Last night in Milwaukee, Ohio senator J.D. Vance accepted the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States and took his place as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. 

Vance’s first convention speech possibly - maybe - upstaged the cameo earlier in the night from Babydog, a rotund bulldog owned by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.

This was always going to be a big week for Republican politics – but I think it’s safe to say that there’s been even moreeyes and attention on this convention, as it’s marking the first major event for former President Donald Trump since the attempt on his life last Saturday.

Here to break down the Republican National Convention so far is Jim Brunner,  politics reporter for The Seattle Times. 

GUEST:
Jim Brunner, Seattle Times politics reporter

RELATED LINKS:
Top WA Republicans absent from Trump-centered RNC in Milwaukee - The Seattle Times
WA union leader welcomes Teamsters president's Amazon-bashing RNC speech - The Seattle Times
Tree hats worn by WA Republican delegates get the ax at RNC - The Seattle Times

Last night in Milwaukee, Ohio senator J.D. Vance accepted the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States and took his place as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. 
Vance’s first convention speech possibly - maybe - upstaged the cameo earlier in the night from Babydog, a rotund bulldog owned by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.
This was always going to be a big week for Republican politics – but I think it’s safe to say that there’s been even more eyes and attention on this convention, as it’s marking the first major event for former President Donald Trump since the attempt on his life last Saturday.
Here to break down the Republican National Convention so far is Jim Brunner,  politics reporter for The Seattle Times. 
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Jim Brunner, Seattle Times politics reporter</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/top-wa-republicans-absent-from-trump-centered-rnc-in-milwaukee/">Top WA Republicans absent from Trump-centered RNC in Milwaukee</a> - The Seattle Times</li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-union-leader-welcomes-teamsters-presidents-amazon-bashing-rnc-speech/">WA union leader welcomes Teamsters president's Amazon-bashing RNC speech</a> - The Seattle Times</li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/tree-hats-worn-by-wa-republican-delegates-get-the-ax-at-rnc/">Tree hats worn by WA Republican delegates get the ax at RNC</a> - The Seattle Times</li>
</ul>

Soundside

How are Washington Republicans showing up at the RNC in Milwaukee?

Public opinion polling.

It’s never been more consequential for the direction of our democracy – or more scrutinized. For weeks, journalists, pundits and politicians have debated the available data on the outcomes of a head-to-head rematch between President Joe Biden and former-President Donald Trump. 

Those numbers had appeared increasingly troubling for Democrats. And the polling data, in the end, reportedly made the difference for Biden in deciding to step aside. 

For more insight into the implications and challenges of polling, Soundside was joined by W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of “Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections.”

Guests:
W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of "Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections."

Recommended Links:
Homepage - Emerson Polling (emersoncollegepolling.com)

Public opinion polling.
It’s never been more consequential for the direction of our democracy – or more scrutinized. For weeks, journalists, pundits and politicians have debated the available data on the outcomes of a head-to-head rematch between President Joe Biden and former-President Donald Trump. 
Those numbers had appeared increasingly troubling for Democrats. And the polling data, in the end, reportedly made the difference for Biden in deciding to step aside. 
For more insight into the implications and challenges of polling, Soundside was joined by W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of “Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections.”
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/wjc.cfm">W. Joseph Campbell</a>, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of "Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections."</li>
</ul>
Recommended Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/">Homepage - Emerson Polling (emersoncollegepolling.com)</a></li>
</ul>

Polls are everywhere. But which ones can you trust?

On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would not be running for re-election, and would instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.

A lot of the news coverage in the last twenty four hours has focused on how party officials from both sides of the aisle are considering the President’s decision to step down from race. 

But those aren’t the people who will ultimately be deciding the outcome of this race in November.

The question is: will an influx in Democratic Party fundraising, institutional support – as well as a new narrative – be enough to engage the average American voter?

Or does the seeming momentum of the Republican Party sweep former President Tump back into office?

