
That Trippi Show
If you're looking for someone who actually knows how presidential and national politics works to explain what's going on in 30 minutes or less, this is the show for you. Joe Trippi is a longtime Democratic campaign manager who ran the progressive Howard Dean presidential campaign in 2004 and the historic Doug Jones Senate campaign to defeat Roy Moore in 2017. He's seen it all and isn't bogged down by the viral tweets or hot takes du jour. He's looking past the headlines to answer the questions that matter: How do Democrats win key races moving forward? How do we convince voters to make Republicans pay for January 6th and its aftermath? What are we headed for in November? Don't just listen to the talking heads. Learn from an expert. Subscribe now to That Trippi Show. New episodes every Friday (at least!).
Latest episodes

Sep 3, 2021 • 31min
Time To Pack The Courts? Reed Galen on Texas Fallout
We're joined this week by Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, to talk about the monumental news out of Texas and the Supreme Court early Thursday morning.
The Supreme Court essentially let Roe v. Wade get undermined. What do the Democrats do to recover lost ground and serve their constituents? Is it time to pack the courts? What do you do when you're trying to play chess and, as Reed puts it, the other party is eating the pieces?
And, Joe and Reed address the question that's been eating away at progressives: how do you convince voters they need to vote Democratic when Democrats are in power everywhere and this can still happen?
One place Democrats are not in power is Florida, where COVID cases continue to pace the nation and Republican anti-governance is on full display. How can we organize to defeat the DeSantis, Abbotts, and other right-wing extremists putting their citizens in danger?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Aug 27, 2021 • 33min
What's Dragging Biden's Approval: Covid or Afghanistan? GOP Dangers, Arizona Audit
Joe Biden has hit the roughest patch of his young presidency, combating the crisis in Afghanistan and very worrisome trends with COVID. Joe and Alex give their take on what's moving Biden's approval ratings and how they look in context.
Plus, despite the FDA approving the Pfizer vaccine, Trump-lite governors in Florida and Texas continue to put their own citizens in danger with anti-mask and anti-vaccine policies. Mask mandates are overwhelmingly popular nationally -- how is it a smart move politically for GOP'ers to position against them?
Finally, some listener questions, and hopefully the last-ever discussion of the absurd Arizona election audit.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Aug 20, 2021 • 33min
Congressman Seth Moulton on Afghanistan
Congressman Seth Moulton, Marine & member of the House Armed Services Committee, joins the pod to talk the situation in Afghanistan, what we need to be doing right now to save lives, and how you can help.
Read Rep. Moulton's statement here: https://moulton.house.gov/press-releases/moulton-statement-on-the-situation-in-afghanistan
This David Rohde piece in the New Yorker stood out to us: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/trying-and-failing-to-save-the-family-of-the-afghan-who-saved-meSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Aug 13, 2021 • 35min
Governors' Races, Senate Optimism, Census Implications, Listener Questions
First, a look at some races that are flying under the radar -- governor's races. Governors of course have a massive impact on local politics -- just look at Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott -- but they also have a critical role in certifying elections. DeSantis (Florida), Evers (Wisconsin), and Georgia (Kemp) are all up in 2022 -- Joe wants to make sure Democrats are focused on these elections too (in addition to holding the House and Senate). Thanks to Jennifer Rubin, whose Washington Post op-ed got us thinking about this.
Then, despite the trends for midterm elections historically, Joe is optimistic about the Senate map in 2022. There are vulnerable Republicans across the country and several high-profile retirements. Joe and Alex dive in to the key races and the places in which Democrats are actually on the offensive, and one very important swing race.
Lastly, we address some listener questions (keep sending them to thattrippishow@gmail.com), including one about why Joe is willing to join Republicans at The Lincoln Project given the damage done by their party to the political system.
CNN piece on the Senate: https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/politics/2022-senate-race-rankings-august/index.htmlSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Aug 10, 2021 • 39min
Norm Ornstein on What's Next For Authoritarianism in America
On this special episode, Joe and Alex are joined by Norm Ornstein, Contributing Editor at the Atlantic and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Norm gives his take on the rise of authoritarianism in mainstream Republicans, and how this time feels different even from the McCarthy era. Will congressional and party leadership be able to turn things around? How do you negotiate with a party in which the majority of members believe the election was stolen?
