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, Democratic Strategist Yvette Simpson, Republican Strategist T.W. Arrighi and Univision Anchor Enrique Acevedo. #Trump #Harris #2024 #Canada #trade #voting #climatechange #economy
Hey, Middle podcast listeners, We've got another hour of our live special that we did on Sunday, October twentieth from WDET in Detroit, Michigan. I'm Jeremy Hobson and I've got in Hannimancing from the CBC.
With me, the host of a program called Cross Country Checkup. But we did a Canada US wide call in show that people are about to hear hour too.
Long exactly, So hope you enjoyed the first hour of this and now please enjoy the second hour.
Hello to Michigan. We win Michigan, We win.
The whole ballgain.
It is so good to be back in Michigan.
We are live in Detroit, Michigan.
Someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the Seal of the United States.
Hi, I am me and Hannah Mancing, the host of Cross Country Checkup in Canada.
We will make America great again. And I'm Jeremy Hobson of the Middle in the United States, and we're live from WDET in Detroit.
Number one issue for me in this election and definitely the economy.
And affordable housing.
I have had to relocate because hallising and depfor has become so ridiculously high.
Our question, what is at stake for you in this US election? Call us at one eight eight eight four one six eight three three three one eight eight eight four one six eight three three three.
My biggest concern is Canada's national security. Donald Trump has made speeches about.
Not being very much in favor of the NATO Alliance.
We're taking calls from both sides of the border across Canada and the United States, from Kansas City to Birmingham, Alabama, Nevada to North Dakota.
I'm Ian Hannah Manson and I'm Jeremy Hobson. This is America Votes across Border Conversation a co production between CBC The Middle and wdet in Detroit. We have two political st strategist here with US. T. W Ariggy is a Republican strategist, former communications aid to Mike Pompeo and Senator Lindsay Graham. He joins US from Washington.
D C.
Vett Simpson is a Democratic strategist. She also served as CEO of Democracy for America, which organized to defeat Republican candidates, and she joins US from Cincinnati, Ohio. I vet Let me begin with you. We heard, so we discussed a little bit of this for our listeners who were with us last hour. The first presidential election since the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and sent abortion right decisions back to the states. I know that Democrats hope that becomes an issue in this election. Do you think that's turned out to be the case though so far?
I think we can do more. I mean, I think we need to talk about the issue more. I think during the debate, Donald Trump's been kind of backing down on whether or not there will be a nationwide ban. I think she should hold him to that. You know, says one thing, does another. I think the fact that we were able to win some amazing state valid initiatives that weren't necessarily blue states shows that people care about it. It's interesting too that typically people who don't support constituencies who don't support abortion still don't want the government to make that decision. So we've been able to bring some constituencies that were not just women who typically are not supporters of abortion because they just don't think the government should make the decision. And also the questions about how extensive the government is going to get into people's business. You know, are you able to go see your doctor without government intervention? Can you cross the state line to get care? Will they allow the abortion pill to be transported across state lines? And how will they enforce this? So I wish we were talking about it more. I think it is a very important issue, especially for women in our country who typically kind of we know what happened with Hillary Clinton in twenty sixteen with women. We're seeing a lot more women on the Democratic side supporting Kamala Harris this time and is part.
Of I'm sorry, thank you, and tw from the Republican side. How concerning for you is abortion as an issue in this election.
Yeah, it's a big issue for Democrats, for sure. I hear it all the time. I know single issue voters on abortion who are who believe abortion rights are a god given right. And I know single issue voters also working Republican politics who think abortion is murdered. So there are people on both sides, but it is a galvanizing issue for Democrats. But I sort of agree with Ruth Bader Ginsburg's original opinion on.
Roe v.
Wade, which was she wished it was never decided left to the states because people can take better ownership of the issue, and states were already coming up with their own laws that were in line with what the rule eventually became. And what you're seeing now is as all these states make their voices heard through referendums and through laws, that we're coming to a patchwork framework for abortion rights all over the country. Donald Trump's made it clear he does not support a ban. He's the force IVF treatment. And right now, how ownership is on this issue is with the people where it belongs, not nine unelected people in robes in Washington.
D C.
Tw Riggi, a Republican strategist, former communications aid to Mike Pompeo, and Lindsay Graham Oft Simpson, democratic strategist, former CEO of Democracy for America, And they're staying with us throughout the hour. If you're tuning in anywhere across Canada or the United States, you can give us a call. What's at stake for you in this upcoming US election? One eight eight eight four one six eight three three three or text two two six seven five eight eight nine two four.
