846: This Is the Cake We Baked
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A quick warning, there are curse words that are unbearped in today's episode of the show. If you prefer a beeped version, you can find that at our website, thisamericanlife.org. So, this week, lots of people go through the election results and thought, "Yeah, this is the country that I thought it was." And for some people, that was a really hopeful thing, and others, kind of the opposite. And let's start with the winners. I'm joined in the studio right now by Zoe Chase. Hello. Hey, there's Zoe. So, election night, you and I were in Michigan together, and you got to go to the Republican victory party. I did. Let's bring in the sound. There it is. As I walk in, the polls were closing, the results were starting to come in. I have to say, I walked in, kind of prepared for the last war, like the last election. Explain what you mean. Well, I know a lot of these Republicans in Michigan. I know they've been mobilizing for years an army of poll watchers and poll challengers and lawyers to challenge the results of a fraudulent election. So, I come in expecting super tight results and a long fight and tension and anxiety and suspicion. And? That is not what I found. What are people cheering for? We're up in Pennsylvania. We're just tied in Michigan. Look at that. My heart's going to pop out of my chest. It feels like it. It's Eric Castiglia, longtime Republican activist. He runs a pack called Brighter Michigan. He believes the last election was rife with fraud, not this one. In fact, there was never a moment once the count started where anyone in this room wasn't believing the results. Well, yeah, because it was all breaking their way. I know, but also these are the people on the ground who ran the ground game in Michigan, and they were feeling really good about what they did. All right, Eric. What's going to happen? I think he's going to win, baby. He's going to win. I'm so happy. I am so happy. You have no idea. It was obvious to them that they were going to win way before it was obvious to you. Yes. Very much. Like when I was talking to Amber Harris, we first met last year. She's a Republican activist.
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