The Lincoln Project

Rich Logis once defended Trump. Now he's helping people leave MAGA behind. On this episode of The Lincoln Project Podcast, Rick Wilson sits down with the founder of Leaving MAGA to discuss the growing number of former Trump supporters who have simply had enough. From the Epstein scandal to the fallout from Trump's tariffs and the chaos surrounding Iran, the excuses are getting harder to make and the consequences are getting harder to ignore. Rich explains what finally broke the spell for him, why more Republicans are questioning Trump than ever before, and whether we're witnessing the beginning of a real MAGA crackup. When reality starts showing up with receipts, even the most loyal believers have to make a choice.•••••You can find Rich Logis on X @PerfectOurUnion, and Leaving MAGA on X @LeavingMAGA, on X. Go to https://LeavingMAGA.org for more information about the Leaving MAGA movement. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.#Trump #MAGA #LeavingMAGA #RichLogis #RickWilson #LincolnProject #DonaldTrump #Epstein #Tariffs #Iran #Politics #PoliticalPodcast #Republicans #TrumpVoters #Election2026 #NeverTrump #PoliticalNews #CurrentEvents #Democracy #Podcast

Trump wanted a golden age. Instead, he delivered a golden vanity project. This week’s Elephant in the Room is the accelerating collapse of the Trump presidency—politically, economically, and culturally. As Americans grapple with a struggling economy, rising corruption, and growing incompetence at the highest levels of government, Trump seems more focused on building monuments to himself, expanding his ballroom, and feeding his endless need for attention than solving the problems facing the country. Meanwhile, his much-hyped foreign policy swagger has run headfirst into reality, exposing weakness on the world stage and leaving allies and adversaries alike questioning America’s leadership. Rick breaks down how Trump’s obsession with self-glorification, personal enrichment, and grievance politics is colliding with voter fatigue, economic anxiety, and a growing sense that the emperor isn’t just naked—he’s out of ideas. The cracks are widening, the excuses are running thin, and more Americans are asking a simple question: is this all there is?•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

While Washington melts down in a fog of billionaire grifters, culture-war addicts, and broken-brain politics, the real fight for America is happening at backyard parties, dance halls, and quinceañeras across South Texas. In this episode, Rick sits down with legendary Tejano musician and Texas congressional candidate Bobby Pulido to talk about the Rio Grande Valley, working-class families, quinceañera campaign stops, and why authenticity still matters in politics. Then we revisit Rick’s conversation with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, whose ability to connect with voters feels almost extinct in modern American politics. From economic anxiety and cultural identity to the chaos consuming the country, this episode is about the people still fighting to meet voters where they actually live — not where consultants think they live. Texas politics, Latino voters, Tejano culture, the Rio Grande Valley, working-class America, and the battle for the future of the country — all in one explosive conversation.•••••Support Bobby Pulido’s campaign for Congress at https://bobbypulidofortexas.com, and keep up with his campaign on socials @PulidoForTexas.You can find information about James Talarico’s campaign for Senate at https://jamestalarico.com, and follow him on social media @jamestalarico. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

The DNC autopsy is finally here—and it’s a brutal admission that Democrats spent 2024 fighting online culture wars while voters were worried about inflation, paychecks, rent, and the future of the country. Rick Wilson breaks down the Democrats’ redacted internal report, the consultant class cashing $40K checks to lose elections, the identity politics obsession that alienated working-class voters, and why normal Americans tuned out the party’s messaging. This is the Democratic Party’s postmortem on how they lost the economy argument, lost swing voters, and lost touch with reality.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.Go to https://bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use the code ‘LINCOLN,’ for 20% off + free shipping. #adGo to https://ethos.com/lincolnproject to get your free quote. #ad

Trump spent years chasing the approval of America’s richest weirdos, fame-hungry celebs, and billionaire clout goblins — and now the whole MAGA celebrity ecosystem is melting down in public. Rick Wilson is joined by legendary comedian Margaret Cho to break down her Choligarchy tour, Hollywood’s transformation into a Trump validation machine, the rise of MAGA influencers and celebrity brain rot, and why so many famous people traded integrity for attention. From celebrity culture and authoritarian politics to Trump’s obsession with elite approval, Rick and Margaret unpack how comedy helped create this broken media circus — and why comedy may be the only thing sharp enough left to fight it. Celebrity meltdowns, billionaire cringe, political chaos, dark humor, Trump, MAGA, Hollywood hypocrisy, fascism, influencers, cancel culture, propaganda, and the collapse of American fame culture — it’s all here.•••••Margaret Cho’s “Choligarchy” tour is happening now! Find a show near you at https://margaretcho.com/. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.Head to Superpower.com and use code LINCOLN at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod #ad Go to ClaimMyGoldGuide.com/LINCOLN to claim your FREE 2026 Gold Guide that shows you exactly how to move part of your IRA or 401(k) into physical gold without triggering taxes or penalties—plus up to $10,000 in free silver for qualified purchases. #adGo to Leesa.com for the Memorial Day Sale PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code LINCOLNPROJECT, exclusive for our listeners. #ad

Donald Trump’s high-stakes meeting with Xi Jinping was supposed to project strength. Instead, it exposed exactly how weak, desperate, and dangerously unprepared he is for a real geopolitical showdown with China. This week, Rick's ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM breaks down Trump’s humiliating “Chyna” summit, his obsession with personal grift over American power, and why even before the cognitive decline, Trump never had the foreign policy discipline, strategy, or attention span to negotiate with Beijing. From trade wars and tariffs to global instability, Xi Jinping saw exactly what America’s allies and enemies now see: a fragile ego wrapped in chaos. Rick Wilson tears into Trump’s surrender politics, dictator worship, economic self-sabotage, and the terrifying reality that America’s global influence is shrinking while Trump keeps bowing for applause, leverage, and money. This is the collapse of American credibility in real time — and Beijing knows it.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.Go to https://drinkagi.com/lincolnproject for a free AG1 Flavor Sampler & a bottle of vitamin D3+K2. #ad The Freedom From Religion Foundation is fighting to protect the First Amendment, because it protects you. Visit www.ffrf.us/lincoln, or text "LINCOLN" to 511-511, to learn more, or join, today.  #ad