And we want to hear from you, no matter your view. Are you a Trump supporter. Are you independent? Are you a Harris supporter? Are you somebody in Canada who can't vote but cares a lot about what happens in this election. Speaking of which, let's go to cheryln Effer, who is joining us from uh Ontario. Yeah, you tell me, how do you say?
Well, you know what, I don't actually know. I'm guess you're selling Ontario.
Sell in Ontario, Cheryl, and welcome and tell us what what is at stake for you or what are you thinking about ahead of the US election?
Okay? Number one? If I could vote, I would vote Donald Trump. I lived in the United States for thirty one years as a Canadian. I have two children who live down there. Both of them vote Trump. Their spouses vote Trump. My grandson was in the United States Air Force and he upped once and stayed in. He had he had to make a choice by August if he was going to up again or you know, then they get out. He purposely got out for fear that the Democrats would get back in.
What is he worried about with the Democrats getting back in.
When he had to go off on you know when they get sent off to different areas. Of course, you can't say where you are, you can't solve anything. He just he just doesn't like their their strategy. He didn't feel safe. He said, he's not the only one leaving the services because of it. And he just he just got out now, getting out because of all his training in there. He's got a fantastic job. He got hired right away with a six digitous salary start.
But but Charlyn, I'm kind of curious, right if he loves what he does and it's important what he does and he's thinking of leaving it if the Democrats did.
He left.
He left because the Democrats won. But give me a specific example of what it was that he felt made his role in the military less safe or less stable.
Just the uncertainty of what they're getting their country into, like just not being there politically, I guess with making the right choices. He just really felt like it was a dangerous place to be in the service in the United States right now. And my other grandson, he just started to vote this year. He said, Grandma, I got to vote this year because he just turned the age he could. And I said, who did you vote for? And he said, I voted for Trump. So they're all voting for Trump. And the reason is is because of the policies they like to get their country back on track.
Well, CHERYLN. Sharylon, let me ask you one more thing real quick before we let you go, which is, did did they say anything about Trump's calling, you know, POW's suckers and losers, which has been in the news a lot.
No.
See, they don't even they're not even going to listen to all that stuff. Like my son, he said, no, there's so much battering back and forth. They just they've already voted. He voted already early and they've all voted Trump. But the other thing is where my son works. He said, there's a lot of Union people in there, and he says, Mommy said, they usually always vote Democrat and I said they do. He said, oh yeah, but he said, everybody under me it's voting Trump this time.
Okay, right, okay, Cherylyn, thank you very much for calling. Let's go to Gainesville, Florida, and Ray carriffew is on the line. Hi.
Ray, you know, I consider my for me. The man issue makes all all these other issues moved, and that is namely global warming in the environment. And it's just obvious with Trump stands, and you know, in the Republican Party in general, her and Florida, our previous governor made it censored the even use of the word climate change. So you know, it's a no brainer for me, you know, I mean, just the idea for a drill, baby drill, you know.
So, I feel like Florida would be an interesting place to have a strong feeling about climate the climate crisis because on the one hand, you were seeing the impact of that over time. I know, no individual storm can be attributed to climate change, but over time, more storms and greater magnitude, you've certainly see that in your state. At the same time, politically, I feel like kind of a hard sell when you're talking to people about climate policies. What is it like in your personal life when you tell them that's the big issue for you.
Well, for one thing, you know, I originally I'm Miami native. When I moved up here last year, and the bottom line being as a kid going to elementary school that ever Glade Elementary school, I used to occasionally we'd bundle up and we'd see occasional frost and the palm trees get a little burned and stuff, and you know, there's been ages since that's the curret. And of course, you know the tide issue in Miami, so yeah, of course it's affected me. You know, you can't go down Biscayne Boulevard and if it's if it's one of the uh you know, spring tides and god forbid, we got to you know, westerly wind. So yeah, I mean, and the bottom line is that it's going to gradually affect every issue basically, you know, if you maybe you know, uh, it's kind of a stretch, but basically every issue mentioned is going to be affected by global warming, climate change and the environment in general. And I mean it's just it's just obvious that which side is on the side, and you know, in liign with the rest of the world.
So are you the only person in your friend group who's talking about this or does it come up a lot?
No, We'll here at Gainsville is a college town, you know, and you know we uh, we were up on issues like this, and you know, I was. I was a merchant seamen, so I mean, I haven't been an academy in a long time, but I'm just retired and back, so you know, and of course I've seen a lot of changes at c too. So just I find that that's ultimate. I mean it is you know, it's not so immediate, but I mean for our children it will be.
You know, thank you so much for that call.
Ray.
I just want to briefly bring in t w or Riggy because Ray just went through Hurricane Milton. Do you think that, And of course we know that the Biden administration passed the Act that is the largest climate legislation in the history of the world. Do you think what do you think happens on the issue of climate change if Trump wins?
