Post-debate Friday Mailbag!

Here we go.

Happy Friday!

We did it!

Making it to Friday this week feels like even more of an accomplishment than normal for me. Why? When there are big political events early in the week — like, say, a presidential debate on a Tuesday — I am CRUSHED by Thursday. And there’s still one more day to go!

So, good job everyone.

This week’s mailbag was FULL. Whole lot of questions. Which is how I like it!

I got to as many as I could below. But if your question didn’t get answered, make sure to head to my weekly Friday livestream over at my YouTube channel. It’s at 1 pm eastern — and I will spend an hour (or so) answering questions there too!

But, before we do, a reminder: The weekly mailbag is a paywalled post. It’s an end-of-the-week treat for paid subscribers. If you aren’t a paying subscriber just yet, you’ll be able to read some of it. To get the whole thing, you need to join the ranks of the paid! Do it today! It’s just $6 a month or $60 for the year!

To the questions! (Soundtrack for this mailbag: “Easy Company” by the Futurebirds.

Q: You've often said that you've been closely covering Trump's speeches, rallies, and other appearances for quite a few years now, and you haven't noticed a change in his cognition--he's the same as he ever was. Is it possible that you are experiencing the "grandparents effect" (yes, I just made that up)? Meaning, parents don't notice how their kids are growing day-to-day, week-to-week, because the changes are slow and subtle. But to the grandparents who come visit every few months, the kids have grown markedly. Since you're very in the weeds when it comes to Trump's oratory, could you be the parents in this analogy when it comes to his (allegedly) declining cognition? Not that I want to assign you homework, but I think you would be uniquely qualified to compare the video of a Trump speech years ago to one that was more recent. In fact, given how much time you've spent listening to what he says, you may be the perfect person for this job (yes, I am going with the "help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope" angle here). I'd be very curious to see if your opinion on his cognitive status changes.

A: This is a terrific question. And one I have thought a lot about.

I will tell you that, for research before my Georgetown class, I watched parts of the first 2016 debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton. And there’s no doubt that Trump was quicker thinking and better on his feet — and a little more coherent — then than he is is now.

It’s hard not to notice the difference.

The issue I have is that I am not a medical doctor or a cognition expert. I think it’s totally possible that the changes in Trump are just the difference between a 70 year old man and a 78 year old man.

Like, yes, he’s slowed a bit but nothing concerning.

I just don’t feel comfortable with people who say “HE HAS DEMENTIA!!!” I don’t think we should be diagnosing Trump (or anyone) from afar like that.

One other thing I will add: I disagree with people who say Trump has become more “unhinged.” Number one, “unhinged” is in the eye of the beholder. And number two, I would remind you that Trump, in his ANNOUNCEMENT speech in 2015, said that rapists and criminals from Mexico were illegally crossing into the U.S.. That was nine years ago.

My point is that he’s always sort of been this guy. It’s not like he had the temperament of Mitt Romney in 2016 and now he has the temperament of the angry emotion from “Inside Out.”

Q: I’m trying to understand (if that’s even possible) how at least 46% of voters are a lock for Trump given all that has happened on his watch over the past 8 years or so? What am I missing? Said another way, are people really that dumb?

A: No. And I think that lumping all Trump voters into the “dumb/racist” camp misunderstands the country that we actually live in.

I do think there is some element of the Trump base who is racist. No question. And some who are dumb! (There are dumb people voting for Kamala Harris too!)

But, we do ourselves — and our ability to understand each other — a disservice when we resort to name-calling like this.

I have talked to probably 10 Trump supporters in the last month. None were dumb. Or racist.

They all had their own reasons for voting for Trump. Some don’t like him but think he knows how to make the economy work better than Harris does. Others simply believe Harris is too liberal. Some dislike what they perceive to be the cult of “woke” that has seized the country. Or think that all politicians are self-interested and at least Trump is open about it.

Honestly, I would LOVE for a Trump supporter who subscribes to this newsletter to write something for us that explains why he or she backs the former president. If that’s you, send me an email at cillizzac@gmail.com. We can run it with your name attached — or not.

I think it would be useful for many of my readers to understand how a thinking person decides to be for Trump. Because simply dismissing the tens of millions of people who are going to vote for him in 2 months (whether he wins or loses) is intellectually irresponsible.

Q: My 18-year old son who is a first time voter, and for that matter, a first time debate watcher wants to know:

How can they have a debate a week after another school shouting and not ask either candidate about gun control or school safety?

Thanks!