The Daily: The Story of Three Town Halls

2019年10月11日星期五

The Daily: The Story of Three Town Halls

October 11, 2019

By Michael Barbaro

"I obviously knew that the decision was going to be controversial," Representative Elissa Slotkin said of her support for the impeachment inquiry. "It was more important than anything for me to get in front of my district."Elizabeth D. Herman for The New York Times

The story of the impeachment inquiry has largely played out in Washington as a historic showdown between the legislative and executive branches. Every day, there are committee hearings, news conferences, depositions and subpoenas (some honored, others ignored).

But in the middle of all that, members of Congress took a two-week recess — and the controversy over the impeachment inquiry followed them to their districts. Editor Lisa Chow and producer Jessica Cheung wondered what that sounded like, especially in politically diverse places where voters are split on the issue.

They identified a moderate freshman Democrat, Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who, like many of her peers, had largely avoided the issue of impeachment. Then, last month, she co-wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post with six of her fellow Democrats endorsing an impeachment inquiry. It was a turning point in the impeachment debate.

Slotkin represents a swing district where President Trump prevailed in 2016, but where voters elected a moderate Democrat in last year's midterms. As Jessica put it, "Slotkin's district — one where she was the first Democrat elected in nearly 20 years — is right where divided America lives."

So when Jessica and Lisa found out Slotkin was planning to hold town hall meetings with voters across her battleground district, they knew they wanted to record those sessions and interview her about the experience.

In the episode, you can hear voters confronting Slotkin about her decision to support the impeachment inquiry, her responses to them and, afterward, her reflections.

Many of you were struck by these candid and visceral interactions between the congresswoman and the people she represents. "It was so refreshing to hear an elected representative actually talking to constituents and taking them seriously, even if she disagrees with them," Elizabeth Lentini in Whitefish Bay, Wis., wrote. "Everyone seemed to be listening to each other, and there was clearly a sense of mutual respect."

Susan Goldman in Woodstock, N.Y., agreed, hoping the conversation might serve as a model. "Thank you for sharing the district dialogue," she wrote. "It helps all of us respond better in this toxic swirl of talk."

Talk to Michael on Twitter: @mikiebarb.

We're going to Capitol Hill

If you liked our episode on Elissa Slotkin, you're in luck. Lawmakers, fresh from talking about impeachment with voters back home, are returning from recess to Washington next week — and "The Daily" will be there with them. Michael Barbaro, along with the producers Rachel Quester and Clare Toeniskoetter, will follow Times reporters and chase after elected officials in the halls of the Capitol as they grapple with the next phase of the impeachment inquiry. Stay tuned next week to hear what we find.

The '1619' finale, part 2

Farmers protesting outside the Agriculture Department in Washington in 2002.Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

The Provosts, a family of sugar-cane farmers in Louisiana, had worked the same land for generations. When it became harder and harder to keep hold of that land, June Provost and his wife, Angie, didn't know why — and then a phone call changed their understanding of everything. In the finale of the "1619" podcast, we'll hear the rest of June and Angie's story, and how it echoes a case that led to the largest civil rights settlement in American history.

Look out for the episode on "The Daily" tomorrow. We're also releasing "1619" as a standalone show, so you can listen to the latest at nytimes.com/1619podcast or by searching for "1619" wherever you get your podcasts.

On 'The Daily' this week

Monday: Julian Barnes on the texts between American diplomats: "We have the Ukrainians negotiating for their national interest. And we have the Americans negotiating for the interests of Donald Trump."

Tuesday: By withdrawing troops from the Turkish border with Syria, the United States could betray its Kurdish allies and create a void for Iran, Russia and ISIS to move in. Eric Schmitt explains.

Wednesday: A moderate House Democrat who supports the impeachment inquiry now faces a backlash from her district of swing voters. We followed Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan to three town hall meetings.

Thursday: Kate Kelly and Robin Pogrebin look at whether a Republican operative's strategy for getting Justice Brett Kavanaugh confirmed could also be used to protect the president from impeachment.

Friday: A basketball executive posted a seven-word tweet — and now billions of dollars may be on the line. Jim Yardley on why China went to war with the N.B.A.