Background Briefing

Wendy Pearlman / Tom LoBianco / Robert Johnson

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>> Biden Acknowledges the Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators at the DNC in Chicago Have a Point
>> An Appraisal of Last Night’s Speeches at the DNC
>> The Turnaround in the Polls For the Democrats in the Key Swing States of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania


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David Faris / Paul Glastris / Rhona Michie

>> An Update From Chicago on the Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations and the Change of Fortune For Democrats in Down-Ticket Races
>> A Presidential Speechwriter on the Delicate Job of Writing a Speech For a Sitting President Passing the Baton to His VP
>> As Bombs Fall on Gaza and Ukraine, Arms Industries Benefit From Tragedy


Background Briefing

Rashid Khalidi / Adam Kirsch / Sumit Ganguly

>> Peace Negotiations For a Gaza Ceasefire Now Minus a Representative From Hamas
>> The Origins and Definition of Settler Colonialism, Which Used to Be Applied to Australia, Canada, and the U.S., But is Now Being Used to Label Israel
>> Bangladesh: The Latest Example of the U.S. Not Acting According to Its Democratic Ideals


Background Briefing

Steve Benen / Sidney Blumenthal / Andrew Feinberg

>> How a Reality TV Star Living in His Own Reality Captured the GOP and up to Half of Americans Now Living in a Phony Reality
>> America’s Historical Irony of its Foundation in a Revolution Against a Mad King, Only to Possibly Re-elect a Mad King Anointed by the Supreme Court With Monarchical Power and Immunity
>> Did Trump’s Pandering to Young White Men and Joe Rogan and Elon Musk Fanboys on X Help His Campaign?


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Background Briefing – August 12, 2024

A Former Republican Opposition Researcher on What Damaging Material Might Be In the Leaked Vetting of J.D. Vance by the Trump Campaign We begin with a former Republican opposition researcher who worked for Trump in 2016 against Hillary Clinton and assess what kind of damaging information there is about J.D. Vance in the 271-page vetting … Continued


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Background Briefing – August 8, 2024

Trump’s Press Conference Tirade of Child-like Petulance That Biden Had Been Taken Away Like His Favorite Toy, and Now He’s Stuck Having to Run Against a Black Woman We begin with Trump’s press conference today at Mar-a-Lago at which he rambled on about his grievances, starting off with a tirade of child-like petulance that Joe … Continued


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Background Briefing – August 7, 2024

With Millions From Republican Billionaires, AIPAC Unseats Another Member of The Squad We begin with a second member of The Squad of progressive Democrats in the House who has been primaried by AIPAC with money from Republican billionaires. This time in Missouri yesterday, where Cori Bush lost her seat to Wesley Bell in the Democratic … Continued


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Background Briefing – August 5, 2024

Governor Tim Walz May be Kamala Harris’ Pick For VP We begin with the latest speculation that Kamala Harris’s pick for Vice President will be Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, since the favorite candidate, Governor Josh Shapiro, may be disqualified because he worked for the Israel embassy in Washington in 1996. Given the dissatisfaction among young … Continued