Why Harris and Trump Were in Texas

Plus: the radio station that Latinos trust; baseball is for the losers; and the megachurch that tried to confront racism. View in browser | Update your preferences Saturday, October 26, 2024 In today’s newsletter, unexpected campaign stops in Texas, and then: • The radio station that Latinos trust • Baseball is for the losers • The megachurch that tried to confront racism Geraldo Cadava Contributing writer Photograph by Justin Sullivan / Getty In the final flurry of campaign stops, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump found themselves yesterday in . . . Texas. It’s hardly a battleground state, but their visits caused some to speculate about whether Harris was there to help pull off a miracle, or if the candidates had shown up to support Ted Cruz or Colin Allred in their tight Senate race. Maybe the reason was simpler: that’s where Beyoncé, who spoke at a Harris rally in her home town of Houston that drew a reported thirty thousand people, and the podcast host Joe Rogan, who moved there from California a few years ago, were waiting to meet them. Democrats have long dreamed of flipping Texas. And, in fact, Republican margins have decreased in the state over time: Mitt Romney won it by nearly sixteen points in 2012; Trump won it by just five and a half in 2020. Today, polls show Trump’s lead between four and twelve per cent. But there have been murmurs recently that it could be in play, apparently because of a solid early-voting performance by registered Democrats. If the Trump campaign feels threatened there at all, it could have been bolstering support by making an appearance. I’m sure this is what Democrats, at least, would like to believe. But Texas also gave both Harris and Trump an opportunity to reinforce the key messages of their campaigns: Harris on reproductive rights; Trump on immigration and the border. After the d.j. TRYFE warmed up the crowd, Beyoncé gave a forward-looking speech—“It’s time to sing a new song”—before introducing Harris, who urged her upbeat, youthful audience to vote. For his part, Trump held a press conference in Austin, where he focussed on migrant crime and mass deportations, before recording an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience.” But Trump’s visit wasn’t a play for the vote in the bluest heart of Texas. Governor Greg Abbott has been one of Trump’s most steadfast allies in his crusade against the immigrants that, he claims, have invaded his state. Abbott also championed the 2022 state law that made almost all abortions illegal, which other Republican governors have seen as a model. So, for both candidates, yesterday’s visits were an opportunity to lament how the rest of America could become more like Texas if their opponent wins. Watch The New Yorker Festival Live: Today, a live stream will broadcast events featuring Liz Cheney, Sara Bareilles, and more. Tune in now » More on the 2024 Election The Political Scene The Radio Station That Latino Voters Trust With Arizona in the balance, a critical political conversation is taking place on the air. By Stephania Taladrid Photo Booth Living in the Shadow of an American Election A photographer took a road trip across the country during the Presidential race. What did he see? By Naomi Fry The Political Scene Podcast The Lies Are Winning “We’ve moved from a moment of alternative facts with Kellyanne Conway to now embracing the idea of lies,” Jane Mayer says. The Weekend Essay Baseball Is for the Losers As two moneyed titans vie for a championship, it’s time to pour one out for the vanquished. By Nicholas Dawidoff Photograph by Rob Tringali / MLB / Getty Baseball culminates every year in the sinking light of autumn evenings, crisp weather that excites the heart and offers clarity on the latest long season. This has been a signal year not so much because of the superiority of any one team but because of the individual feats of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, as well as of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, surpassing players deployed in potent pairs at the tops of the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers lineups. Yes, them again. The Yankees and the Dodgers are baseball’s Big Oil franchises, the prosperous winners of now forty-one and twenty-two pennants, respectively, since the World Series began. This year’s Series, which began on Friday, is the twelfth instance in which the teams have met in these Punic confrontations, with the Yankees prevailing eight times. The Dodgers have been to four of the last eight Series. In a thirty-team league, the two teams together employ eight of the twenty-six highest-paid players. Keep reading Editor’s Pick Under Review The Megachurch That Tried to Confront Racism A political scientist spent years at Crossroads Church, talking to members of a bespoke racial-justice course. What did she find? By Casey Cep If you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter, please share it. Was it forwarded to you? Sign up. The Through Line The Decline of the Working Musician Illustration by Rob en Robin In the twenty-first century, it’s become almost impossible to make a living by playing in a band. In a piece for this week’s issue, Hua Hsu looks at Franz Nicolay’s new book, “Band People: Life and Work in Popular Music,” which explores how the advent of Spotify and the demand for near-constant engagement on social media has made it so that the only people who earn decent money in music are those “at the very top.” Alex Barasch’s recent profile of the Korean producer Hitman Bang—the man behind BTS—confirms this reality. “Musicians can make money, too,” Bang insists. But Bang is a billionaire, who made his fortune by curating exceptionally lucrative musical acts who are always touring and always online, constantly trying to optimize their brand. These pieces focus on nearly opposite ends of the music world but reach the same conclusion: the industry is undergoing a rapid transformation and only a very few people are keeping up. Fun & Games Dept. Shouts & Murmurs Come on Down to Bad Apples Farm We are situated in a part of New York where you’re, like, “Wow, this is a lot of white people,” and, “Was that a Confederate flag?” By Nikki Palumbo Name Drop: Can you guess the identity of a notable person—contemporary or historical—in six clues? Play our trivia game » P.S. Nothing is as American as apple pie. But Bill Buford thinks that maybe this French version is better. (Sacre bleu!) Read the recipe » What did you think of today’s newsletter? Let us know. If you like the daily newsletter, browse more New Yorker newsletters. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the daily newsletter from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2024. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.