Stuart Stevens' Campaign Memo: 1/22/24

Rick dissects Trump’s blatant lies about Biden’s response to Hurricane Helene, and the long history of MAGA using tragedy for political gain. He discusses the use of social media and AI to disseminate disinformation, particularly Marjorie Taylor Greene’s absurd claim that “they” control the weather.

Fox News was desperate for some kind of scandal to help boost Trump’s presidential campaign. Fox tried to boost RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump, Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to Jim Jordan, Kamala Harris had an interview with her running mate, Joe Biden somehow controlled Trump’s DOJ, and finally Kamala Harris stranded astronauts in space. Absolutely nothing stuck but that wasn’t going to stop anyone at Fox from insisting all of these stories were life and death important.

A crazy old man named Donald J. Trump called into the last night of Fox News’ coverage of the DNC. When the first show hung up on him he called in to the next show - the worst comedy show on television. Jessica Tarlov broke down his meltdown. Jesse Watters made a racist statement about crime. Sean Hannity waited for a riot that never happened. Brit Hume referred to women who suffered sexual assault and serious pregnancy complications as “abortion speakers” Multiple Fox News hosts whined about how the Dems have treated Biden. Nancy Pelosi proved she’s a boss on PBS.

Rick gives us a solo episode from the Democratic National Convention where he centers us on what we need to know and why it matters.

Steven Beschloss writes: "I will never get over July 16, 2018, the day that Donald Trump betrayed America and sided with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Helsinki."