Thread by @TimAlberta

DC journalism did a self-autopsy after 2016, vowing to never again be blindsided by an America it had lost touch with

And yet we’re covering this campaign the same way

Hence my passion project—a new @POLITICOMag series focused on Voters, Voters, Voters:

politico.com/news/magazine/…

I met Michael Schenk, a small-town guy and giant man who “lives off Vicodin” to manage injuries he suffered as a lineman and tree trimmer:

“When I was a kid, we were all poor, and it seemed like everyone was a Democrat. These days I don’t know any.”

politico.com/news/magazine/…

I heard 3 different voters refer to Joe Biden as “a crook” — and this one, Nate White, otherwise seemed like the type of Trump voter susceptible to going D if Biden was the nominee.

VERY noteworthy, and worth covering the strategic muddying of Trump/Biden ethical waters

I had a fascinating/gut-wrenching talk with Tom Eagle, a trucker who views Trump as an economic messiah.

He REALLY wants to buy a home. But after getting crushed by the recession — and with retirement looming — he’s too scared. He and his wife plan to stay in their trailer.

“He’s my n*gger,” the white man told me, referring to a black friend, not bothering to even look around first.

He then described their proudly anti-PC routine of calling each other “Mastah” and “Toby.”

He concluded: “Nobody can take a joke anymore.”

politico.com/news/magazine/…

The challenge in categorizing voters is they’re often self-contradictory.

Take Dave Coleman, a pastor and part-time police officer. He says @realDonaldTrump has been “a terrible role model for this nation.”

And yet....

politico.com/news/magazine/…

Finally, ended the day talking to a couple of oldtimers selling huge bags of shotgun shells.

One told me he’s sick of the NRA, and said he disapproves of some of the newer weaponry being sold there.

Then it got interesting:

Surprising things I took away:

1. Nearly every Trump voter I met said—unsolicited—they find his behavior inappropriate, unbecoming, etc

2. Whole lot of Second Amendment voters angry with the NRA giving them a bad name

3. Trump now more central to gunowner’s identity than guns

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for twice-monthly installments all year.

Meanwhile, would be remiss not to salute the modern-day David Broders in our profession, @VaughnHillyard & @daveweigel chief among them, who are out there talking to voters every single day. Invaluable.