Yeah, I think Donald Trump is actually a lot more I suppose progress on the issue of climate change.
And most people give.
Him credit for he's always advocated for clear air, clear water.
He wants now.
Bobby Kennedy to have a large role in the climate thing in the Climate Office. That's actually one of Bobby Kennedy's pet issues. But look, here's the deal about climate change. I'm all for doing what we can, but we cannot be regressive when it comes to implementing enforcing expensive clean technologies on people, because at the end of the day, regardless of what we do, we go to net emissions zero tomorrow. In China, in China and India will continually pollute and do more and more and more and negate anything we do. So I'm happy that in America one of the great things we have is this great robust population of entrepreneurs and inventors who are making this new technology cheaper better by Elon Musk and others.
Who's supporting support. We got to stop you right there and just remind ours listeners that you are listening to America Votes Across Border Conversation across Canada. In the US. You can listen live on the CBC Listen app or watch at CBC dot News dot ca A. This is America Votes Across Border Conversation. We're coming to you live from w d e T in Detroit, Michigan. We're taking your calls at eight eight eight four one six eight three three three you know uh in For our audience on the middle, we have a different number, but I just want to remind them again this one we're using the Canadian number, which is still toll free A and it works in the United States. It works the United States eight eight eight four one six eight three three three. You can go to CVC dot ca A slash air check. We've got a caller calling from Calgary. Calgary. Yes, Cheryl slufar is with us from Calgary.
Cheryl.
What's that's what's at stake for you in this election?
Well, what's at stake for me? The top issue is losing my life living in a democracy and in a civil society.
What you mean by that?
Like, I've enjoyed political discussions ever since my dad started talking to me as a child. And that's not really happening anymore.
Why not because of what's happening in the United States.
Well, we're very connected, as some people have shared, and I did they mention I live in Alberta. We are very connected. A civil society is like where you can have an election, And it wasn't that long ago that we would have elections and candidates and conversations on the street and in our homes were heated, but there they were respectful, Like at a basic human level, we respected each other, and we respected the differences in our parties. We respected that they had different platforms and different angles. Somewhere one party would be more leaning towards business and money and maybe a little bit towards male dominance, and the other party might lean a little more towards sharing what we had, if we had enough to share, and giving people to control over their own bodies. And these are big differences, but we were able to find a human balance because we were civil to each other. And I'm very emotional about it because i feel like we're losing a lot. I call it democracy, but it's really our human connection.
Cheryl, thank you very much for that call. It's interesting in to think about how you mentioned this earlier, how the US political dynamic crosses the border and affects the politics in Canada and in other places as well. I mean, we saw the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, former Prime Minister now Boris Johnson, a lot of people compared him to Trump. The new president of Argentina, a lot of people compare him to Trump. The former president of Brazil, Bolsonaro, a lot of people compared him to Trump.
You know, it's interesting on your perspective. I've been talking to people in Michigan the last three days now, I guess, and I've heard people, including people who say they're going to vote for Kamala Harris, who say, you know, at least Donald Trump tells the truth. At least he's honest at least, you know, he cuts through all the bs. I've heard all of those comments from people just chatting with them in the last few days. So that's how some people see it. Other people see it as a coarseness, as a lack of civility. But either way, whether it appeals to you or it repels you, I think it is something that politicians around the world, including in Canada, some politicians have seen and in some cases they have decided that it's something that they want to copy. Let's go back to the phones now, and a reminder, if you're in the United States, if you're in Canada, you can call us one eight eight eight four one six eight three three three. Not only will we be hearing voices from both of those countries, but actually a voice from Mexico coming up in just a moment. But right now Dwayne Genus is calling us from Richmond Hill, Ontario. Hi, Dane, Hi, how you doing. I'm doing well? So what's at stake for you in this US election? As a Canadian?
You know, you know, it is very interesting. You know, I'm background is in Canada about my parents of Jamaican, so you know, my ethnicity is black, and you know, I just find that the perspective, it's almost as if people are not hearing what each other is saying, and everything is there are certain perspectives that are critical perspectives that are being missed, and I think that it's really a shame because we don't really get to solving the real issues. You know, onhn the Donald Trumps side, you know, people will look at him, many people will say, you know, he's crazy. But at the same time, if he was so crazy, why is the race so close? We got to ask a question. There's a lot of people who support his perspective, and you know, you have to kind of really look back in history and say, you know, a lot of the reasons why these things exist is because you know, they're they're part of the underpinning of a marria in history, right like if reconstruction, all of these things, you know, they've never really been solved. And so you know, as you know, sometimes we don't want to bring up those controversial issues, you know, as you know, you know a black person, you know, when I look at the the Democratic side, I always see that the Democrats always come to the black community every four years for their vote and they always get it. But at the same time, you know, I wish our community would be more organized and say, Okay, these are our list of demands, and whichever party would support those demands, that's who I would vote for. It's not just the vote, but because you know, the lack of organizations, it doesn't matter who wins the election, the black munty doesn't get anything because they're not consolidated. So I think, you know, I think, you know, unfortunately, you know, for Black Americans, you know, it seems as if you know, a lot of people are talking about black men not coming to vote. At the end of the day, they feel it doesn't matter that they're not going to get anything right and that that's a big problem.
