Podcasts Reveal the Polarizing Views on Trump and Harris as Election Day Nears

With only a few days left until the U.S. election, we’ve listened to and analyzed what American podcasts are saying about the candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. In a time when social media and podcasts increasingly shape the public conversation, it’s intriguing to see how the candidates are discussed and portrayed.

Similar Number of Mentions – But an Overwhelmingly Negative Tone

Our analysis shows that Trump was mentioned over 22,000 times, while Harris was mentioned nearly 27,000 times in American podcasts over the past week. What stands out, however, is not the number of mentions but their tone: a significant majority of mentions for both candidates are negative. In fact, less than 3% of mentions are highly positive for either candidate, indicating a general skepticism toward their campaigns and messaging.

What Are the Positive Mentions About?

Although positive mentions make up a small portion of the total, their content varies somewhat depending on the candidate:

  • Donald Trump: Positive mentions of Trump tend to focus on his campaign rhetoric and his ability to rally engagement among his core supporters. Some podcasts praise his clarity and strong stances, which make him a controversial but recognizable voice in the American political landscape.

  • Kamala Harris: Positive mentions of Harris often highlight her symbolic role as a pioneer and role model in American politics. Many positive comments focus on her background and her potential to inspire new groups of voters, especially minorities and women, to become politically engaged.

Reflecting the Polarized Debate

With just days left until the election, these podcast discussions reflect a deeply polarized debate around the candidates. Despite the largely negative tone, the positive mentions shed light on what may be the most appealing aspects of Trump and Harris to their respective supporters. This analysis shows how podcasts and other social media channels not only mirror but also influence public perception ahead of the upcoming election.

About All Ears
Sound has always influenced humans, long before we learned to read and write. So, it's perhaps not surprising that spoken media is generally quicker to grasp than written text. Today, the spoken word is available to us on-demand, through podcasts and social media. Unlike other social listening services, All Ears is the only one that truly listens - and at scale. Up to 1,000 hours of spoken media are listened to and transcribed daily, allowing you to stay updated with the latest trends.

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