Doug Emhoff explains what scares Trump about the Harris debate

The truth is not complicated

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff didn't hold back during an extensive interview with MSNBC this week. When I asked him if he thought so Donald Trump Although he was afraid to argue with his wife, he didn't mince his words: “Yes, he should have that.”

The truth is no more complicated. Even a Fox News host Bret Baier agrees that it is Trump and not Kamala Harriswho refuses to explore the possibility of a second debate on Fox News.

At this point in a typical election cycle, candidates and voters are focused on analyzing and replaying the fall's three big presidential debates. But Trump's fear of being embarrassed again on the debate stage makes it increasingly unlikely that he and Harris will reunite for another pre-election face-off.

Emhoff spoke openly about this debate debacle during our conversation. We also talked about how the rise in anti-Semitism has taken a personal toll and how cowardly the Republican Party has responded Mark Robinson.

You can catch our full conversation on tomorrow's show at 12pm ET.

A story to watch: The vice presidential debate

On October 1, the vice presidential candidate elected Governor. Tim Waltz and Sen. JD Vance will meet in New York City for their own debate. The duel is one of the last major opportunities for both campaigns to publicly present their arguments to voters and compare their policies and plans directly with those of their opponents.

Vice presidential debates rarely tip the scales in elections, but this one could be different, especially for voters still trying to learn more about Harris' vision for the country.

Vance has come under intense scrutiny in recent months. Critics slammed his comments about Democrats' “childless cat ladies” and his refusal to apologize for spreading false stories attacking immigrants. On Instagram, he mocked Walz's combat record while holding a toy shotgun – an odd position considering Vance himself wrote in his book that as a military journalist in the Marines, he was “lucky, everyone.” to avoid real fighting in Iraq.”

Expect further attacks along these lines from Vance, including attempts to portray Walz as a “San Francisco-style liberal.” (Trump has previously called Walz a “West Coast wannabe” who wants to “unleash hell on earth.”) I would argue that Walz's “radical agenda” to make school lunches free for students isn't exactly hell , which Vance is trying to claim here.

To prepare, Walz's team organized a multi-day debate camp in rural Michigan. Minister of Transport Pete Buttigieg Vance plays in trial sessions and the candidate is trained by him Michael Tyler and other long-time Walz employees. Vance took a lighter approach, saying he didn't need to “prepare as much” for the debate. But he has held online sessions with advisers including his wife, Usha VanceAnd Jason Miller; Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer represents Walz.

Vance could still have a lot of work ahead of him. According to FiveThirtyEight, Vance's unfavorability average is currently over 45% (with a favorability average of 34%).

A race to watch: Rep. Colin Allred vs. Sen. Ted Cruz

In Texas, current polls show that Democratic Rep Colin Allred seemingly within striking distance of the Republican senator. Ted Cruzwith a Morning Consult poll even putting Allred ahead by a point. This has prompted the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to launch a major advertising buy in the state.

Allred, a former NFL linebacker turned civil rights attorney, was elected to Congress in 2018 after unseating an 11-term Republican incumbent. Prior to serving in Congress, Allred also served as a special assistant in the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The two candidates will debate on October 15th. No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994. But as the Lone Star State becomes more and more competitive, this competition is (suddenly) very interesting.