‘Just a Sideshow’: What the GOP Debate Tells Us About the Republican Party

On August 23, 2023, Republican candidates addressed questions on a range of issues facing the nation including the economy, abortion rights, and support for former President Trump even as he faces several indictments in the first presidential primary debate hosted by Fox News. Just 30 minutes into the debate, Chris LaCivita, a political consultant with the Trump campaign said the former president made the right decision to not participate and instead do his own interview with Tucker Carlson that was streamed on X (former Twitter). 

In this episode, Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss the first Republican presidential primary debate, Donald Trump’s interview and what we can glean about the state of the Republican Party and issues facing the nation. 

Links in this episode: 

• Explaining Republican Loyalty to Trump: The Crucial Role of Negative Partisanship
• Republicans view Reagan, Trump as best recent presidents
• Donald Trump is most Republicans' first-choice candidate
• Younger evangelicals in the U.S. are more concerned than their elders about climate change
• Oliver Anthony - Rich Men North Of Richmond