Duane, let me ask you one last question. I interviewed the author Malcolm Gladwell last week in Vancouver. His mother is of Jamaican descent and she was and Malcolm was saying that his mother is all in with Kamala Harris because of the ethnic ties. Do you feel you touched on it before, but I don't know if you're in contact with Jamaican people of Jamaican descent in the United States, But do you think that Jamaican connection is something that's important to to a lot of people.
Well, I think I think some people just because of that connection, they feel that they would empathize with the struggles that they have. But you know, I mean, Kamala Harris doesn't have a lot of relationship with their father, right, Like we know this. It's there was a comment that she made about marijuana a while back, and the father was, you know me as a Jamaican heritage, you know, it's it was highly offensive in my family, and so you know, it's it doesn't always translate, right, and I think you know, it's uh, Unfortunately, we are not understanding the perspectives that are that are that are the perspectives are being lost. The Republicans have have have have de concerns that that they are not being acknowledged by the Democrats. And a lot of times, thank.
You very much for your call. Storry to cut you off, but we just have so much we want to get through before the end of the hour. But I certainly do appreciate you calling in.
It's interesting to hear about the Vice president Jamaican heritage. I was in Birmingham, Alabama a couple of months ago. The day that, or maybe the day after Harris replaced Biden as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party. And I was meeting with a group of Indian Americans there and they didn't They were very mixed on whether they were excited or not about the possibility of the first Indian American which Kamala Harris' mother is Indian, is Indian, first Indian American president, which was just very interesting to think about it.
Well, and Duane points out the fact that politics has complicated people's backgrounds were complicated, and just because you share kind of an ethnic tie to Jamaica doesn't necessarily mean that that's the overriding characteristic.
Right.
Let's go to a special guest who is joining us from Mexico City. You've probably seen him on TV or on the internet in the last few days. Award winning journalist Enrique A. Sevedo. He recently hosted two town halls for Univision, which is a major Spanish language network in the United States. The town halls gave both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris the opportunity to hear directly from Spanish speaking voters. And Rique joins us now from Mexico city and Rique so great to have you with us.
That's a pleasure. Thank you for having me on Dream.
Well, and you conducted these town halls, What were the things that stood out to you. I'm going to talk about one moment that has sort of gone viral, But what stood out to you from the candidates?
Well, I think we're.
Used to seeing both candidates in a different setting, large crowds, the massive political events, and under this format, we were able to see them interact one on one with the voters and answer their questions directly. I was basically just moderating that conversation. So I thought it was it was personal, It was culturally relevant because there were questions that carried a lot of emotion and personal stories. And it wasn't just seeing that interact from a policy perspective or from a campaign platform answer, but also seeing how they personally reacted to those emotions and those personal stories that the voters shared with them.
Well, and there was a moment when a man at a town hall with Donald Trump asked Trump to try and win back his vote, and he was very upset about what happened on January sixth, and he gave Trump a chance to respond and that moment went viral, and in fact, it was even spoofed last night on Saturday Night Live. Let's listen to a little bit of that.
Mister President, I want to give you the opportunity to win back my vote after what happened on January sixth, Well, why would I support you?
You know, I'm just going to make it crystal clear, Okay, January six was a day of love, all right, love and peace.
It was basically wood Stock people were being peaceful.
Ery que. He actually did say that January six was a day of love. Of course, we know it was not that at all. But what do you think of that moment and the fact that that went viral?
Well, I think, like I said, the voters had a chance to interact directly with the candidates, and in this case, Ramido who asked that question, he was concerned about what happened in January sixth, concerned about what he thought was the mishandling of the pandemic under the Trump administration, and he was very frank and direct with his question. I think the premise of giving Trump the chance the opportunity to win back his voat was probably what said of the former president more than the question itself. I think the fact that the voter was empowered and was speaking from a place of you know, you have to do the work to convince me, and I'm going to give you the chance.
To do it.
I thought that that was incredibly, incredibly powerful, and I'm happy that these voters are all Latino undecided voters had the chance to ask those questions, tough questions for both candidates.
