Content note: this episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse.

The Dispatch is The Mayday Network’s rapid response show covering the stories we think you should care about. Michelle Kinney and Julie Roginsky react to the ad from Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for Ohio governor that features Democratic nominee Amy Acton’s estranged mother, and to Ramaswamy’s decision to put four million dollars behind it. They walk through Acton’s story in her own words, her brother’s rebuttal ad, J.D. Vance’s response to reporters, and a resurfaced Ramaswamy clip mocking his opponent. Then Michelle takes a step back to show how campaigns got here, from Lee Atwater’s 1981 interview and Reagan’s “welfare queen” to the Willie Horton ad, the Max Cleland attack, and the Swift Boat ads. Michelle and Julie, who have both made negative ads, talk about the line they won’t cross and why it matters for both parties. They also play James Talarico’s hopeful Texas ad as a contrast, and close with new polling, voting reminders, and what’s coming next on The Mayday Network.

0:00 Welcome 0:42 The Ramaswamy ad and how we got here 1:34 Content note 2:34 Julie on Roger Ailes, Willie Horton, and the road to today 4:24 Who Amy Acton is 6:15 Who Vivek Ramaswamy is 9:41 The ad 10:47 What the ad leaves out, and Acton’s brother responds 12:36 Amy Acton responds 13:52 Julie on ads that backfire, and on parenting 19:07 J.D. Vance’s response to reporters 20:33 A resurfaced Ramaswamy clip 25:56 Context on the arrest warrant and the sheriff who signed it 26:58 Pritzker, Megyn Kelly, and the reaction 35:42 How the ad was tested, and how it leaked 36:27 Michelle and Julie on making attack ads and where they draw the line 39:32 Lee Atwater’s 1981 interview 42:35 Reagan and the “welfare queen” 46:07 The Willie Horton ad 48:30 Max Cleland and the 2002 Georgia Senate race 54:41 The Swift Boat Veterans ads against John Kerry 57:08 Julie on Fox News, Swift Boat, and who spoke up 1:06:50 Excusing bad behavior on your own side 1:09:26 James Talarico’s Texas ad 1:15:37 “The white hoods are in the window display” 1:16:44 Trump at 34 percent, and the Texas Senate polling 1:17:19 Voting reminders 1:19:25 Program notes: Ken Harbaugh on Pax Americana, and what’s next

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