Actor-turned-crypto-whistleblower Ben McKenzie joins Rick Wilson for a brutal, no-bullshit takedown of the crypto industry just as Congress barrels toward two major crypto bills hitting the floor this week on Capitol Hill. From meme coins and “decentralized finance” scams to billion-dollar rugpulls, political bribery, and money laundering dressed up in Patagonia vests and TED Talk jargon, Rick and Ben break down how crypto became the preferred playground for grifters, oligarchs, libertarian weirdos, and every guy who says “bro” before pitching financial collapse. They unpack why Washington suddenly wants to legitimize the casino after years of fraud, who’s cashing in, and why the American taxpayer always seems to end up holding the empty bag while crypto bros flee to Dubai. It’s the great Ponzi scheme of our time — powered by hype, corruption, influencer cults, and vibes-based economics — and the wheels may finally be coming off in public.•••••Ben McKenzie is on X @@ben_mckenzie. His movie, ‘Everyone is Lying to You for Money,’ is playing now in select theaters. His best-selling book, ‘Easy Money,’ is out now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.Visit www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #ad

The elephant in the room this week is bluffing — and Democrats still haven’t figured out Republicans only win when nobody punches back. While the GOP openly gerrymanders districts, manipulates election rules, floods the zone with outrage, and treats politics like a blood sport, Democrats keep showing up with 700-page climate white papers, polite speeches, and “norms.” Rick Wilson breaks down why 2026 should be the easiest midterm cycle in modern political history — if Democrats stop acting like this is a graduate seminar and start fighting like democracy is actually on the line. From blatant election tactics and MAGA power grabs to weak messaging, consultant brain rot, and the endless addiction to process over power, this episode is about one thing: stop bringing a throw pillow to a gun fight.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is fighting to protect the First Amendment, because it protects you. Visit www.ffrf.us/lincoln, or text "LINCOLN" to 511-511, to  learn more, or join, today.  #ad

The Supreme Court was meant to be the last guardrail—the final check when everything else fails—but what happens when that guardrail starts to wobble? This week, Rick Wilson sits down with legal analyst and author Sarah Isgur to break down the modern Court from the inside out: the personalities driving decisions, the growing reliance on the shadow docket, and the myth of pure judicial objectivity. They unpack how power actually works behind the robes, why the justices’ individual worldviews matter more than ever, and how diversity of experience—not just race or gender—shapes the outcomes that ripple across the country. In a moment where Congress is gridlocked and the executive branch is aggressively asserting its power, the Court has become the ultimate referee in America’s biggest fights—but whether it’s equipped for that role, or cracking under the pressure, is the question hanging over everything.•••••Sarah Isgur is on X @whignewtons & on Instagram @sarahmisgur. Her new book ‘Last Branch Standing,’ is available now wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #AD

Florida’s redistricting mess isn’t just shady—it’s straight-up unconstitutional, and they did it anyway. This week’s Elephant in the Room: a map so aggressively gerrymandered it looks like it was drawn during a blackout with a Sharpie and a grudge. Rick breaks down how Florida’s leaders ignored their own state constitution, carved up districts to rig the game, and dared the courts to catch up. It’s a masterclass in political overreach, legal brinksmanship, and “rules for thee, not for me” governance. This isn’t just about Florida—it’s a warning shot for what happens when power decides.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Elon Musk’s ex and former MAGA social media influencer Ashley St. Clair joins Rick Wilson to expose the truth behind the MAGA influencer ecosystem—how it works, who profits, and why it’s starting to fall apart in real time. From clout-chasing grifters to coordinated messaging and manufactured outrage, this episode breaks down the business model behind right-wing social media and the hypocrisy fueling it. As the MAGA movement fractures and influencers turn on each other, this is the inside story of a political media machine built on clicks, cash, and chaos—and what happens when the audience finally sees through it.•••••Ashley St. Clair is on X @stclairashley, on Instagram @asc.sys, and on TikTok @ashstc. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to https://ethos.com/lincolnproject for a free quote today. #ad Visit https://bollandbranch.com/lincoln and use code: LINCOLN at checkout to receive 15% off your first order + free shipping. #ad

This week’s Elephant in the Room is the full-blown MAGA meltdown—and yeah, it’s happening live. What started as a rage-fueled influencer gold rush has turned into a self-destruct sequence, with the same clout-chasing chaos merchants now eating each other alive for clicks, relevance, and whatever’s left of the grift economy. Rick breaks down how the algorithm built this monster—and why the feedback loop from hell is finally cracking the whole thing open. From the early days of meme-lord nonsense to today’s internal bloodbath of bad takes and panic-posting, this is the origin story of a movement now spiraling into its own collapse. The base is restless, the influencers are unhinged, and the clown car just hit the wall. Bottom line: the chaos didn’t just break the system—it turned inward. And now? The crackup isn’t coming. It’s already here.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Rick Wilson sits down with Andrew McCabe to unpack the stunning politicization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Kash Patel, the firing of 12 counterintelligence agents tied to the Mar-a-Lago documents case, and the staggering national security consequences of purging Iran specialists as conflict escalates. Drawing from McCabe’s new CNN series Standoff: The FBI, Power and Paranoia, Rick and McCabe expose how paranoia, incompetence, and political loyalty tests are corroding America’s premier law enforcement institution from the inside. This is a conversation about weaponized government, self-inflicted chaos, and what happens when you fire the people who know where the threats are—right as those threats become real•••••Andrew McCabe’s new CNN series, ‘Standoff: The FBI, Power and Paranoia,’ now streaming on the CNN app. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to https://DRINKAG1.COM/LINCOLNPROJECT to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order! That's a $72 value, yours free, only while supplies last. #ad Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code lincolnproject at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/lincolnproject. #ad