You know, in this special right now, we're talking to listeners across the United States and Canada. Obviously a very big border between the two countries, but not the border that is the target of those who want really a tough crackdown on immigration. That really has to do with the southern border with Mexico and people coming from much further to the south even than Mexico. Why do you think so many Latinos in the United States are undecided at this point? How is that issue of border security and immigration playing out among the many different factions of the Latino community in the United States.
Yeah, and I love the fact that me joining from Mexico makes this a North Americans.
Exactly like the.
Three countries involved now USNC eight. Well, you're right, the US and kind of share the largest border in the world, and it's never been an issue, and it's never been a problem or seen as a national security threat. Of course, the South border, the one Mexico and the US share, has has fed a political myth that that has allowed both parties to win boats. And what I mean by your political myth is this idea that the border is unsecure and and the reason why millions of people choose to to travel and and and cross the border into the US. The reason why they do that is not because of what's happening at the border. It has to do with the conditions back in their home countries. And more factors are becoming part of that decision, like climate change or even the pandemic or the consequences the pandemic had. But to go back to your question, I think, well, they basically the appeal of Donald Trump with Latino voters has to do with the fact that many Latinos consider themselves a social conservatives, and for many of them, the Democratic Party has gone too far to the left on social issues like women's reproductive held like identity, and I think that explains in part why Donald Trump has the largest lead for a Republican candidate in recent history. Among Latino voters, he's pulling close to forty percent, which is unheard of for a Republican candidate. The other part, I would say it has to do with this idea that Latino's care of our immigration has a priority, but it's really more an identity issue. And with more than two thirds of the Latino electorate being a US born and not for generation immigrants, there became more and more like the rest of the electorate. So what I mean by that is immigration is it's an identity issue. It's a personal issue, but it's not a priority. They care about the economy and jobs and education and health because for them, the story of immigration is not a one that they personally experience like their parents.
Rickie, we've been talking about what is at stake for Canada in this US election? What about Mexico. I remember after Trump one in twenty sixteen, they were saying, please stop talking about the border wall. It's knocking the value of the peso down every time you do that. What's at stake this time for Mexico which has a new president.
Yes, we just elected our first female president, Klalia Schambaum, And I think a lot. It's at stake for Mexico. We are the US main trading partner, then Canada and China. But so first of all, the idea that both candidates are sounding more and more protectionists or supporting protectionist policies is something of concern, I would say for Mexico at a time where Mexico has an incredible opportunity to take advantage of a lot of the investments that have look for alternatives.
To China and.
What they had in other places. So there's that, there's commerce, but there's also security cooperation and the fact that there are thirty five million Mexican Americans living in the US that we share a border where twelve million people, you know, work and study and leave on both sides of that border. So in terms of economic stability, security, regional security, in terms of just the cultural relevance and the political importance that Mexico has and the US has in Mexico, I think that this is the most important election for Mexico and Mexicans after the one we just had in on June.
Second, finally, let me just ask you and Riquet a question that I can ask you because you're in another country right now. Who's going to win the election. Who's Mexico I think is going to win the election.
That's a tough question. I think it's it's too close to make any predictions. I think we've learned that. You know, I'm sure Kamala Harris is going to win the popular vote like it's happened in seven of the last eight elections with Democrats. Hillary Clinton won by more than three and a half million votes and still lost the election. So I think Democrats are going to win the popular vote, and I think it's going to come down and we all know this to a couple of states, not even the seven swing states. It's probably going to be Georgia and Pennsylvania and either or Arizona. So it's my concern is, of course, the possibility of a post electoral violence, right, giving what well we've seen in the best.
Yeah, that is Enrique Acevedo Award winning journalists who recently hosted two town halls, and by recently, I mean like in the last ten days with Kamala Harrison. Right, Enrique, thank you so much for joining us, Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure, and we're getting a lot of comments in online we've got Janet and Saint Louis as. My concern is the moral character displayed by Trump and his supporters. Gwen in Holland Michigan, the Dobbs decision about abortion motivates me to the polls. Let's see. Penelope Rider says, my major concern is the Israel funding. Listening on Michigan radio, so a lot of comments coming in again. You can reach us at CBC dot CA a slash air check, or you can call us at eight eight eight four one six eight three three three. I'm Jeremy Hobson along here with Ian Annah Man Sing of CBC's Cross Country Checkup. You're listening to America Votes Across Border Conversation coming to you live from Detroit.
