The Elections That Changed the World with Dana Bash
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What recent UN speech by Donald Trump sets the political backdrop for this episode?
The Romans had a pretty good character in Julius Caesar. Uh and there's so many things that happened in his campaigns, multiple campaigns, that uh really set the tone for campaigns that we still see today. I mean we're talking about More than two thousand years ago.
It's Tuesday, September twenty-second. I'm Jane Coaston and this is Water Day! President Donald Trump gave I varia. Trumpian addressed before the eighty first session of the United Nations General Assembly today. He, of course, touted the United States as being the hottest country and continued to make threats of annihilation toward Iran in the midst of the ongoing war.
But I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made? With Iran. That lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it Ever was before. maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate? The Islamic Republic. And do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again. Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope? Of future greatness or generations. But I believe we'll make a deal. Right after the election. Because it doesn't make sense for them not to. They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realize is that I'm not running. I did that already. And one in a landslide.
He also said that Cuba was a quote failed state, adding quote, freedom will be coming to Cuba. In response, the Cuban delegation walked out of the General Assembly, as you might expect. But Trump is right. He's not on the ballot, even though he screamed about it at Trumpapalooza twenty twenty-six a few weeks ago. However, it sure seems like Trump's policies are on the ballot, and that's very bad for the GOP. According to CNN, two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of foreign affairs, and nearly seventy-five percent think Trump is screwing up the war with Iran. That news comes as Iran is attempting to escalate the war before the midterms, according to new reporting from MS Now. Hey, speaking of the midterms, Democrats have been focused on ousting longtime Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, and new reporting from ProPublica might give them some help.
According to the report, the senator was being investigated by the FBI in twenty twenty four for her alleged involvement in a pay for play scheme with a major donor and former government contractor. But when Trump came back into the White House, that investigation ended because Of course it did. Collins' office responded online, calling Propublica's reporting, quote, categorically false. But let's get back to elections. Actually, a whole bunch of elections. Actually, the history of the idea of elections. Joining me today is CNN Anchor and Chief Politpondent Dana Bash to talk about her new book, The Elections That Changed the World. Dana Bash, welcome to Water Day. It's so good to be here. Thank you so much for having me.
So your book starts a long, long time before most people consider modern elections beginning, with Julius Caesar. Why did you decide to start your book with Caesar and how he became Pontifex Maximus, given that he then became a dictator who usurped control over the whole of government? Wha why start there?
We wanted to start. Towards the beginning of the democratic process, right? It was the Greeks and the Romans and The Romans had a pretty good character in Julius Caesar. Uh, and there's so many things that happened in his campaigns, multiple campaigns, that uh really set the tone for campaigns that we still see today. I mean we're talking about More than two thousand years ago and He was such a figure that helped to define. Elections and it's also a a cautionary tale about What happens when you get a lot of power and you don't want to give up that power, even if it is uh through the democratic process, then you can sometimes uh push away the the others who want to be a part of the process. And he basically
made himself a dictator and uh it didn't go so well. We know how it ended for him.
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Chapters
3 chapters
1
What recent UN speech by Donald Trump sets the political backdrop for this episode?
0:00–14:14
2
Why does Dana Bash begin her book with Julius Caesar and what lessons does it offer for modern campaigns?
14:14–29:48
3
How did the contested election of 1800 reshape American politics and why is it considered pivotal?
29:48–30:04