I’m big fan of the Obamas. They’re great orators and smart. I appreciate their brand of practical politics, not pushing the country past where it’s ready to go. But this week, I think they both got stuff wrong.
Early polls are showing a huge gender gap in the coming election. Dudes are voting for Trump. Women are voting for Harris. Young men from all parts of the country, not just middle-aged farmers from the midwest, are voting for Trump. He’s even seeing a record number of support from Black and Latino male voters.
We’re looking at a very close election, where every vote matters. So, this gender chasm is very concerning. So, last week, the Harris campaign brought out the heavy hitters, including Beyonce and the Obamas. The Obamas specifically addressed the gender gap, but they fumbled the job.
Read more at Apt. 11D, the newsletter
Apt. 11d 
Reproductive rights *are* an economic issue for men.
I think I’ve told this story before, but I will tell it again. In 1958, my grandmother was giving birth to her 5th child and developed a pulmonary embolism. Her ob-gyn told my grandfather that he would save the baby before my grandmother. My grandfather promptly changed doctors (both my grandmother and aunt survived).
First, my grandfather loved my grandmother a lot (they’d been HS sweethearts). But also, how was he going to raise 5 children on his own? My grandmother’s unpaid labor as a mother was a huge economic benefit.
I’m also thinking about my cousin, who is physically disabled and lost his wife two years ago to breast cancer. He is home raising his autistic son (who was almost 17 when his mom died) now. My cousin is in pain every day over the loss of his wife.
These things matter.
Plus it is good to remind men they are as capable of deep love as they are of deep hatred for the other.
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Agreed. Men do love the women in their lives.
But they’ve been told that a woman’s body is none of their business (which is true), so they think that abortion isn’t something that they should have an opinion on. I think there’s a way to bring guys back into the conversation, but that hasn’t happened yet.
In the meantime, young men are unemployed, suicidal, living at home with their parents, and listening to conservative podcasters. It’s really hard to get a miserable person to care about another person’s miseries, especially when the other person isn’t acknowledging the miserable person’s problems.
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I do think Harris is going to win, but I’m just basing my impressions off “vibes” on X.
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