Smearing, Flexing, and Playing the Victim: Inside Trumpworld’s Pre-debate Messaging Blitz

CNN Moderator Challenge • MAGA Mike to the Rescue • Al Michaels Goes AI [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair Hive logo image]( Smearing, Flexing, and Playing the Victim: Inside Trumpworld’s Pre-debate Messaging Blitz Happy debate day! Trumpworld has an unsurprisingly simple strategy ahead of tonight’s face-off with Joe Biden: Flood the zone with shit. That’s the takeaway from Gabriel Sherman’s [dive]( into Donald Trump’s messaging tactics, which include everything from playing the victim to flexing about conspicuously not doing prep. “Biden is freaking out and taking a week off to prepare,” senior Trump adviser Jason Miller tells Sherman. Trump and his allies have also floated the idea that Biden will get “jacked up” before the debate; Bess Levin [finds]( Mike Johnson wondering if the president will “be on some sort of energy drinks.” On the media front, Brian Stelter [checks in]( with past debate moderators to consider the challenge facing CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who have to keep Trump and Biden on track. Bob Schieffer’s advice? “Don’t forget, this is not about you; this is about the candidates.” Elsewhere, Tom Kludt [chats]( with legendary sportscaster Al Michaels about why he let NBC clone his voice with AI for the network’s coverage of the Paris Olympics. Thanks for reading. [Image may contain: Flag, Accessories, Formal Wear, Tie, Blazer, Clothing, Coat, Jacket, Adult, Person, Lighting, and People]( [Smearing, Flexing, and Playing the Victim: Inside Trumpworld’s Pre-debate Messaging Blitz]( By [Gabriel Sherman]( [The former president’s brain trust is flooding the zone with shit ahead of Thursday night’s showdown. “The Biden people didn’t want the debate to happen,” says Trump adviser Jason Miller. “That’s why Biden is freaking out.”]( [Read more button](   [The Challenge for CNN’s Debate Moderators: Keeping Themselves Out of It]( By [Brian Stelter]( [Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have a herculean task ahead of them: making sure Donald Trump and Joe Biden stay on track—and get all the attention.]( [Read more button](   [Mike Johnson Shoots Down Trump’s Claim That Biden Will Be on Drugs During the Debate, but Warns the President Could “Be on Some Sort of Energy Drinks”]( By [Bess Levin]( [Red Bull? Monster? A direct IV of espresso? The sky’s the limit.]( [Read more button](   [“It Was Astonishing”: How NBC Convinced Al Michaels to Embrace His AI Voice for Olympics Coverage]( By [Tom Kludt]( [The network will use an artificial clone of the legendary broadcaster’s voice to narrate its daily recaps of the summer event. “It was not only close,” he says of the technology, “it was almost 2% off perfect.”]( [Read more button](   [Mike Johnson Wants to Be MAGA’s “Get Out of Jail Free” Card]( By [Eric Lutz]( [After reportedly promising to help overturn Donald Trump’s recent conviction, the House Speaker is now leading an effort to keep Steve Bannon out of prison too.]( [Read more button](   Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn](   This e-mail was sent to you by The Hive. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007 Copyright © 2024 Condé Nast