Guest:






Eric Liu: CEO and co-founder of Citizen University, a cross-partisan non-profit dedicated to reviving civic engagement. He’s also a former foreign policy speech writer and deputy domestic policy advisor under the Clinton Administration.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would not be running for re-election, and would instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.
A lot of the news coverage in the last twenty four hours has focused on how party officials from both sides of the aisle are considering the President’s decision to step down from race. 
But those aren’t the people who will ultimately be deciding the outcome of this race in November.
The question is: will an influx in Democratic Party fundraising, institutional support – as well as a new narrative – be enough to engage the average American voter?
Or does the seeming momentum of the Republican Party sweep former President Tump back into office?
Guest:
 
 
<ul>
<li>
Eric Liu: CEO and co-founder of Citizen University, a cross-partisan non-profit dedicated to reviving civic engagement. He’s also a former foreign policy speech writer and deputy domestic policy advisor under the Clinton Administration.
</li>
</ul>

Can Kamala Harris engage American voters this November?

Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to visit campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware this afternoon. This of course, comes as she works to consolidate Democratic support for her abbreviated campaign for the party’s presidential nomination. 

It once seemed beyond the realm of possibility that President Biden would leave the campaign stage. For weeks he insisted he was up to the task of defeating Donald Trump. At one point Biden even said the “Lord Almighty” would have to tell him to quit.  

Meanwhile, more and more Democratic members of congress felt he needed a “come to Jesus” moment to realize he should quit the race. 

It looked like a stalemate. 

But then, a remarkable thing happened over the past week or so. As the President was fighting COVID, he reportedly listened to arguments he didn’t want to hear. 

Some close aides and longtime allies like Nancy Pelosi brought him data: evidence that showed he was likely headed for defeat.

And Biden changed his mind. He was, as they say, "100 percent in, until he was 100 percent out." 

He joins a small handful of sitting Presidents who have made such a decision. 

And it’s worth saying: it is incredibly rare to willingly give up what is (arguably) the most powerful job in the world. 

Now we’re all navigating this uncharted territory together.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with the Chairs of both the WA State Democrats and WA State Republicans to see how they are navigating this momentous time.

GUESTS: 
Shasti Conrad: chair of the Washington State Democratic Party
State Rep Jim Walsh: chair of the Washington State Republican Party

RELATED LINKS:
https://x.com/washdems/status/1815416981086257185
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-campaign-allies-calling-delegates-lock-support-before-convention-sources-2024-07-21/
https://twitter.com/WAGOP/status/1815397774969778307

Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to visit campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware this afternoon. This of course, comes as she works to consolidate Democratic support for her abbreviated campaign for the party’s presidential nomination. 
It once seemed beyond the realm of possibility that President Biden would leave the campaign stage. For weeks he insisted he was up to the task of defeating Donald Trump. At one point Biden even said the “Lord Almighty” would have to tell him to quit.  
Meanwhile, more and more Democratic members of congress felt he needed a “come to Jesus” moment to realize he should quit the race. 
It looked like a stalemate. 
But then, a remarkable thing happened over the past week or so. As the President was fighting COVID, he reportedly listened to arguments he didn’t want to hear. 
Some close aides and longtime allies like Nancy Pelosi brought him data: evidence that showed he was likely headed for defeat.
And Biden changed his mind. He was, as they say, "100 percent in, until he was 100 percent out." 
He joins a small handful of sitting Presidents who have made such a decision. 
And it’s worth saying: it is incredibly rare to willingly give up what is (arguably) the most powerful job in the world. 
Now we’re all navigating this uncharted territory together.
Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with the Chairs of both the WA State Democrats and WA State Republicans to see how they are navigating this momentous time.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.wa-democrats.org/about/meet-the-chair/">Shasti Conrad</a>: chair of the Washington State Democratic Party</li>
<li><a href="https://wagop.org/chairman-staff/">State Rep Jim Walsh</a>: chair of the Washington State Republican Party</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://x.com/washdems/status/1815416981086257185">https://x.com/washdems/status/1815416981086257185</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-campaign-allies-calling-delegates-lock-support-before-convention-sources-2024-07-21/">https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-campaign-allies-calling-delegates-lock-support-before-convention-sources-2024-07-21/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/WAGOP/status/1815397774969778307">https://twitter.com/WAGOP/status/1815397774969778307</a></li>
</ul>

How are Washington Republicans showing up at the RNC in Milwaukee?

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