Why every election gets its own crisis
Trump’s fear mongering about a migrant caravan is a perfect example of how politicians’ exploit last-minute news stories to try to distract voters before a big election.
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October is a tense month in American in politics. The closer a political campaign gets to election day, the more vulnerable it is to an “October Surprise” — a late-breaking scandal or controversy that influences voters in the final days of an election.
“October Surprises” are typically thought of as unexpected events that surprise both sides of an election — natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc.. But more recently, it’s come to describe an intentional campaign strategy, wherein political operatives exploit late-breaking news stories to try to damage their opponents at the last-minute.
Trump’s fixation on the migrant caravan traveling to the United States is a clear example of that strategy — an attempt to shift the media’s attention away from issues like health care by fear mongering about immigrants.
It’s a cheap political ploy, and many news networks have recognized it as such. The problem is: there’s no great way to fight it.
On Strikethrough, Vox producer Carlos Maza explores the challenges facing the news media in the age of Trump. Follow Carlos on Facebook for more: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosMazaVox
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what’s really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
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@Vox
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
For more Vox's Dara Lind explains how a group of Central American migrants still hundreds of miles from the US border became Trump’s closing election argument: http://bit.ly/2F49Kaa
@charlesdoesmore5488
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Love that the video length is 9:11
@PresidentColity
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
And now there's Jack Smith.
@Dephishency
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I wonder what 2024's october surprise will be
@hyun-shik7327
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
2022: Elon Musk is now the owner of Twitter.
@christiana.1204
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
It’s now October and 2022 Midterms is just weeks away, you know what that means!
@theprincelyx
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I like how this video is 9:11.
@amusestripod2
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Republicans with E-bola: “Close borders”
Republicans with Covid: “Keep the borders open”
@mmusya793
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
OMFG I think 🤔 you're right! Like really. Looking back. It will be very interesting to see this hypothesis tested in future elections.
@josestarks279
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Lol they thought Ebola was a crisis. 😂😂😂😂
@mamabear2382
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I think blm was the trend, I mean covid stuck around after but blm didnt
@natesofamerica
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
These are classic Art of War / Machiavellian tactics of the ruling classes. I abhor the United States and how racist and xenophobic it is. F'k that place I am never returning ever.
@DavidRGD
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
At this point, I will not focus on big October surprises and focus on election, given this current era. (the past is the past, now this is the present)
@axelhalbardier8874
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Fear the fear!!
@tastycheesebooger
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
October 2020
"Hunter Biden's laptop"
@KneeJerkReactor
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
They DO need to build that wall. NOT for the USA's sake, but for the MEXICANS sake.
USA has become more sensational and dramatic than the telenovelas of Mexico. Build the wall and a jumongous trampoline bouncy enough for Migrants to jump over to Canada skipping USA where conditions are just bad for migrants, not worse.
@dcttd8022
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Thanks for bashing republicans ONCE AGAIN
@shashafernando2831
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
ISSUE OF IMMIGRANTS, HOW ABOUT MAKING INTERNATIONAL ALIES STRONGER WITH AUSTRALIA BY SENDING THE IMMIGRANTS TO AUSTRALIA.
THE CONTINENT HAS 1/10 OF THE POPULATION.
@shashafernando2831
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
WELL, MIRACLE IS THE CHRISTIANITY WITCH CRAFT, "WOULD YOU RATHER GET A MEDIA TREATMENT"????
@redpenguin5602
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
2020 October surprise was RBG’s death and Amy Coney Barrett being nominated and confirmed on October 27th
@livewellwitheds6885
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
4:51 so bad omg
@livewellwitheds6885
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
THE ISIS OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS??? OMFG 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@gaminglegend
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
There wasn't an October surprise in 2020, there was a January surprise in 2021 instead
@gaminglegend
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Huh.
@cherrybomb1392
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
1987 Snap Elections in the Philippines be like:
CORRUPTION, EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, AND COUNTLESS CONTROVERSIES
@AG25260
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Cornavirus
@rohangaming3994
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Republicans are the worst party in the USA
BJP is the worst party in India.
Same Strategies
A COMPLETE COINCIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Good things is that American people are not fooled by Trump.
But Indians are, by Modi.
@MontyD
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
C A R A V A N
@markschultz2897
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
All of this from republicans, not surprising.
@captainwilliam3920
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I’m sure the video length was just a coincidence
@joshheitman6832
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I’m so sick and tired of these People October surprises. It’s nothing but drama. That’s the month my birthday is in too
@Awesome_Aasim
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
The 2020 October surprise was Trump getting COVID-19. This was used by dems to slam the Republican party's alleged mishandling of the virus. Even as these same democrats allegedly mishandled the virus themselves.
In a crisis, we need scientists, not politicians, ruling our country.
@lineomabulu9857
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
wild.
@HTS_Editor_Jack
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Most Elections: October Surprise
2020: March Surprise (Not for the President, he knew about it JANUARY!!!!)
@danieljarvis7176
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Capitol
@cee_ves
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Our October surprise came early this year
@robbieaulia6462
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I don't understand how the republican party in the USA haven't collapsed like the Whigs party
@hetart3372
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
This aged poorly
@davidsalinas7986
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
This didn’t age well
@towaway9134
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 pm
This aged well
Comments are closed.