overwhelmed.

Speaker 1 (57:19):
And that one looks very close as well. That's Alyssa
Slotken versus the Republican Mike Rogers.

Speaker 13 (57:24):
Indeed, indeed, you know.

Speaker 2 (57:26):
I was gonna say. One of the things about those
ads too, is not only are there a lot of them,
but some of them are so negative. I saw one candidate,
doesn't even matter who it was, but it said, you know,
so and so is a pedophile. And I remember thinking
to myself, I don't know the details, but I'm guessing
there's more nuance to this story than the slogan, But
you kind of feel battered when you see those kinds
of ads over and over again.

Speaker 13 (57:44):
It's incredibly overwhelming.

Speaker 16 (57:45):
And again, you know, Michigan has been a swing state
since two sixteen. But the folks that I have talked to,
both in terms of the advertisement buying as well as
folks who have run campaigns, have said they have never
actually seen it like this. And that's because oftentimes Michigan
sort of right up till the end, and then the
polls sort of start to change a little bit, and

(58:06):
campaigns start to go, look, we have to put our
money elsewhere, right, it's not happening right now.

Speaker 1 (58:11):
That is Zoe Clark, who is the political director for
Michigan Public and the co host of It's Just Politics. Zoe,
thank you so much for joining us. Actually, wait, real quick,
where's the best what's the best food in Detroit? Is
it the pizza else?

Speaker 6 (58:26):
Oh?

Speaker 13 (58:26):
No, I mean I'm going to say like falafel.

Speaker 1 (58:29):
Okay, yeah, yeah, all right, I mean I only have
a little bit of time to get it, but we'll
try it.

Speaker 13 (58:33):
Also, Team Michiganian