Larry Sabato is the Founder and Director of the University of Virginia Institute of Politics. There is no better political analyst in the country. Here are the key points he made in today’s Bill Press Pod: The 2024 presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is seen as a very close race, with no clear frontrunner. Sabato believes Harris performed well in the first presidential debate, getting under Trump's skin effectively. However, the debate likely only moved the needle slightly in the polls. Sabato is skeptical of polls showing Harris with a comfortable lead, as he believes some Trump supporters are not being honest with pollsters. He points to significant polling misses in recent elections as evidence that the polls cannot be fully trusted. He expresses concern about the reliability of polls in key battleground states like Wisconsin, where polls have significantly underestimated Trump's performance in recent elections. He sees the vice presidential debate as a potential wild card, with Vance potentially struggling to match the performance of Harris's running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. Sabato is critical of Republican members of Congress who have not stood up to Trump, saying they are putting their party's interests ahead of the country.

Today urges our listeners to support endangered Senators Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester through ActBlue.com

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Debate: Strategy. Debate: No Strategy. Dogs, Cats, Geese. MAGA Rumor Mill. GOP Abortion Problem. Harris Powerful on Abortion, Trump Waffles on Abortion. Harris Credible as POTUS. Another Debate? Shutdown Re-run. With David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY, Jeff Dufour, Editor in chief at The National Journal and Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reporter at NOTUS.

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers. More information at AFT.org.

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Reporters’ Roundtable regular and Political Correspondent for19th news, Amanda Becker is back with a quick reaction to last night’s debate. Her book "You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post Dobbs America" makes her one of the foremost experts on the battle for abortion rights ands its impact on politics. As expected, Abortion was a major topic. Amanda gives her informed reaction to both Harris and Trump.

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Our guest today is Reporters’ Roundtable regular and Political Correspondent for19th news, Amanda Becker. Her book "You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post Dobbs America" provides valuable insights into the battle for abortion rights. It was published today. She and Bill discuss the book and the overturning of Roe V Wade and its impact on the 2024 election although the 2024 election is expected to be decided mostly on personalities rather than policy. However, one of the central issues that may come into play is reproductive rights. Kamala Harris is a longtime leader and supporter of abortion rights, while Donald Trump, a former abortion rights supporter, is now the country's anti-abortion leader. Each of the 50 states is trying to navigate the post-Dobbs reality, which has resulted in chaos. The issue of abortion rights is gaining importance among voters, particularly women under 45. The impact of abortion rights on voter turnout and candidate races remains to be seen. It is expected that Trump will try to avoid giving a clear answer on his stance on abortion, while Harris will likely keep the conversation focused on this issue. 

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Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Harris Still Not Well Known. Liz Cheney for Harris. Harris on Small Business. Trump on What?? Debate Will be Key, With Gabe Debenedetti, National Correspondent for New York Magazine, Jasmine Wright, reporting on the Presidential campaign for NOTUS and Geoff Earle, US Deputy Political Editor of MailOnline.com.

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org

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Bill and Jonathan Martin discuss the state of the 2024 presidential race. Martin is the Politics Bureau Chief and Senior Political Columnist for Politico. They agree that Kamala Harris has a slight advantage, but the race is still a toss-up. They discuss the importance of key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, as well as the potential impact of issues like abortion and immigration. They also talk about the role of Donald Trump and the choice between two different personalities in this election. They observe that Joe Biden will be campaigning with Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and discuss the potential future of Democratic politicians like Gavin Newsom and Josh Shapiro. Overall, the election is seen as a referendum on Donald Trump and his presidency.

Today Bill urges you to contribute whatever you can to Democratic candidates up and down the ballot at ActBlue.com

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CNN Interviews Harris. Walz Was There, Too. Trump Still Flails vs Harris. Trump in a Box on Abortion, IVF. Trump Violates Arlington Rules. Vance’s Awkward Events. RFK, Jr. Endorsement Effect. With Maya King, Politics Reporter covering The South for The New York Times, Philip Bump, National Columnist for The Washington Post, author of the How to Read this Chart Newsletter and author of the great book, The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America, and Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief, White House/Politics Correspondent at The Christian Science Monitor.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org

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Washington Post Columnist Dana Milbank and Bill discuss the recent changes in the American political scene. Dana Milbank expresses his surprise at how dramatically the political landscape has shifted in just a month. He initially expected an unpleasant political season but now finds it to be an interesting story. They also discuss the Democratic National Convention and how it compared to expectations. Dana Milbank mentions that there were fewer protests and conflicts than anticipated. They highlight the use of words like "joy" and "freedom" by Democrats during the convention. They also discuss Kamala Harris and her emergence as a strong candidate. Dana Milbank believes she is the antidote to the darkness portrayed by Trump. They touch on Trump's reaction to the convention and his inability to focus on policy rather than personal attacks. They discuss JD Vance's campaign and his lackluster performance, as well as the upcoming debates between Trump and Harris and between Vance and Tim Walz. Dana Milbank expresses his belief that Harris has the advantage at this moment due to her energy, fundraising advantage, and momentum.   Dana has a new book coming Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House. You can pre-order here.

Bill takes Michelle Obama's convention advice to “do something.” In this case contribute what you can to Democratic candidates up and down the ballot at ActBlue.com.

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Harris: Who I Am. On Offense on Border. Addressed Palestine. Protests Fizzle. Trump Freaks Out. Walz Connects on Family. Joy! Freedom Takes the Stage. Provoking Trump. RFK, Jr. Dropping Out. With Lynn Sweet, Columnist and Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, Amanda Becker, Washington and Politics Reporter for 19th News and author of the new book, YOU MUST STAND-UP, The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America, out next month and Jason Dick, Editor in chief at CQ Roll-Call. 

Today Bill thanks all of the great unions who have supported progressive media.

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Bill's reactions and insights from the Convention on day three.

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