Key Insights
Why did Vice President Kamala Harris wait so long to concede the election?
Harris initially scrapped her planned speech at Howard University after it became clear she had no path to victory, similar to Hillary Clinton's handling of her loss in 2016. She eventually conceded after more outlets called the race and made a call to Trump to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
How did the legacy media react to Trump's victory?
Legacy media outlets like The New York Times and CNN used divisive language, framing Trump's win as a 'stunning return to power' and suggesting an authoritarian style of governance. Some hosts on MSNBC blamed the outcome on racism and misogyny among voters.
Why did polls underestimate Trump's support in the election?
Polls, including those by respected pollsters like Ann Seltzer and Nate Silver, significantly underestimated Trump's support, with some errors as large as 16 points. This marks the third consecutive cycle where systematic bias undercounted Trump's appeal.
How did Trump's support among minority groups change compared to 2020?
Trump made significant inroads among minority groups, winning 13% of the black vote and 45% of the Hispanic vote, up from 8% and 32% respectively in 2020. He also saw a 10-point increase in support among young voters and a 7-point increase among Black voters.
What was the tone of Kamala Harris's concession speech?
Harris's speech was mixed, with a big smile but also dark undertones. She conceded the election and promised a peaceful transfer of power but also took shots at Trump and emphasized her ongoing fight. Her supporters booed when she mentioned Trump.
How did Trump's performance among religious groups compare to 2020?
Trump gained 10 points with Catholics and won Protestants by 22 points, likely due to his stance on culture war issues. Harris improved the Democratic margin among Jewish voters but by a smaller margin than Biden did in 2020.
Chapters
- Harris waited several hours after the race was called to give her concession speech.
- Her speech was marked by mixed messaging, with both concession and continued resistance to Trump's victory.
- Supporters booed when Trump's name was mentioned, reflecting the contentious nature of the concession.
Shownotes Transcript