149 Comments
User's avatar
Ryan Martin's avatar

Great reporting. I mean how hard is it to ask questions and listen to people instead of interjecting your opinions on them? Thanks Matt 👍

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Mickel Knight's avatar

Judging most reporters, apparently it’s quite difficult. Some, I think, consider unbiased reporting unethical. Maybe, Matt just makes it look easy.

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Jala's avatar

Was really good to see you in Iowa Matt. Bet you have a great merch collection. Thanks for all you do!

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Mickel Knight's avatar

I love this raw ‘man on the ground’ reporting. I travel a fair bit, and do not envy your next 11 months Matt. However, I am thrilled to be front row for your campaign trail reporting.

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MG's avatar

I feel sorry for anyone not subscribing Matt's Racket News. They are going to miss the best election coverage, hands down.

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Billy Masterson's avatar

Reminding me a bit of HS Thompson's 1968 election work

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(Edit) Make that THE 1972 ELECTION, sorry for my senior moment here!

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that became "On the Campaign Trail". Rolling Stone is unlikely to be publishing THESE pieces, times sure have changed....

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Punditman's avatar

That was the 1972 campaign. But yeah, Rolling Stone is not exactly like it once was.

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Billy Masterson's avatar

Hey, both were way before I could vote...

I started to read Taibi before The Exile staff fled the Russian Federation, back when he thought it worthwhile to airmail a horse sperm pie to the face of a NY Times apparatchik deployed to his turf.

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Christine Summerson's avatar

We expect a full report about Little Debbie.

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Kathleen McCook's avatar

Here is the Little Debbie snack finder for everyone:

https://www.littledebbie.com/snack-finder

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Jane Parsons's avatar

Little Debbie are huge frosted chocolate or vanilla sandwich cookies wrapped individually. When I visited my grandparents in Omaha as a kid I would ask them to buy me one. My parents would never have done that!

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Granny62's avatar

Best thing about being a Granny

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Ellen Foust's avatar

Oatmeal! Yum!

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Sybil's avatar

https://www.littledebbie.com/ LOL very popular in the midwest

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Kathleen McCook's avatar

Here in Georgia, too.

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Chilblain Edward Olmos's avatar

And Virginia.

I suppose Entemann’s has the Northeastern US locked down…

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ED's avatar

Guilty pleasure... Nutty Bars.

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HV_Commissioning's avatar

Matt is probably more familiar with Tasty Kakes. I had some friends in college from the East coast and they talked about them all of the time. My response was much like Matts and LD.

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CA's avatar

Southern Culture on the Skids

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Billy Masterson's avatar

She grew up to be a big wheel in the family snack cake business- Even after losing an eye in that unfortunate childhood accident.

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Jen Garner's avatar

Matt, I really enjoyed this. One of your great strengths is how genuine you come across. You don’t treat these people as alien, and they can sense that, responding to you with genuineness in turn. Feel better soon!

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Jala's avatar

Most midwestern people are genuine. Complete opposites of coastal elites.

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Donna's avatar

Ok Racket! Time for the merchandise to be rolled out. We need hats, coffee mugs, etc. And to the freeloaders on here, time to subscribe. Racket is one of the most reasonably priced Substack subscriptions on here for the amount of content. 📰😁

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ERIN REESE's avatar

Agreed! I just posted same ask. 🧢

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electromagicforce's avatar

Yes! I need a Racket hat!

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Sera's avatar

These are real people. I see them everyday. They can laugh. So important. They’re so much less blind than people think.

In Texas I saw a brand new F-150, (sans moose), with neat, perfectly spaced, decal lettering across the tailgate:

D E P L O R A B L E

I talked to the driver for a minute and told him I liked his sign. Maybe there wasn’t a lot of common ground, but we could talk. And I kept thinking, the Democratic Party has absolutely no idea who they’re up against.

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Kevin M's avatar

Little Debbie is all over New England. How can you be in the dark about her? She’s akin to a founding mother, a Betsy Ross of 20th century big factory cuisine.

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Steenroid's avatar

Careful or they will Aunt Jamima or Uncle Ben Little Debbie too.

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Ryan Cartee's avatar

I’m from Arizona and my mom was a health Nazi, but I know Little Debbie’s. It’s like not knowing what a Twinkie is - I blame Matt’s Covid/illness brain.

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Jane Parsons's avatar

Lol!😂

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Spiderbaby's avatar

Dude, aren't you supposed to be in a room full of pundits watching a video full of cherry picked interviews with the dumbest people at that rally while you smirk & sneer & crack jokes about MAGA & Trump?

This whole "talk to the people/consort with insurgents" shtick might earn you another IRS visit buddy.

Yukon Joe might even stop by & poke you in the chest.

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Barry Alan Van Dyke's avatar

I grew up in Sioux Center, Iowa. People there tend to be conservative and practical down to earth people, and they don't like being gaslighted, although they probably wouldn't call it that, they would call it being bullshitted.

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Jane in Michigan's avatar

Barry, an Iowa native myself, I certainly agree.

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DFG's avatar

Yet they love Trump?

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William O's avatar

Not really, they just despise the ruling class,like with their whole being..

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Barry Alan Van Dyke's avatar

Go figure

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Orenv's avatar

I really appreciate your reporting on the mood in the room and the entertaining value. Plus Trumps energy. As noted (even by him in the clip), all he ever gets is bad press to the point that it is preposterous.

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ERIN REESE's avatar

Racket's reporting and Matt on the campaign trail is going to make this a very, very fun '24 ride. Thank you, Team Racket!

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Michelle Vianello's avatar

Matt you are a national treasure.

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Phyllis Bradshaw's avatar

Your herculean efforts to preserve democracy do not go unnoticed.

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John Didrichsen's avatar

Dammit, Matt, now I want to go spend two hours of my life watching Trump's whole speech. Can't wait for more of your excellent election cycle Trump trolling. The arc of this 2024 campaign told from Trump's POV will be the political story of the decade.

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Donna's avatar

🥶🥶this is gonna be fun times at the Racket election cycle news 📰.

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Jon's avatar

Thanks Matt. A pretty accurate display of what Trump is and why he has a following.

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