We compare two radically different visions for America in the 10 September presidential debate. We talk about the ideas, the emotions and the communication tactics.

Key topics:
- Harris’ opportunity economy is aimed at a broad coalition of middle classes, workers and small business owners. Republicans identify as “working class” even when they are not.

- Trump is obsessed with stoking fears about immigration. Harris takes him on and shows he is derailing from the real issues.

- Trump’s statements on immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, are extreme, absurd and tragically farcical: a surreal twisted spectacle that produces very real violence and hate against migrant communities. Vance admits to “creating stories” about pet-eating just to get media attention.

- Harris’ empathetic focus on women’s reproductive freedom beats Trump spinning abortion bans as a democratic expression of the “people’s will”.

- Harris recognises Palestinian suffering but struggles to make a significant break from Biden’s Israel policy.

- Trump’s “anti-war” narrative is revealed as a muscular stance based on “inciting fear” on the world stage.

In this episode:
- Russian interference and Tenet Media: paying American right-wing influencers to do what they already do; pro-Trump commentator Dave Rubin’s journey from left to right, or why libertarians ally with the far right.

- Operation Doppelganger: impersonating mainstream media and mixing fact and fiction to sow division in US domestic politics.

- JD Vance: from darling of mainstream shows to far right politician; Vance’s right-wing nationalism and the “white working class” narrative.

- No need to avoid the press: Kamala Harris and her first TV interview with CNN.

We discuss two different styles and visions of populism - the Democrats vs the Republicans. Kamala Harris accepts the nomination as presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention, Tim Walz is a "man of the people", Trump and Vance's weird politics focuses on doom and gloom and how to save Americans from catastrophe. Lack of engagement with the Gaza protesters is a missed opportunity for Democrats. Robert F. Kennedy jr endorses right-wing Trump with leftist rhetoric.