Trump decided to cosplay as something divine—and then picked a fight with the Pope. In this episode, Rick Wilson unpacks the sheer audacity and absurdity of Donald Trump elevating himself to messiah status while clashing with Pope Leo I. From ego-driven delusion to global embarrassment, this is what happens when performance politics collides with actual faith and authority. It’s chaotic, it’s surreal, and it’s another reminder that the line between spectacle and reality isn’t just blurred—it’s gone. A different kind of Holy War has begun.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to https://surfshark.com/lincolnproject and use code lincolnproject at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! #ad Visit https://quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

Bondi. Epstein. DOJ surveillance. Congress folding. This episode is a front-row seat to a system cracking in real time. Rick Wilson is joined by Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint to unpack the collapse of Pam Bondi — from her questionable moves inside the U.S. Department of Justice to her firing tied to the still-explosive Epstein files that just won’t disappear. They break down reports of DOJ surveillance on members of Congress inside a makeshift SCIF, why Bondi’s “burn book” flopped, and how fear, loyalty tests, and political pressure have turned Congress into a rubber stamp instead of a check on power. This is what it looks like when institutions bend—and who pays the price when they do.•••••You can find Rep. Becca Balint on X @RepBeccaB, on Bluesky @balint.house.gov, and on her Youtube @RepBeccaB. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Head to https://superpower.com and use code [LINCOLN] at checkout for $20 off your membership. After you sign up, they’ll ask how you heard about them, so make sure to mention this podcast to support the show. #ad Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at https://getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #adGo to https://bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ to unlock 15% off + free shipping. #ad

Epstein isn’t going away—and thanks to Melania Trump’s bizarre press statement, it just hijacked the entire week. What was supposed to be about Iran and a ceasefire is now back to the one story that won’t die: Epstein, power, and the questions still hanging over Donald Trump. Rick Wilson breaks down the PR meltdown, the failed pivots, and why Epstein has become the permanent elephant in the room—because in 2026, this isn’t just a scandal anymore… it’s the whole damn story.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. For information regarding your voter registration, go to www.voteriders.org.Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/lincolnproject. #ad Visit https://expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to four extra months. #ad#Trump #MelaniaTrump #Epstein #EpsteinFiles #TrumpEpstein #BreakingNews #Politics2026 #Iran #Ceasefire #NewsAnalysis #RickWilson #LincolnProject #PoliticalPodcast #USPolitics #Scandal #ViralNews #CurrentEvents #Media #Election2026 #EITR

Trump’s numbers are slipping. The GOP is fracturing. And James Carville is calling it exactly how he sees it. In this unfiltered conversation, Rick Wilson and Carville rip into the state of Trump’s campaign, the cracks forming inside MAGA, and why voter fatigue could reshape the 2026 election. If you’ve been wondering whether the chaos is real—it is. And it’s getting worse.•••••You can find James Carville on X @JamesCarville. Check out his podcast, 'Politics War Room' wherever you watch or listen. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go https://sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 or use code ‘LINCOLN50’ at checkout for 50% off your first order. #adProtect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/lincolnproject. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. #ad #Trump #MAGA #GOP #RickWilson #JamesCarville #Election2026 #PoliticalChaos #TrumpCollapse #BreakingPolitics #USPolitics

Unlike the Survivors, Bondi couldn't survive Epstein. Pam Bondi is out—and the timing says everything. As the Epstein files resurface and pressure builds around Trump’s inner circle, the infamous “firing season” has officially begun. For this week's Elephant in the Room, Rick breaks down why Bondi got cut loose, what it signals about the escalating Epstein fallout, and how Trump’s pattern of loyalty tests and political purges is playing out in real time. This isn’t damage control—it’s survival mode. And if history tells us anything, Bondi is just the beginning.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #PamBondi #EpsteinFiles #BreakingNews #TrumpScandal #Epstein #PoliticalNews #Corruption #Accountability #USPolitics

Trump isn’t impulsive. He’s not “just winging it.” According to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his new book Trump's Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the Trump Leadership Toolbox, Donald Trump operates on a repeatable, deliberate playbook—ten core behaviors he’s used for decades. What looks like chaos is actually strategy. What feels like a meltdown is often the move itself. In this episode, Rick Wilson and Yale Business School Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld break down Trump’s pattern of power: the same tactics, the same outcomes, over and over again. Once you see the playbook, you can’t unsee it.•••••Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is on X at @JeffSonnenfeld, and his new book, ,’Trump's Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the Trump Leadership Toolbox,’ is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #TrumpStrategy #JeffreySonnenfeld #TrumpPlaybook #PoliticalAnalysis #LincolnProject #RickWilson #TrumpTactics #BreakingNews #USPolitics #Election2026 #Trump2026 #MAGA #PoliticalPodcast #NewsAnalysis #CurrentEvents #TrumpChaos #PoliticalStrategy

Trump. MAGA. The GOP. Voters are over it — and the receipts are stacking up. In this episode of The Elephant in the Room, Rick Wilson breaks down the 10 things voters hate most about Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and today’s Republican Party — from chaos and corruption to delusion, culture war burnout, and a campaign that feels completely out of touch with reality. This is the Elephant in the Room: Trump is losing independents, bleeding suburban voters, and failing the vibe check in 2026. If you want to understand why Trump’s support is cracking, why MAGA is struggling, and what it means for the election, this is the episode.P.S. Oh, and by the way, after this week's election, Trump's representative at Mar-a-Lago is Emily Gregory -- a Democrat and a woman. •••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #MAGA #GOP #DonaldTrump #Election2026 #Politics #LincolnProject #RickWilson #BreakingNews #PoliticalAnalysis #Voters #Democracy #Campaign2026 #TrumpNews #Republicans #USPolitics

Trump just fired Kristi Noem. Pam Bondi just got caught lying under oath. And now the panic inside Trump’s orbit is impossible to hide.Rick Wilson sits down with Congressman Jared Moskowitz to break down a White House running on fear, loyalty tests, and legal exposure. This isn’t spin — it’s the system cracking. Fast.Who gets thrown overboard next? Who flips when the pressure hits? And how close are we to the moment this whole thing turns?Inside this episode: • Noem’s firing and the loyalty purge inside Trumpworld • Bondi’s testimony and the perjury cloud getting darker • The unraveling of Trump’s inner circleWho’s next — and who flips first?•••••You can find Congressman Jared Moskowitz on X, @JaredEMoskowitz.Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #PamBondi #KristiNoem #BreakingNews #Politics #MAGA #TrumpNews #Corruption #Accountability #JaredMoskowitz #RickWilson #LincolnProject #PoliticalScandal #USPolitics #election2026 Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at https://getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #ad Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to four extra months. #ad

The Epstein story just snapped back into focus—and the timing couldn’t be more suspicious. This week, as headlines were dominated by a new war overseas, reports surfaced of three previously unseen interviews tied to one of Trump’s accusers—material that had never been publicly accounted for. Now they’re out, and the questions are stacking fast. Rick Wilson breaks down what’s known, what’s missing, and why this story keeps circling the same tight-knit network of power players who always seem to land on their feet. This isn’t just a scandal—it’s a pattern. Same names. Same circles. Same silence. And once again, the truth is trying to claw its way through.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #DonaldTrump #Epstein #JeffreyEpstein #EpsteinFiles #EpsteinList #EpsteinCase #EpsteinScandal #TrumpEpstein #TrumpNews #TrumpScandal #BreakingNews #PoliticalScandal #CoverUp #EpsteinCoverUp #NewsUpdate #2026Politics #USPolitics #InvestigativeJournalism #Accountability #PowerAndCorruption #ElitePower #PoliticalCorruption #FollowTheMoney #ConnectTheDots #UnansweredQuestions #WhoKnewWhat #TimelineMatters #NewsAnalysis #RickWilson #LincolnProject #StayInformedGo to bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ to unlock 20% off sitewide + free shipping. #ad

Rick Wilson sits down with retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling to break down the rapidly escalating war with Iran under the Trump administration — from the growing threat to global shipping lanes to the shockwaves already hitting oil markets and regional stability. Drawing on decades of battlefield command, Hertling explains what real wartime leadership looks like, why lawful orders and military ethics matter, and how quickly reckless politics can collide with the brutal realities of modern warfare. Together, Rick and Hertling cut through the cable-news noise and Washington theatrics to talk about the hard truths of war, the responsibilities of command, and the kind of steady, serious leadership democracies need when the stakes are life and death.•••••You can find Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on X @MarkHertling. His new book, ‘If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal,” is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. #ad Head to www.superpower.com and use code [LINCOLN] at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod #ad Go to www.growtherapy.com/lincolnproject to find the right therapist for you. #ad Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to www.sundaysfordogs.com/LINCOLN50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code LINCOLN50 at checkout. #ad #Trump #IranWar #MiddleEastWar #RickWilson #LincolnProject #USMilitary #WarLeadership #MilitaryEthics #MarkHertling #WarInIran #Geopolitics #BreakingNews #USPolitics #ForeignPolicy #MilitaryLeadership #IranConflict #GlobalSecurity #LeadershipMatters

This week’s Elephant in the Room: everything is starting to fall apart. Trump’s escalating Iran War looks less like strategy and more like a desperate attempt to change the subject from the growing fallout around the Epstein Files, mounting scandals, and an administration that seems increasingly out of its depth. Wars don’t erase political crises — they amplify them. And this one is already shaping up to be wildly unpopular, dangerously unpredictable, and potentially catastrophic for American lives, the global economy, and stability in the Middle East. Rick Wilson breaks down why Trump’s Iran war, the political explosion surrounding the Epstein scandal, and a White House running on panic and distraction could collide into one of the biggest geopolitical and political trainwrecks of the decade.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.shopify.com/lincolnproject to sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial. #ad #Trump #IranWar #EpsteinFiles #RickWilson #TheLincolnProject #PoliticalNews #BreakingNews #USPolitics #MiddleEast #ForeignPolicy #EpsteinScandal #Geopolitics #PoliticalCommentary #NewsAnalysis #WorldPolitics

The rule of law isn’t supposed to be optional in America — but lately Washington seems to have forgotten that. This week, Rick Wilson sits down with JP Cooney, former Deputy to Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, to talk about the growing crisis of lawlessness and why restoring accountability starts with fixing Congress itself. After years inside the Department of Justice working on some of the most consequential federal investigations in modern history, Cooney is stepping into the arena, running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District in 2026 to bring seriousness, backbone, and respect for the rule of law back to Washington. Rick and JP break down how Congress lost the plot, why consequences in government have become optional, and why the next generation of leaders needs to end the chaos, restore law and order, and rebuild trust in American institutions before the damage becomes permanent.•••••You can find J.P. Cooney on X @cooneycongress, and on Bluesky @cooneyforcongress.bsky.social. Check out his campaign website, at www.cooneyforcongress.com.Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.superpower.com and use code ‘LINCOLN’ for 20% off your membership. #ad Go to www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

The Elephant in the Room: the “fun part” of Trump’s Iran war is over. The bombs dropped and the headlines rolled — but now comes the reality of a conflict with no strategy, no exit plan, and no adults in the room. Rick Wilson breaks down how Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio stumbled into a rapidly escalating Iran war that could cost billions, risk American lives, and spiral into the next Middle East forever war. And as the conflict grows, so do the questions: Is this about national security — or a convenient distraction from the Epstein files and other scandals closing in at home?•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.  For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com  #ad

Rick sits down with Jason Zengerle to dissect Hated by All the Right People, a scalpel-sharp look at how Tucker Carlson morphed from bow-tied conservative pundit into the high priest of grievance politics. They trace the Iraq War as the inflection point that cracked the old GOP brain, Tucker’s Fox News era where outrage became currency, and his post-Fox glow-up as a free-range chaos entrepreneur feeding the MAGA algorithm. But this isn’t nostalgia — it’s about consequences. As a new war with Iran explodes into missile and drone retaliation this weekend, Rick and Jason connect the dots between right-wing media radicalization, foreign policy brinkmanship, and the profit model that rewards escalation over truth. Tucker didn’t just witness the unraveling of the conservative mind — he built a business on it. And as 2026 approaches, the rage machine he helped engineer isn’t just warping politics — it’s shaping global stakes.•••••You can find Jason Zengerle on X @zengerle, and as a staff writer for the New Yorker. His book, ‘Hated by All the Right People’ is available now, wherever fine books are sold.Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

This week Rick's Elephant in the Room is MAGA’s decline. Donald Trump’s latest State of the Union didn’t project strength — it exposed unraveling policies, economic instability, authoritarian overreach, and growing questions about cognitive fitness, all while his inner circle — Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller and their enablers — tighten their grip on power. As the GOP fractures and the 2026 midterms loom, voters are watching a movement lose altitude in real time. The real question isn’t whether MAGA is declining — it’s whether Democrats will hold the architects of corruption and extremism accountable when power shifts, because without consequences in 2026, decline isn’t defeat… it’s just intermission.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to 4 extra months. #ad Visit www.sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 or use code ‘LINCOLN50’ for 50% off your first order. #ad

Former DOJ prosecutor Dan Goldman joins us to break down the growing firestorm around Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, and the Epstein files. As scrutiny over the Epstein investigation intensifies, Bondi’s defense of Trump raises serious questions about DOJ independence, selective prosecution, and political loyalty inside the Department of Justice.Goldman explains what the Epstein files could mean for Trump legally, whether accountability is being delayed or deflected, and how the DOJ is supposed to function when powerful figures are involved. If you’re looking for clear analysis on Trump and Epstein, Pam Bondi’s role, DOJ ethics, and the fight over equal justice under the law — this is it.•••••You can find Rep. Dan Goldman on X @RepDanGoldman & @danielsgoldman. You can also find him at www.goldman.house.gov. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can protect your family in minutes, with affordable life insurance. #ad

Prince Andrew’s reported arrest in the widening Epstein scandal has reignited explosive questions about the Epstein files, elite corruption, and whether the United States operates under a two-tier justice system. While global headlines focus on the Prince Andrew arrest, a deeper issue is surfacing: why did Pam Bondi’s DOJ never investigate core co-conspirator Les Wexner, tied to the Epstein network? In this episode, we break down the latest Prince Andrew news, the unresolved controversies surrounding the Epstein files, mounting DOJ corruption allegations, and growing scrutiny over selective prosecution and elite immunity. If powerful figures can face consequences abroad, why were key players in the Epstein case never fully investigated by the Department of Justice? This is a deep dive into political corruption, accountability, the integrity of the justice system, and the uncomfortable question at the heart of the Epstein scandal — does justice truly apply equally under the law in America?•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.growtherapy.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get affordable care that fits your life. #adVisit www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

For the first time ever, alumni of The Lincoln Project are running for Congress — and the 2026 midterms just shifted. In this special double-header, Rick sits down with Fred Wellman, running in St. Louis, Missouri (MO-02), and George Conway, running in New York, New York (NY-12), to break down what it means for the Lincoln Project to move from ads and strategy to actual ballots and House races. They dive into the stakes of the 2026 election, the fight to flip Congress, the threat of MAGA extremism, and why veterans, constitutional conservatives, and rule-of-law Republicans are stepping up in key swing districts. From the battle for the House majority to the broader fight to protect democracy, this episode unpacks the strategy, the map, and the momentum behind a political movement turning into candidates — and why this moment could redefine the future of Congress. #LincolnProject #2026Midterms #Congress #MAGA #Election2026•••••You can find George Conway @gtconway3d on X, on Bluesky @gtconway.bsky.social, and at his campaign website, www.georgeconwayforcongress.com.You can find Fred Wellman on X @FPWellman, on Bluesky @fpwellman.bsky.social, and at his campaign website, www.wellmanformo.com. You can also check out his podcast, 'On Democracy with FPWellman.’ Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ for 15% off your first order + free shipping. #ad

Rick's Elephant in the Room this week is simple: Pam Bondi and the Epstein files. Under oath, in open court, Bondi melted down while dodging direct questions about Jeffrey Epstein, the sealed records, and what the Department of Justice knew — and when. The exchange has ignited new outrage over the Epstein case, the handling of court testimony, and whether political protection is shielding powerful figures from accountability. Rick breaks down Bondi’s courtroom performance, the legal gymnastics around the Epstein documents, and why this moment matters in the larger fight over DOJ integrity, transparency, and corruption at the highest levels. If you care about the Epstein files, justice for the survivors, sworn testimony, government accountability, and the credibility crisis inside America’s justice system — this is the episode you can’t miss.•••••Support Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s family in carrying on her legacy, by visiting www.gofundme.com/f/help-virginia-giuffres. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

