The Lincoln Project

Jonah Bromwich, who's a criminal justice reporter at The New York Times and author of his new book Dragon on Centre Street, joins Rick to drill down to what the Stormy Daniels case actually meant for the American people. The book focuses on Donald Trump’s criminal trial, but it’s also about the way that our institutions have failed to keep up with the 21st century. At heart, this case wasn't about hush money payments or hooking up with a porn star, it was about defrauding the American public during one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. Trump ultimately won the campaign because he covered up the truth -- a pattern of lying and cover-ups that would shape his political operations to this day. Peek behind the scenes, hear from the reporter who witnessed it all, and listen to what made this case more significant than it was ever covered at the time.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Please check out Jonah's new book, "Dragon on Centre Street," and follow him on X at @Jonesiemanand on Bluesky at @jonesieman.bsky.social‬. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rick's Elephant in the Room unpacks TACO Trump. (And, kudos to the Wall Street Bros who coined the "perfect" term -- "Trump Always Chickens Out.") As the anthropologist on Donald Trump, Rick (who has studied this man for over ten years -- thank you for your service!) sheds light on how TACO applies to all aspects of Trump. This flacid, feeble, fatuous fool is not the strong man he *thinks* he portrays. Completely inept, played by dictators, confused by intelligent people, and obsessively corrupt, Trump has always been a weak, small, stupid man in politics, in business, and in his personal life. Regardless of the news cycle, there's one thing we can always count on -- Trump Always Chickens Out, no matter the stakes.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ You can check out 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former UN Ambassador, attorney, and foreign affairs expert Mr. John Bolton stops by the studio to talk with Rick about America's status on the global stage. Bolton articulates all of the complicated moving pieces of how America impacts the world and sheds light on threats toward the U.S., the effect of tariffs on our U.S. allies, Russia and Ukraine, and local security.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ You can check out 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rick's Elephant in the Room is Trump's mental decline. With the White House decidedly halting transcripts of Trump's speeches, and a rise of extreme political sharks circling the Oval Office, what's left of Trump's mental cognition has also apparently been deported without a court hearing. On a strict diet of Big Macs and Adderall, Trump's last "cognition test"  -- 'Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.' -- seems to be a high point for our drooling Dear Leader.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ You can check out 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fighting for Virginia, Senator Aaron Rouse -- born and raised in Virginia Beach and from area code 757 -- has risen in politics from the local level to statewide office. In 2025, Aaron is excited to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, being a person of and for the people. A former safety for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, Aaron brings a team approach to politics -- we're all on the same team. Virginia is in a uniquely dire situation -- with many Virginians out of work and numerous government programs having been slashed -- due to DOGE. Coming from 757, Aaron understands the value of hard work and the need for a more holistic approach when governing the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike many politicians, Aaron is meeting people where they are, wherever that may be.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ You can learn more about Aaron in his latest ad --> https://youtu.be/rQWZF_GFn3E.  Feel free to follow and support his campaign at Rouseforvirginia.com/donate, on X at @AaronRouseVA, and on Bluesky at ‪@aaronrouse.bsky.social‬.  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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Elephant in the Room is exhaustion. You're feeling it, we're feeling it, and Trump and his administration are feeling it. Trump is falling asleep during meetings, and for his staffers, living in fear is draining. Overthrowing a democracy consumes a lot of energy from all sides. We knew another Trump term would mean another serious bout of adrenal fatigue, but this time, the array of high-stakes, stressful headlines is on another level.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ You can follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com where he writes several pieces every week and hosts live chats with the top political minds.  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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jared Moskowitz -- the U.S. representative for Florida's 23rd congressional district -- joins Rick to shed light on why he whispers, i.e., yells, at James Comer. Unraveling the threads of the Trump administration's biggest headlines, Jared and Rick touch on Trump's vandalization of the American economy, the insanely stupid idea to roll back FEMA (something that will impact deeply-held Republican states), and how to get anything done with the current GOP sh*tshow in the House. One of the Democrats who actually walks the talk and meets the fight where it's at, Jared Moscowitz's approach is a learning lesson for those democrats who are still training in the gym, learning how to fight back.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Follow Rep. Moskowitz @JaredEMoskowitz on X and @repmoskowitz.bsky.social on Bluesky! Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.  Join the fight with Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue this critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Elephant in the Room is the Trump Crime Family. 'Nuff said.  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.  Join the fight with Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue this critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Removing partisan political rhetoric from state government, Michigan's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson sits down with Rick to discuss her no-holds-barred style regarding local government. Married into the military, Jocelyn is a no-nonsense leader who isn't shaken by political threats on her life, campaign attacks from the far right, or the pressure to cave to Trump's "stolen election" claims during 2020. Jocelyn never blinked then, and is now running for Governor in 2026. Jocelyn's book, "The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What's Right When the Stakes Are High," is a mantra of how she lives and leads. Delivering on things that will actually improve Michiganders' lives from Detroit to the UP for the long term, Jocelyn remains locked in on her state and hopes to be able to "fight for a stronger Michigan." ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ You can check out Jocelyn's new book, "The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What's Right When the Stakes Are High," at fine booksellers everywhere. Feel free to follow her campaign at https://jocelynbenson.com/, on X at @JocelynBenson, and on Bluesky at @jocelynbenson.bsky.social‬. Jocelyn is surely one to watch! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts dive into the chaos surrounding Trump's first 100 days in office, spotlighting corruption and the dark implications of his leadership decisions. They dissect foreign policy failures that risk American interests and strain international ties. The discussion highlights the troubling impact of his trade policies on the economy and warns of potential fallout for his supporters. Ultimately, they call for a transformative political approach, urging a connection to the real experiences of Americans to combat harmful leadership.