Behind the veneer of civility that cloaked the 2 October US vice presidential debate, there are radical differences that can't be reconciled. 

Key topics:
- Fact-checking and post-truth: the CBS News debate moderators couldn't fact-check the vice presidential candidates, but, weirdly enough, candidates were encouraged to fact-check each other.

- JD Vance, like Trump, blames all American problems on immigration. Tim Walz reiterates Harris' "tough" stance on borders (a move to the right), while rightly denouncing the dehumanisation of Republican anti-immigrant propaganda.

- In a different dynamic from the Harris-Trump debate, Vance and Walz try to be nice to each other, while they both talk to rural and working class voters in middle America. Regional identity politics requires that they acknowledge their common roots, even as they disagree on pretty much everything else.

- Mainstreaming far right ideas through "civil" debate won't make them any less dangerous. Vance's polished salesman's style is a thin veil for his extreme views.

- Advocating for a transversal alliance of free speech warriors, Vance accuses Harris of "censorship", while Walz refocuses the attention on Trump's undemocratic attitude and the dangers of a repeat of the January 6 Capitol Hill riots.

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We compare two radically different visions for America in the 10 September presidential debate. We talk about the ideas, the emotions and the communication tactics.

Key topics:
- Harris’ opportunity economy is aimed at a broad coalition of middle classes, workers and small business owners. Republicans identify as “working class” even when they are not.

- Trump is obsessed with stoking fears about immigration. Harris takes him on and shows he is derailing from the real issues.

- Trump’s statements on immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, are extreme, absurd and tragically farcical: a surreal twisted spectacle that produces very real violence and hate against migrant communities. Vance admits to “creating stories” about pet-eating just to get media attention.

- Harris’ empathetic focus on women’s reproductive freedom beats Trump spinning abortion bans as a democratic expression of the “people’s will”.

- Harris recognises Palestinian suffering but struggles to make a significant break from Biden’s Israel policy.

- Trump’s “anti-war” narrative is revealed as a muscular stance based on “inciting fear” on the world stage.

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In this episode:
- Russian interference and Tenet Media: paying American right-wing influencers to do what they already do; pro-Trump commentator Dave Rubin’s journey from left to right, or why libertarians ally with the far right.

- Operation Doppelganger: impersonating mainstream media and mixing fact and fiction to sow division in US domestic politics.

- JD Vance: from darling of mainstream shows to far right politician; Vance’s right-wing nationalism and the “white working class” narrative.

- No need to avoid the press: Kamala Harris and her first TV interview with CNN.

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We discuss two different styles and visions of populism - the Democrats vs the Republicans. Kamala Harris accepts the nomination as presidential candidate  at the Democratic National Convention, Tim Walz is a "man of the people", Trump and Vance's weird politics focuses on doom and gloom and how to save Americans from catastrophe. Lack of engagement with the Gaza protesters is a missed opportunity for Democrats. Robert F. Kennedy jr endorses right-wing Trump with leftist rhetoric.

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