Welcome back to this special cross border edition of Cross Country Checkup in the Middle and the Middle as people listen on CBC News Network, CBC Radio and on NPR stations across the United States. America Votes Across Border Conversation is what we're calling it, and it's a co production between CBC wdet and Detroit and the Middle. Our number is eight eight eight four one six eight three three three. You can also go to CBC dot ca slash air check. If you'd either like to make a comment or say, hey, man, I'd like to be on this program, give me a call back. Our question is what's at stake for you in the US election? Let's go to the phones. John Myers is where we are in Detroit, Michigan. Hi John, Hello?
How are you really good?
Except a little frustrated listening some of the ignorance, But other than that, thank you for this opportunity.
Okay, Well tell us what's at stake for you in this election?
Well, what's at stake with me is that, for the first time in my forty years of voting, I did not vote for the Democrat in the primary. This foreign situation is creating a rift in my community, and so I chose to send a message to mister Biden that what's going on and the continuous exit of our hard earned money over to that region hasn't worked, and it isn't working, and now it's definitely being used to murder people.
What region? Just to be clear, are you talking about.
City of Detroit?
No? No, But in terms of the foreign issue.
Oh, well, mostly the Middle East. But I don't believe that Ukraine has been handled rather well, either, but that goes back decades and decades and a lot of medaling. But no, we can't continue to support, you know, murder.
And so but you know again, I just want to make sure that I understand this clearly in my mind, because you mentioned the Middle East and Ukraine and supporting the United States, supporting murder. What specifically I mean? I can guess, but I'd like to hear you say, what specifically are you talking about?
Well, on Saturday, October seventh, I heard the news and I immediately said, this is the reaction of ongoing oppression of a people.
Okay, so you're talking about it. You're you're talking about Israel Hamas. So let me ask you this, John, So, you you didn't vote for a Democrat in the primary, You're not going to vote it sounds like for Kamala Harris. Does that mean you're going to vote for Donald Trump?
Oh?
Absolutely not cold. There's not enough money in the world for that to happen. And I haven't made up my decision yet. But here's what I think should happen. I think that the Democratic campaign should focus on the successes that took place in the last three and a half years. I think that they should educate people that immigration would have been fixed a long time ago if business wanted it fixed. And obviously the other side is talking about deporting which is not even a possibility, but if it were to happen, it would devastate our economy. And it's just an ignorant idea. And then there's the terroriff, and then there's the terroriffs. I mean, even talking about terriffs is a bad idea, and obviously it's just if it were enacted, it would be a terrible idea. And when you look at the result of the tariffs from five years ago or four years ago, that they just cost the American taxpayers a lot of money.
John, thank you so much. I want to just give our strategists, we've got these two wonderful political strategists, tw Orriggi the Republican, and you've at Simpson the Democrat, a chance to respond here on that issue. I'll start with you. Tw You hear him saying he's not voting for Kamala Harris because of the situation in the Middle East, but he's not going to vote for Trump either. Is that a win for your side?
T w Well, if he said he voted for Democrats for the last forty years and he isn't now, then yes, I would take that as a win.
It's troubling to hear the what I anti.
Israel rhetoric from some of the voters on your shows today, especially those seem to be Democratics front. The Democrats obviously are going to that is a struggle among their base, but it's really concerning. I think the the hatred against the growing hatred against Israel.
I'm not saying the war has been run perfectly, but let's not yet.
It twisted.
MOSS is a Nazi inspired organization and they shouldn't be treated with anything but that, Yvet.
Lots of things came up during that call that I thought were really interesting. I think if guys like that don't vote, then it does impact us worse, right, And I think one of the things we know about our voters is you've heard the line Democrats fall in love and Republicans fall in line, right, like, we got to love everything about our candidate in order to support them, and Republicans are like, okay, it's a Republican, I'm in. And when you've got a guy like this who may stay away because of a couple of issues.
It really does hurt.
Us, and I think that's problematic. It sounds like he's with us on the issues, but he's definitely not going to make that move. I hope he does, because, at the end of the day, contrary to what the first caller who talked about this issue mentioned, it cost us when people don't vote, and end of the day, not voting is a privilege.
It's a privileged.
Position because there's so much at stake. Some of us can't afford to not vote, and I think most of us can't afford to not vote. So that's very interesting. It is interesting that the Gaza conflict keeps coming up. I would disagree a little bit that what people are expressing is a hatred to Israel. I don't think that that's helpful. I think what people are expressing is compassion towards the Palestinian death. And you know, I think that is a tough position that the Democrats are in right now.
Sorry to jump in there. And you know what's interesting is two of the callers who mentioned Gaza as an issue and are unhappy with the Democrats. Their names at least, however much you can read into that didn't appear to be Arab American names. It's very easy for us to say this is an Arab American issue, but it is a human issue, right and it affects a lot of people.
