The First GOP Debate Makes It Obvious Where the Republican Party Is Headed
On Wednesday night, the 2024 campaign season officially began, and it was the weirdest season opener in recent memory. Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, did not show up. And even though the contenders on the stage likely have no chance of winning the nomination, the debate was important, in that a lot was revealed about the future of the party.
Nikki Haley came across as the reasonable, truth-telling candidate. She got nowhere. Newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy, meanwhile, offered an updated and shinier version of Trumpism. On this week’s Radio Atlantic, we talk with Atlantic staff writers McKay Coppins, reporting from the debate, and Elaine Godfrey about why Ramaswamy popped, why Ron DeSantis didn’t, and what all of that means for the future of the party and the culture of politics.
Listen to the conversation here:
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The following is a lightly edited transcript of the episode, recorded on Thursday, August 24, 2023:
Hanna Rosin: I’m Hanna Rosin. This is Radio Atlantic. On Wednesday night, the 2024 campaign officially began.
Bret Baier [Archival tape]: Tonight, the race for the White House takes flight. Welcome to the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign, live at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Rosin: Fox News hosted eight Republican candidates for the first primary debate of the season. Although this one was unusual, because it happened without the front-runner.
Bret Baier [Archival tape]: Well, we have a lot to get to in this second hour of this GOP primary-debate—policy discussions Americans want to hear you all on. But we are going to take a brief moment and talk about the elephant not in the room.
Rosin: Former President Donald Trump skipped the event and instead recorded an interview with Tucker Carlson. And in fact, today, as we are recording this, Trump will be arraigned on felony charges in Georgia, one of four cases he’s indicted in. Fox News even cut to a live shot of the jail during the debate.
Martha MacCallum [Archival tape]: Right now you are looking live at Fulton County Jail, where former President Donald Trump will be processed tomorrow.
Rosin: Yeah, so definitely the weirdest launch of a campaign season I can remember, but still it revealed a lot about where the Republican Party—and in fact, our entire political culture—is headed. So today we’re talking to Atlantic writer McKay Coppins, who was at the debate in Wisconsin, and is probably very tired. And staff writer Elaine Godfrey, who covers politics for The Atlantic. McKay, how much sleep did you get last night?
McKay Coppins: I got a wonderful three hours at the Four Points Hotel by the Milwaukee airport, so I’m feeling great and ready for this conversation.
Rosin: And Elaine, you’re just jealous that you didn’t get to go?
Elaine Godfrey: I love Milwaukee. I am jealous. [Laughs.]
McKay, what was your and all
