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PODCAST

Brutal New Ad Nukes Trump—with His Own Ugly, Hateful Attacks on Women

As Kamala Harris hits Trump hard over his misogyny, a scholar of political communications explains how Harris is tapping into a level of cultural energy among women we are underestimating.

Kamala Harris raises a finger while talking
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on October 26, 2024

Kamala Harris’s campaign just released a hard-hitting ad featuring Donald Trump’s quotes about the need for a “punishment” for abortion, and tying them powerfully to horrific stories about women suffering and dying under GOP abortion bans. If Harris wins, it’ll probably be due to women who are motivated by messages like this one. We talked to Jennifer Mercieca, a professor of political communications who writes about how political rhetoric functions. She explains how Harris is effectively tapping into a deep cultural moment—and why we may be underestimating the political energy of women in the post-Dobbs era. Listen to this episode here. A transcript is here.