Why Trump's mug shot will backfire in 2024
Trump believes this is a political winner for him. But as New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu told me this week, "independents hate it."
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| Jen Psaki |
Why mug shot matters?
The Georgia indictment varies for a whole host of reasons. Donald Trump has 18 other defendants, he can't pardon himself, the trial will likely be televised, and now, for the first time, we have a snapshot.
He believes this is a political winner for him. But as New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu told me in an interview broadcast on Sunday, "independents hate it."
The fact remains that Trump will need to broaden his electoral base to win the general election. Yes, Trump has turned politics on its head. But independents and moderates in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Phoenix or Detroit are unlikely to be more likely to vote for Trump because he is being booked into the Fulton County Jail.
Already, 26 percent of potential Iowa GOP attendees say Trump has committed serious crimes, according to a new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll.
This photo will be shared on every text message thread in America. Sometimes, images are more convincing than anything else. It is hard to imagine that this image, of Trump frowning in front of a police camera, would make him more attractive to anyone who is not already a staunch supporter of him.
A must-watch story: The race for second place
On the crowded stage of the presidential debate, I would like to focus on the main target of the attacks. This is what the broader field of competitors perceives as their greatest threat.
On Wednesday night, that goal was (perhaps surprisingly) Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence called him an "amateur", former governor Chris Christie said he sounded like a "ChatGPT" and former ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley attacked him for not having "foreign policy experience".
On the other hand, only two attacks were directed against the current runner-up, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. It was as if he wasn't on stage. None of what he said was memorable, and almost no one bothered to attack him.
Indeed, Ramaswamy forcefully asserted his claim to the MAGA corridor which DeSantis undoubtedly wanted to conquer. And in taking a page from Trump's book, Ramasamy certainly didn't let facts get in the way of a good article. Perhaps it was only working for him.
I will continue to watch to see if this is just a blip in the indicator or a real bullish trend. There is also the possibility that he is already auditioning to be the name under Trump on the ballot.
Someone you should know: Amanda Littman
With so much focus on the presidential election, it's easy to forget the all-important poll races that are shaping up across the country. And I'm talking about races at the bottom of the polls.
With book bans and challenges continuing at a rapid pace, school board seats are more important than ever. One group trying to get young people to fight right-wing extremism elected to school boards is Run for Something. Amanda Littman is the co-founder, and she's someone I'll be watching closely as election season begins.
Weekend routine by NBC News and MSNBC national political correspondent Steve Kornacki
What show are you excited about right now?
Enough people asked me to watch "The Bear," so I did and I'm about to watch it now. It doesn't really interest me, although some of the characters and moments worked well.
what is the last book you have read?
Randy Boyagoda's biography of Richard John Newhouse, the influential Catholic theologian who achieved perhaps his greatest fame during the Bush presidency. It's a truly fascinating read that explores Newhouse's personal, religious, and political development with detail and insight.
What time do you get up on the weekend?
Early on, especially on Saturdays, which I generally like to spend watching horse racing. I try to get my morning routine done as early as possible so that I have enough time to take a good look at the tracks I'll be playing and plan my betting strategy.
How do you take your coffee?
Dunkin' with some kind of milk in it and nothing else. If I'm traveling to a place where Dunkin' Donuts are few and far between, I'm willing to go out of my way to get what I want.