That, by the way, was the first word that you have said this entire program. That we say differently, Oh, gaza, gaza, tomato, tomatow. Okay, let's go to at Jawad who's in Windsor, Ontario. Who's on the phone, Matt, what's important to you about the US election since you are in Canada.
Hello, Ian and Jeremy. I work in the US and I've been doing so for the past twenty nine years. Governing on searchey does come in March. And one of the things that is I work in the city of Taylor, which is only a few kilometers away from Detroit, and I cross across the view a boat that every single day. What really concerns me is that mister Trump's intention to renegotiate NAFTA, and he did that, he did that in the past, and he said he'll do that again. And I only have probably one or two more formats every three years and then retire. And this is something that really concerns me. If you renegotiate that or probably something back to the that, Okay, we will wait what happened so you stay home. That's number one. Number two, the fact that I come from Iraq and if your call last time, I actually went through this in which on the border he listed seven or eight Muslims right yes, and happening to be Iraqi of Iraqi origin. It was really uncomfortable on the border asking answering questions despite of the fact that I have a Canadian passport, where were you born and why did you go back to Iraq? And who do you know to Iraq? In Iraq? And you could sense the even the border guards who some of them know me, know me personally because I crossed every single day. As I said, we're very uncomfortable with that, to the extent that somewhere apologizing and I hope we do not go through this. But the national part is that something that that is to uh my the priority right now. And for whatever my opinion on the on the you think I'm at work, I am yet to see anybody who said that he's gonna elect Harris interesting. Everybody there, if they said they are.
They're all They're all in favor of Trumpola Trump.
They call Harris commonists, they call her socialist. They then also subjects and everybody there. There's lots of African Americans, White Americans that every one of them that happened to be a Canadian. They're also But he's a permanent residence but cannot vote. And he said, if I vote, I will be voting for Trump.
Well, Matt, it sounds like you've got a lot of activity going on there in the background. I'm gonna let you go deal with that. But I really appreciate your call. Thank you so much for giving us a call.
Winds Round here is such an interesting place to have a perspective on what we're talking about here, all these cross border issues. Let's go to Columbus, Ohio, and Deborah Fell has called our program.
Hi, Deborah, Hi, how are you all doing, Tony good?
So, thank you very much for calling. What is at stake for you, Deborah in the US election?
Yeah? So I come from the state of Ohio. I grew up I was super conservative and religious, and you know, over the past decade or so, my views have really changed. For me, I'm a competitive athlete and I'm having to make the choice to get a procedure done for my reproduction health before I'm probably ready to do it based on my racing schedule, because I don't know if I'm going to still have access to a reproductive help with the acas or field I talked about back in the day. So I'm thirty one years old and I'm basically getting both of my filopian choose from moods because I absolutely do not want to have children and I don't know how long I'm going to have that option to me.
And so our line is not crystal clear. But let me just ask you one more question here. Does this election then boil down to you to a single issue?
So may the election doesn't boil down to a single issue. But I think understanding the conservative rights extremism, especially from the Christian perspective, has really helped me to see that, you know, you have to act with the options that are available to you when it's available to you. So reproductive health is definitely one of the most important things. But it's more than that. To me, of course, it's democracy. It's thinking about our future and making sure that all Americans have access not only to healthcare, but to making the decisions for who they want to love, how they want to identify, and continuing to live in a free and hopefully equal society.
Debra, let me just ask you quickly. I heard from somebody that there's a there's a sort of a shadow campaign going on where women put little post it notes inside the stalls in bathrooms saying you don't have to tell anybody, but vote for Kamala Harris. Like for people basically in your situation and probably a conservative community, a lot of religion involved. Do you think that there are others like you out there in Ohio and other places who may not want to say that they're voting for reproductive rights, but they are going to do that.
I hope that they are. That's part of why I wanted to call in and just remind women that you have access to healthcare right now, and you should make the most of it, and you should vote as your life and others depends on it, and take advantage of the great access to healthcare that we've gotten through the Affordable Care Act while we still can.
Deborah, thank you so much for that call. We should bring in our guests here are strategists ive atte Simpson, she brings up healthcare I was talking to somebody who was out canvassing in Michigan who said that when this person who was canvassing for Harris was talking to Trump supporters and brought up healthcare, he called them Kamala curious. Is healthcare do you think going to be kind of a secret issue that's important in this election? It could well be.
I mean, as you know, it took a lot of work to get the ACA passed. It's not a perfect piece of legislation. But once people start to get used to it and they rely on it, the thought of them taking it away is a real challenge for people. And I don't know that the Republicans have thought that through. You might remember during debate, the debate kind of mention that and Trump said, oh, I've got concepts of a plan. So you know, the idea of pulling ACA without some sort of alternative that keeps people who are currently ensured under that plan is a real challenge for people, because there are millions and millions of people who would not have healthcare in this country without that particular legislation.