And what if the Republicans drive so many moderates away that the GOP ceases to function? Wouldn't that be good for the Democrats? Well... not really.
How many elections will it take to convince the Republicans to change course? What should be done about the filibuster? And what is possible when there is fundamental disagreement about the very existence of government?
Buy Norm's book here: https://www.amazon.com/One-Nation-After-Trump-Disillusioned-ebook/dp/B06XW24YY6Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Aug 6, 2021 • 28min
Tucker Carlson Flirts With Hungarian Dictator, Special Elections Results in OH
Tucker Carlson is fighting for democracy ... in Hungary. Tucker met with Hungary's Prime Minister to discuss, among other things, how he built a wall, changed the judiciary, and rode anti-immigrant and anti-democracy waves to change the trajectory of a nation in short order. How revealing is this for the desires of the American Right? When will dalliances with authoritarianism become doctrine?
Then, Trump scored a special election win in Ohio, but Joe and Alex are skeptical about what it actually means. But they draw some more insight from the Democratic result, where a moderate outpaced a more left-leaning candidate. How affirming is that for the Biden way of doing things?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Aug 3, 2021 • 38min
Jackie Calmes on the Weaponization of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court's reputation as an apolitical body has been permanently changed. How did we get here?
Jackie Calmes from the LA Times has studied the changes in Supreme Court politics that hit a new low during the Trump presidency. Despite two impeachments and a single term, Trump and the Republicans managed to reshape the Court for decades -- and it's possible Democrats have underestimated and under-organized around the impact of the GOP's stranglehold on the judicial system.
Jackie, Joe and Alex talk about the change in political strategy when it comes to appointing justices, how the Brett Kavanaugh nomination process completely missed another massive scandal, and how we recover from a climate where the Supreme Court is viewed by Republicans as the surest way to extend its minority rule.
Jackie's new book, Dissent: The Radicalization of the Republican Party and Its Capture of the Court, is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Dissent-Radicalization-Republican-Party-Capture/dp/1538700794
Follow Jackie on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jackiekcalmes?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Jul 30, 2021 • 31min
Is Bipartisanship... Back? Infrastructure, Jan. 6 Commission, Voting Rights; Trump Loses in TX
After 6 months, President Biden did what Trump couldn't do in 4 years -- got an infrastructure bill through the Senate. A large bipartisan majority coming together for substantive change? What is going on? Alex and Joe unpack the progress made -- and not made -- to make big strides on infrastructure.
Plus, Nancy Pelosi stopped the Jan. 6 commission from turning into a Jim Jordan-imbued circus, but the Republicans did their best to sink it. What will come of this investigation, and will it move the needle for voters?
And will Joe Manchin finally backing voting rights measures mean it can get through the Senate?
Also, a look at a TX state-wide election that Trump endorsed and lost.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Jul 23, 2021 • 39min
Trygve Olson on 7 Rules for Defeating Autocracy
Political risk... What is it? World-renowned defender of democracy Trygve Olson joins Joe this week to discuss his ideas on the risks of economic fallout faced by political action. In this episode, Joe and Trygve lay out the bigger implications we face if the U.S. doesn't denounce and fight the autocratic movement from the right. Trygve explains the American "fraud democracy" in comparison to other historically authoritarian governments and how ultimately, this could lead to our economic and political downfall. To stop the collapse of our democratic system, Joe warns that citizens, Washington, and corporate America can't get comfortable with this being the "new normal." As Trygve states, engagement is required to be part of the solution.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Jul 16, 2021 • 32min
Pres. Biden Calls Out The Autocrats (Finally!), Texas Protests and John Lewis, Why This All Matters
Joe Biden called it. Democracy vs. autocracy. Sound familiar? Now it's on all of us to keep spreading the word. Joe and Alex talk about Biden's Philadelphia speech ("Have you no shame?") and how it reset the battlefield for everything we've been fighting for. Then they hit on the latest in Texas and the heroic protest staged by Democratic lawmakers, why the corporate pressure campaigns are so critical, and your role to play in this fight.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-trippi-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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