This week, Rick Wilson is joined by Taylor Rehmet to break down one of the most important political upsets in Texas in years: a historic Texas State Senate special election win that flipped a deep-red seat by doing something radical in modern politics—talking to people like human beings. Rehmet walks through a community-first, common-sense campaign built on knocking doors, rejecting corporate cash, focusing on affordability, public education, property taxes, and showing up in real life instead of chasing culture-war nonsense online. Rick dissects why this ground-game-driven Democratic victory in Texas matters far beyond one district, how it exposes the weakness of MAGA politics when voters are treated with respect, and why this race is a blueprint for winning swing and red districts heading into the 2026 midterms. If you want to know how Democrats flip seats, rebuild trust, and start winning again—this is the playbook.•••••Taylor Rehmet is on X @TaylorRehmetTX,and you can find him at his website www.taylorfortx.com.Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 OR use code “LINCOLN50,” for 50% off your first order. #ad

The Elephant in the Room this week is power—how it protects itself, who it destroys, and why accountability never seems to reach the top. With the release of the Epstein files, what’s exposed isn’t just one predator but a global system where wealth, status, and proximity to power shielded abuse of women and children for years. The documents pull back the curtain on how elites across politics, finance, and international circles used silence, intimidation, and institutional protection to evade consequences—while victims were ignored, discredited, or erased. This episode isn’t about gossip or scandal; it’s about how power operates when no one is watching, why so many powerful men connected to Jeffrey Epstein are still untouched, and what it says about a world where justice has a price tag and impunity is the real currency.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Rick Wilson is joined by Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about the escalating ICE raids, federal overreach, and what many residents are calling an occupation of an American city. As immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and constitutional rights collide, Frey breaks down how ICE operations are impacting local communities, why local leaders are pushing back, and how an overwhelming citizen response, mass protests, and community organizing have turned Minneapolis into ground zero for the national fight over Trump-era immigration policy, authoritarian policing, and states’ rights vs federal power. As tensions have been boiling in Minneapolis, it all felt predictable to local leaders — from the broad Department of Homeland Security directives that sent massive federal immigration enforcement into the city, to the repeated warnings Mayor Frey kept sounding about rising dangers and community impact — but it was the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, each a galvanizing flashpoint, that ignited the streets and turned simmering opposition into a civic reckoning.•••••Mayor Jacob Frey is on X @Jacob_Frey & @MayorFrey, and you can find him at his website www.jacobfrey.org. You can also find information about Minneapolis at www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/city-federal-response/. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to receive a quote in ten minutes. #adGo to www.ground.news/tlp for 40% off the vantage plan. #ad

This week’s Elephant in the Room is simple: Trump is losing—and everyone can see it. Inflation is still squeezing voters where it hurts, and no amount of fear-mongering can spin grocery bills, rent, or gas prices. On immigration, the administration’s answer has been to let U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement run feral—escalating raids, brutality, and spectacle that dominated headlines this week and triggered backlash even among swing voters. The result? A political own-goal: cruelty without control, chaos without results, and optics so toxic they’re pushing the middle further away. In this episode, Rick breaks down why Donald Trump is hemorrhaging trust on the economy, why extreme ICE tactics are backfiring in real time, and how this week made painfully clear that fear politics doesn’t beat inflation—and never has.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit to www.webroot.com/lincolnproject for 60% off! #ad

This week, the mask comes all the way off. In a chilling double-header, we expose how Stephen Miller’s extremist agenda has metastasized into unchecked power inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement—with deadly consequences. Journalist Greg Sargent joins us first to break down Miller’s ideological grip on ICE and the escalation of federal violence, including the killing of Alex Pretti this past weekend—an event that underscores how cruelty is no longer a byproduct of policy, but the point. Then, former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate explains how disaster relief money meant to keep Americans alive during a brutal snowstorm was siphoned away—from FEMA to ICE—revealing a federal priorities list where enforcement beats survival and repression beats relief. This is what unchecked power looks like. This is how a government turns DHS funding and disaster relief into opportunity. And this is why it matters right now. •••••You can find Greg Sargent on X @GregTSargent, on Bluesky @gregsargent.bsky.social, and at www.thenewrepublic.com. Also, check out his podcast, ‘The Daily Blast.’You can find Craig Fugate @WCraigFugate on X.Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use the code “LINCOLN” to unlock 15% off your first order + free shipping! #ad

Rick's Elephant in the Room this week is peak TACO — Trump Always Chickens Out. After floating threats against Greenland and saber-rattling his way into another foreign policy meltdown, Donald Trump took the stage at Davos and delivered a speech so erratic it left allies openly alarmed (as he GRIPPED the podium). The World Economic Forum appearance wasn’t just inflammatory — it reinforced how isolated the United States has become under Trump’s chaos-first diplomacy. Within days, Trump backed down on Greenland, proving once again that the bluster is loud but the follow-through is weak. Meanwhile, NATO allies are openly questioning whether the U.S. can still be trusted, global markets are spooked, and America’s credibility keeps sliding. This episode breaks down Trump’s Davos meltdown, the Greenland bluff, and why the world is done taking U.S. threats seriously.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

