In this episode of Passing Judgment, host Jessica Levinson is joined by Gram Slattery from Reuters to delve into the recent presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. From Harris rattling Trump with strategic jabs to the contentious discussions on key issues like the economy and abortion, this episode unpacks the critical elements that could shape the upcoming election.

Here are three key takeaways you don't want to miss:

1️⃣ Kamala Harris's Strategic Advantage: Harris accomplished her primary goals by setting the tone right from the handshake and taking the initiative, which helped her keep Trump on the defensive through most of the debate.

2️⃣ Trump's Challenges on Economic and Cultural Issues: Despite Trump's perceived strength in economic issues, the discussions on the economy and immigration did not favor him. His diversion to unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants highlighted his inability to stick to impactful topics.

3️⃣ The Impact of Polarization: Despite the consensus that Harris won the debate, the polarized electorate and the scarcity of swing voters suggest that winning debates might not significantly shift the numbers.

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