What do you think tw healthcare as an issue?
Yeah, it's a big issue.
Obviously, it is taking a little bit of a backseat with all the stuff that's going on in the news today, but it's a huge issue to everybody. I mean, anyone who has to pay a medical bill or looks it there insurance bill knows it's a problem.
Our healthcare system is deeply broken.
And while I believe that Democrats are using ACA as a crutch, it needs to be revamped. I agree we should just pull it out willy nilly and leave people hanging. That's a no go. But there we do need to move to a more competitive healthcare marketplace to get prices down, get transparent pricing, breakop hospital networks that are becoming monopolies. There's a ton that we can do to make the marketplace more competitive, to work for the patient and not for the wallets of the executive, and we need to do.
That in I imagine our Canadian listeners are just screaming at the radio right now, going why don't you just do it like we do it here?
Yeah.
Maybe, although as people wait at emergency rooms in Canada, they sometimes look at the United States and wonder if that's the better model. Jasay is such a bit. You know, a lot of people don't feel it's the better model, but it's certainly an ongoing debate in Canada and I sense in the United States as well. Listen, before we go, let's go back to our two analysts one last time. I know that call in shows are not a scientific survey of what people are thinking in the United States or Canada, but Avett, how about for a minute, a final word from you on what you've heard this afternoon.
Well, one of the things I like about this format, which I don't get on ABC News, is that you get to hear from people and respond in that moment, and I think that's really helpful. I think we had a good cross section of callers who raised a bunch of diverse issues. I think we have probably had a couple of people who were very one issue, who have been listening to the news and repeating rhetoric, but overall a lot of thoughtful people who have Really That's why I love doing this show and Jeremy's show as well, because you got a lot of thoughtful people who are really paying attention and they know that there are a lot of things at stake in this election. And I thought it was a good cross section of what we expect to see. I think in the election.
Yeah, it's why I love hosting or co hosting programs like this tw last word.
Yeah, I agree with much of what she said, and I thank everyone for tuning in and calling in. This is going to be a very tight election, and I appreciate people coming on and letting their voices be heard because we heard a few callers say some people are afraid to say how they really feel. But having this dialogue and doing it civilly shows other people how to behave simply with each other in today's heated times.
So thank you.
All for having me, and thank you all for calling in.
That was really productive.
Yeah.
We actually do have a few seconds left, so let me pick up all. Let me pick up on that tw.
You didn't take your full minute tw so now you get a little more time.
I mean, I think people are really concerned about not just civility, but the potential tw for violence if they're not happy with what happens election night. Are you concerned? And then if you are, what do we do about it?
Yeah?
No, I think, as I said before, it needs to begin with each of us.
We all need to be the example and speak with each other civilly.
Obviously, I'm a Republican, so I view it through a different lens. I see us getting quite a lot of heat generally speaking.
Obviously, the president has had two attempts on his life.
So I don't want any of that. Ever.
Violence has no place in our civil discourse, and you know it's we each need to do it better and acknowledge that ourselves, and then we can begin to see progress.
But it starts with the individual.
Okay, well, tw and Evett, thanks to both of you. If At Simpson and Democratic strategist former CEO of Democracy for America, and tw Arigghy is a Republican strategist and former communications aid to Mike Bompeo and Lindsey Graham. That's it for this week. Thanks to everyone who called today. If you missed any of this program, would like to hear our full to our version, you can go to the CBC Listen app or go to our website.
And today's episode is also going to be available at listen to themiddle dot com or on our podcast, which you can subscribe to on iHeart Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.
I love those plugs. Good for you. If you'd like to share comments, or up here on the show, you can go to CBC dot Ca slash air check special.
Thanks to everyone here at wdet and Detroit, Adam Fox, Matthew Trevethan, Jack Phil Brandt, and Mary Zatina.
Yeah.
WDT has been the perfect host for this in the perfect city to do it from America Votes Across Border Conversation was produced this week by Abby Planner, Theo Van Busicom and Harrison Patimio.
And thanks to Illinois Public Media for the US distribution of this program and the technical director there Jason Kroft, our digital producer Sanisha Jolich, Senior producer Richard Goddard.
And my co host from the middle is Jeremy Hobson. It has been fantastic to share a studio with you.
Same to you. And by the way, I love your theme. I like that we're ending on my theme. We started with your theme. They both sound great.
They do, absolutely do. You've been listening to America Votes Across Border Conversation on CBC and NPR stations across Canada and the United States.
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