This week’s double-header episode confronts America’s moral crisis from two sides of the same coin: what happens when leadership becomes corrupt and power-hungry—and what it looks like when leaders choose decency instead. First, journalist Mary Clare Jalonick joins Rick to break down her urgent new book Storm at the Capitol, a chilling account of how ambition, radicalization, and moral cowardice led to January 6 and exposed what happens when power is severed from principle. Then, veteran political voice Chris Matthews offers a stark counterpoint with Letters from Bobby, drawing on Robert F. Kennedy’s words to remind us that leadership is a moral act rooted in restraint, empathy, and responsibility. This conversation couldn’t be more timely as ICE violence and aggressive enforcement tactics come to a head across the country, putting into sharp relief the real-world consequences of unchecked power and moral collapse. One episode. Two books. One unavoidable truth: democracy doesn’t fail all at once—it fails when leaders abandon decency first.•••••You can find Mary Clare Jalonick @MCJalonick on X, and you can stay up to date with her congressional reporting at the AP. Also, her new book, 'Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th,' is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Chris Matthews is on X @HardballChris, and you can check out his Substack at thechrismatthews.substack.com. His new book, 'Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters,' is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.growtherapy.com/lincolnproject to find out how you could get started with a therapist that works with you. #ad Go to www.webroot.com/lincolnproject for up to 60% off. #ad

Texas is breaking at the seams—divided, bitter, and locked in a political cage match that’s left ordinary Texans stuck in the middle. For decades, the state has been painted bright red, but now the cracks are showing, and a fresh wave of underdog organizers and voters is daring to repaint the map purple. From the San Antonio Spurs to street culture, from BBQ pits to the Capitol floor, Texas' fresh politics is colliding with an old guard terrified of losing power—on fights over voting rights, gerrymandering, abortion bans, gun violence, border and immigration, book bans, school vouchers, property taxes, and the ERCOT power grid. In this episode, James Talarico joins Rick Wilson for a hard look at a changing Purple Texas—how Gen Z, Latino voters, suburban women, and independents are shifting the map; why MAGA extremism and corrupt politicians (like Ken Paxton) keep stoking culture wars; and how fresh leadership can take power back for the people and revive democracy in the Lone Star State.•••••You can find James Talarico @jamestalarico on social media, and keep up with his campaign at jamestalarico.com.Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.Visit expressvpn.com/lincolnproject for an exclusive offer. #ad

Coming off last week’s examination of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, Rick lays out how the United States is sliding into an American police state—one powered by ICE intimidation, fear-based propaganda, and a rapidly expanding government surveillance apparatus. Rick breaks down how ICE relies on spectacle, misinformation, and selective enforcement to force citizen compliance, while the Trump-era state deploys AI surveillance and facial recognition, license plate readers, and Flock Safety cameras to monitor Americans in ways that openly undermine the Constitution, the Fourth Amendment, and basic civil liberties. This isn’t about public safety—it’s about control. This isn't a flaw, it's a feature. It's no longer about equal protection under the law, but about protecting power, punishing dissent, and enforcing political obedience. When agencies like ICE are shielded from accountability while technology is used to surveil citizens instead of defend their rights, justice stops being blind and starts taking orders.For best practices on dealing with ICE, this week's episode of The Breakdown features our legal counsel, Mario Nicolais, and is also worth a watch. https://youtube.com/live/eRihj_qXUYw•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.bollandbranch.com/lincoln for 15% off your first order + free shipping. #adGo to www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to see how you could protect your family with life insurance with a free quote in under ten minutes. #ad Check out www.werobot.com/lincolnproject for 60% off. #ad

Donald Trump didn’t speak for the working class—he played it. In this episode, Rick Wilson sits down with Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey to unpack how Trump’s brand of fake populism conned millions of working Americans while delivering power, tax cuts, and protection to billionaires and authoritarians. Rick and Ken break down how grievance replaced policy, how MAGA culture turned resentment into a loyalty test, and why the people waving the biggest flags ended up getting sold out first. Then they flip the script: punk rock as an early warning system, a working-class truth teller, and a loud, unapologetic form of resistance to fascism, cult politics, and manufactured outrage. This isn’t about music nostalgia—it’s about class consciousness, propaganda, and why real resistance has never come from strongmen at the top, but from people willing to call bullsh*t, turn up the volume, and refuse to be fooled again.•••••You can find Ken Casey at dropkickmurphys.com. Check out their website for tour information and details on their upcoming album! Their updated song "Citizen ICE" is out now.Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping & 365-day returns. #ad Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to learn more about how you could get up to 4 extra months. #ad

This week, we confront MAGA’s escalating performative cruelty following the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis — a woman shot and killed by an ICE officer and then posthumously smeared as a “domestic terrorist” to justify the violence. As facts emerged, the Trump movement did what it always does: lied, dehumanized, and closed ranks around power. JD Vance went even further, effectively arguing for blanket immunity for federal agents, treating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an untouchable arm of the state — Trump’s modern secret police. This episode breaks down how authoritarian movements manufacture enemies, why disinformation follows state violence every time, and how Donald Trump’s political culture rewards cruelty over truth. This isn’t about law and order — it’s about power without accountability, the erosion of civil liberties, and what it means when a political movement decides some lives are disposable. Say her name: Renee Good.•••••If you'd like to support Renee Good’s wife and son, below is a link to their publicly accessible GoFundMe:https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-renee-goods-wife-and-sonRick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

