Rick Wilson's The Enemies List

We begin this episode with a quick note of appreciation from Rick, to you and everyone who has supported in this fight. From there Rick sits down with New York Times bestselling author Michael Tackett to discuss his new book, The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party. Tackett unpacks McConnell's transformation from a pragmatic politician to a key architect of modern conservatism, his mastery of Senate rules, and his role in reshaping the judiciary. The conversation explores McConnell's relationship with Trump, his controversial post-January 6 decisions, and the enduring impact of his leadership.Michael's book, The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party, available now.Timestamps:(00:06:19) The Price of Power(00:12:32) Doing more with the minority than some can do with the majority(00:14:18) Curating his own caucus(00:17:03) Controlling Trump(00:27:13) The Senate post McConnellFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And so begins the inevitable ball-fumbling that is a Trump Presidency. In our first episode back from a short break, Rick rants on the Matt Gaetz debacle and how we should see in the context of Trump and his incoming administration.Follow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In these final days before the election, Trump has doubled down on his authoritarian, fascist rhetoric. To help us make sense of the chaos leading up to the big day, Rick welcomes historian and political analyst Heather Cox Richardson for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of American democracy. Together, they delve into the stark contrasts between democracy and authoritarianism, the Republican Party’s transformation under Trump, and the growing influence of tech billionaires pushing anti-democratic agendas. As the 2024 election upon us, they examine the stakes, the shifts in voter sentiment, and the potential for new political coalitions to reshape our reality.Timestamps:(00:01:21) Closing out the race(00:06:30) Corruption of the American system(00:17:29) The new generationFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the home stretch, and something we haven't touched on enough is Trump's love affair with Tariffs. In this episode Rick sits down with Edward Goldberg, an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and expert on political economy and trade. Together, they explore the dangers of Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and the broader risks of economic isolationism. Goldberg draws historical parallels, such as China’s decision to burn its fleet in 1433 and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1929, to demonstrate the economic consequences of shutting down global trade. They also discuss the misconceptions around globalization, its connection to job loss, and the vital role of immigration and open trade in driving American innovation and prosperity. And to cap things off, Rick rants about the horror show at Madison Square Garden.Timestamps:(00:01:33) The stakes for the global economy(00:06:38) What happens if we shut the doors(00:13:06) The age of human knowledgeFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deeper we look into the ideological motivation of the Christian right in America, the darker it gets. In this episode Rick talks with author Talia Lavin about her new book, Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America. They dive into the powerful alliance between the evangelical movement and Donald Trump, exploring how religious rationalizations have cemented Trump’s support among evangelicals. Lavin discusses the rise of authoritarian and theocratic ideologies within the Christian right, their success in pushing anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and their long-term goals for transforming American society. The episode sheds light on how these movements perceive their political battle as spiritual warfare and what this means for the future of American democracy.Talia's book, Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America, available now.Timestamps:(00:01:41) Wild Faith(00:03:30) Trump's effect on the Evangelical right(00:23:21) The threats this movement posesFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In case you didn't know, Rick is a history buff, especially when it comes to American presidents. In this episode Rick sits down with acclaimed historian and biographer Nigel Hamilton to discuss his upcoming book, Lincoln vs. Davis: The War of the Presidents. Together, they explore the contrasting leadership styles of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis during the American Civil War, examining how each president’s psychology, military background, and decisions shaped the course of the conflict. Hamilton dives into Lincoln's struggles with his generals, the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, and Davis’s strategic mindset. The conversation offers a deeper understanding of two pivotal figures in American history.Nigel's book, Lincoln vs. Davis: The War of the Presidents, available for pre-order now.Timestamps:(00:01:36) Lincoln vs. Davis(00:14:59) The psychology from chess moves to battles(00:32:51) The Battle of GettysburgFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we fact check in an ocean of lies? In this episode Rick is joined by Bill Adair, the founder of PolitiFact and a professor at Duke University, to discuss the growing epidemic of political lying, especially within the Republican Party. They explore the history of political dishonesty, the role of conservative media in amplifying misinformation, and the challenges of fact-checking in an era dominated by figures like Donald Trump. The conversation highlights the danger that widespread deception poses to democracy and addresses the role of new technologies, like deepfakes, in further distorting truth in political discourse.Bill's book, Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy, available now.Timestamps:(00:01:34) The Big Lie(00:06:21) The red blue divide(00:19:00) The danger to the rightFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we keep it simple. Trump is actually a fascist, Rick explains why he is an enemy to us all.Follow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump and the much of the far right have perverted traditional Christian values. In this episode Rick is joined by Jim Wallis, theologian and author of The False White Gospel, to discuss the rise of Christian nationalism in the U.S. Wallis explores how this movement has distorted Christianity for political power, particularly under Donald Trump, and the dangers it poses to American democracy. They discuss the history of white Christian nationalism, its contrast with the inclusive teachings of Jesus, and the importance of reclaiming faith from political agendas to refound democracy on true spiritual values.Jim's book, The False White Gospel, available now.Timestamps:(00:01:39) The False White Gospel(00:03:50) The Christian nationalist movement(00:12:20) Faith without politicsFollow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump loves dictators. For today's episode, Rick discusses Bob Woodward's new book War, which highlights Donald Trump's admiration for dictators, particularly Vladimir Putin. He argues that Trump's transactional nature and attraction to power make him susceptible to autocratic influences. He warns that if re-elected, Trump would likely cut U.S. support for Ukraine, leading to a Russian victory and weakening NATO. Trump's worldview aligns more with authoritarianism than democracy, posing a serious threat to global stability and American values.Follow Resolute Square:InstagramTwitterTikTokFind out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices