The New Yorker Political Scene Scene – Details, episodes & analysis

Russ breaks down the NYPSS breakdown of this year's DNC, with discussion of Kamala Harris, the sad state of affairs for the Palestinian cause, the Obamas and more. Russ also talks about the New Yorker's release of photos from the 2005 Haditha Massacre in Iraq.

Russ is joined by a very special guest, the inimitable Will Sloan. Russ and Will reminisce about their days at Columbia Journalism School before breaking down the New Yorker Political Scene's breakdown of the 1993 documentary The War Room by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. The film took audiences behind the scenes of Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign, which gave rise to the media careers of people whose repugnant political views continue to plague us to this day. People like George Stephanopoulos, Paul Begala and James Carville. The NYPS braintrust is joined on their episode by Begala and Carville themselves, in all their loathsome glory, as they make parallels between Clinton '92 and Harris '24.

To get more Will Sloan in your life, check out his podcasts:

Michael and Us:

https://soundcloud.com/michael-and-us

The Important Cinema Club:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1QyTvDYIKaekYn7xD0ITV2

And follow him on Twitter:

https://x.com/WillSloanEsq

Russ breaks down the Political Scene's discussion of Donald Trump's historic conviction

This week, Susan Glasser, Jane Mayer and Evan Osnos discuss foreign affairs and how they aren't (???) playing a big enough role in the 2024 presidential campaigns.

Russ discusses the New Yorker Political Scene's take on the momentum behind the Harris campaign, as well as the role that the Gaza is likely to have it.

This week's episode analyzes the New Yorker Political Scene's reaction to the U.S. - Russia - Europe prisoner exchange, as well as the Harris campaign's messaging strategy. In addition to the regular NYPS hosts, we also hear from Jennifer Lawless, who is a professor of politics and public policy at the University of Virginia. We also get into the time machine to see the parallels between this race and those of Dukakis in '88 and Clinton in '92. Good times!

Russ breaks down the New Yorker Political Scene's ongoing hagiography of Joe Biden, and gets into questions about how Harris is rhetorically navigating the subject of Israel.

Russ goes back to his podcasting roots to check in with his dad (who he used to host a podcast with) to get his thoughts on the R.N.C. and the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Russ and Norm go over the New Yorker Political Scene's take on the convention and on the Trump candidacy.

I go over the NYPS's post-debate analysis, and it's a doozie. Lot's of good gems and nuggets about Joe Biden, the Democratic Party and who is responsible for the disaster that was the debate. Lots of good nuggets and gems for all the Political Scene heads out there, as well as my take on the SCOTUS presidential immunity ruling.

The New Yorker Political Scene hosts give a preview of what to expect out of Thursday's presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Bottom line: they are all dreading this debate because they wouldn't know what fun was even if God allowed them be dolphins for a day. They have on Doris Kearns Goodwin to talk about her experiences adjacent to the John F. Kennedy campaign and specifically how he approached his debate with Richard Nixon, which was the first ever televised presidential debate. Doris hopes to hear a substantive, thoughtful debate where the candidates get their policy agendas on the record. Fat chance Doris!