This weekend, the capture of Nicolás Maduro didn’t close a chapter in Venezuela — it ripped one open. History tells us exactly where this movie goes: swagger first, strategy never. Venezuela isn’t just another “bad guy taken off the board”; it’s an oil-soaked, politically fractured, economically shattered country where outside powers think force can substitute for understanding. That’s how Iraq started. That’s how Vietnam metastasized. And now, under Donald Trump, America is once again flirting with the delusion that you can arrest a dictator, flip a switch, pump the oil, and call it victory. You can’t. You get insurgencies, regional blowback, endless commitments, and a war that exists not because it protects Americans — but because oil, ego, and imperial muscle memory demand it. Welcome to the next forever war, this time in our own hemisphere, where the lessons of the past are ignored, the bill always comes due, and the exit strategy is once again a shrug.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Giving you an extra special bonus episode of The Lincoln Project podcast, Rick Wilson is joined by special guest Chris Whipple of Vanity Fair, the reporter who just detonated Trumpworld with his explosive reporting on Susie Wiles. Whipple doesn’t just recap the headlines—he reveals new secrets, pulls back the curtain on how power actually operates inside Trump’s inner circle, and explains why Wiles may be the most important—and least understood—figure in modern MAGA politics. As more breaking news unfolds, Rick and Whipple connect the dots between loyalty, control, fear, and the machinery driving Trump’s 2025 operation. If you want to understand who really runs Trumpworld—and why this story keeps getting darker—this is the episode you can’t miss.•••••You can find Chris Whipple on X @ccwhip, and on his website https://chriswhipple.com/. VANITY FAIR PIECE PART 1: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1VANITY FAIR PIECE PART 2: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-2Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

As the holiday season hits full throttle and millions of Americans flood airports during record-breaking Christmas travel week, this episode takes a clear-eyed look at what real holiday cheer means in a year dominated by nonstop headlines. From winter storms snarling flights and causing massive travel delays to violence interrupting festive gatherings and global tensions refusing to pause for Christmas, this week's news cycle offered little comfort—or quiet. Breaking down the biggest stories -- from Susie Wiles' Vanity Fair expose to Trump's deranged, coke-fueled speech while he gripped the podium to the close-up photos of Trump's admin -- it's been a week...and Rick will guide you through it all. Rick Wilson cuts through the noise with sharp humor and grounded perspective, breaking down the biggest stories of the week while reminding us that optimism doesn’t require denial. This is holiday cheer with a backbone—fact-based, reality-tested, and stubbornly alive in the middle of headline fatigue, end-of-year chaos, and a world that refuses to slow down just because it’s Christmas.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #HolidaySeason #ChristmasCheer #YearEndNews #TopHeadlines #HolidayTravel #WinterStorms #BreakingNews #PoliticalPodcast #RickWilson #LincolnProject

Rick Wilson is joined by Scott Galloway—NYU professor, bestselling author, and unapologetic truth-teller—to talk about lonely young men, collapsing purpose, and a culture pretending the crisis isn’t real. Drawing from Scott’s newest book, ‘Notes on Being a Man,’ they cut through culture-war bullsh*t to explain how isolation, economic pressure, and algorithm-fed rage are pushing men toward the worst possible answers. This isn’t grievance politics—it’s a blunt conversation about reality, responsibility, different strengths, and what happens when society ignores the meteor until impact.•••••You can find Scott Galloway @profgalloway.com on Bluesky and @profgalloway on Instagram. His new book, ‘Notes on Being a Man,’ is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to https://ground.news/TLP for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off the Vantage plan for unlimited access to world wide news coverage through our link. #ad Enter code ‘LINCOLNPROJECT’ for 20% off at takelean.com. #ad

In this blistering episode, Rick Wilson breaks down why MAGA absolutely sees the future coming — and is reacting like a herd of political dinosaurs staring straight at the meteor and insisting it’s a hoax. With Trump's historically unpopular presidency (at a 36% approval rating), the desperate need for "affordability" (hitting the MAGA base the hardest), the movement shrinking, and GOP leaders screaming into the void, MAGA is pretending the shaking ground and the bright light in the sky are just “deep state weather balloons.” Rick lays out how the economic reality, unmistakable corruption, shifting demographics, and sheer exhaustion among voters are accelerating MAGA’s extinction — and why their refusal to adapt only speeds up the impact. This is a sharp, snark-filled autopsy of a movement so trapped in denial that they’re actively choosing meteor impact over evolution. Buckle up: the asteroid is coming, and Rick brought the popcorn.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to Superpower.com to decode, track and take control of your health with Superpower. Go to Superpower.com/gift to receive a free $49 premium gift box with your gifted membership. #ad

Strap in: Rick Wilson is joined by Carol Leonnig and Aaron Davis, who just detonated the political world with their blockbuster book Injustice. It’s the ultimate tell-all on DOJ dysfunction, politically motivated indictments, the Trump-era push to weaponize federal law enforcement, and the internal rebellion of career DOJ officials trying to stop an authoritarian slide. Rick, Carol, and Aaron break down everything from the classified documents scandal to the war on independent prosecutors, the assault on election integrity, and the rise of unchecked executive power. If you care about the future of American democracy, the rule of law, and the escalating 2025 political crisis, this episode brings the receipts—loudly.•••••You can find Carol Leonnig @CarolLeonnig on X, and Aaron Davis @byaaroncdavis on X. Their bestselling book ‘INJUSTICE: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America’s Justice Department’ is out now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to Quince.com/LINCOLN for free shipping and 365-day returns. #ad

In this explosive episode of The Elephant in the Room, Rick Wilson breaks down the stunning new reporting that Jared Kushner and real estate billionaire Steve Witkoff held a secret meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week (as of 12/4/25). Rick analyzes why two American power brokers advising Russia’s authoritarian leader is raising alarms across the national security, intelligence, and foreign policy communities, and why experts are calling the covert conversation a potential act of treason, foreign interference, and backchannel diplomacy gone rogue. From Kushner’s long-documented ties to Russian oligarchs, to Witkoff’s sudden emergence as a Kremlin-friendly intermediary, Rick lays out what investigators are already probing, what the White House is terrified you’ll learn next, and how this clandestine meeting could reshape the landscape of U.S.–Russia relations, election interference, and the ongoing debate over whether Trump’s inner circle ever truly stopped colluding with Moscow. As Rick puts it: When Americans fly to Moscow to “advise” Putin, it’s not diplomacy—it’s danger. Buckle up for the episode blowing the lid off the Witkoff-Kushner-Putin scandal.•••••Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us