293: It Can Absolutely Happen Here with Will Bunch
Host Reed Galen is joined by Author and National Opinion Columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Will Bunch. They discuss how the far-right’s call for a “Red Caesar” means welcoming chaos and dictatorship with open arms, the media’s discomfort with directly covering MAGA’s autocratic actions, and why a failure of imagination continues to be one of the greatest dangers to our nation’s democracy...
37m Nov 07, 2023
37m
292: The Arsenal of Democracy with Daniel Barkhuff
Host Reed Galen is joined by Daniel Barkhuff, Former Navy SEAL and Founder of Veterans for Responsible Leadership to discuss the latest in the Middle East, why American leadership continues to be so crucial on the world stage, and why it would be so dangerous if our nation re-elected Donald Trump (or another authoritarian) in 2024. Plus, some tough love for Democrats…and what can an emergency r...
40m Nov 02, 2023
40m
291: Mitt Romney’s Reckoning with McKay Coppins
Host Reed Galen is joined by McKay Coppins, an Award-Winning Author and Staff Writer for The Atlantic. They discuss McKay’s latest book, Romney: A Reckoning (a biography of Mitt Romney), Romney’s opposition to Donald Trump, and how Romney ultimately became a pariah in the GOP. Plus, now that Mitt Romney has announced that he’s not seeking another term in the U.S. Senate, what can we expect from...
45m Oct 31, 2023
45m
290: The Conspiracy to End America with Stuart Stevens
Host Reed Galen is joined by Lincoln Project Senior Advisor Stuart Stevens to discuss the series of historical events that led the Republican party to being the autocratic party that it is today, the GOP’s current state of dysfunction (especially as exemplified by the recent Speaker race), and how Donald Trump instilled an ethos of victimhood in the modern-day Republican. Plus, why young people...
34m Oct 26, 2023
34m
289: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
Host Reed Galen is joined by Lincoln Project Senior Advisors Trygve Olson and Jeff Timmer. They discuss the current state of the Republican party (especially the House GOP who’s going on 3 weeks without a Speaker), the national security and foreign policy strength/leadership of President Joe Biden, and how to counter MAGA messaging targeted at Bannon-line voters. Plus, what recent news out of M...
35m Oct 24, 2023
35m
288: Donald Trump Handpicks Another Loser with Joe Walsh
Host Reed Galen is joined by Joe Walsh, Former Congressman and Director of Mission: Democracy, an organization whose mission is to educate Americans about the dangers posed by MAGA fascism and to encourage them to use democracy to help diminish MAGA influence. They discuss the latest with Jim Jordan’s bid for the speakership, the resultant dysfunction in the GOP, and the continual dangers of MA...
40m Oct 19, 2023
40m
287: Chaos is a Ladder for the GOP with Liam Ker
Host Reed Galen is joined by Liam Kerr, the Co-Founder of Welcome PAC, a Democratic-aligned PAC that applies insurgent tactics to support pro-democracy/center-left candidates in swing districts and also build a “big tent” Democratic party. They discuss the latest in the House Speaker race and the dysfunction around the GOP, why the labels of “moderate” and “centrist” often go hand-in-hand with ...
30m Oct 17, 2023
30m
286: The Three-Front War for Global Democracy
Host Reed Galen answers questions asked by the members of the Lincoln Project community about the recent Hamas attacks in Israel, upcoming elections (both 2023 and 2024), GOP infighting, and Donald Trump’s mountain of legal troubles. To hear more from Reed Galen, subscribe to his brand new Substack, The Home Front. If you’d like to ask a question or share a comment with The Lincoln Project, sen...
26m Oct 12, 2023
26m
285: Going Infinite with Michael Lewis
Host Reed Galen is joined by New York Times bestselling author Michael Lewis to discuss the rise of Sam Bankman-Fried, his (and his crypto exchange FTX’s) rise to prominence, and how it all unraveled. Plus, what seems to draw Americans to the likes of Sam Bankman-Fried, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump? For more on this topic be sure to pick up Michael Lewis’ latest book, Going Infinite: The Rise an...
31m Oct 10, 2023
31m
284: Brand Unsafe with Claire Atkin
Host Reed Galen is joined by Claire Atkin, Co-Founder of Check My Ads, an independent watchdog non-profit that's reshaping the digital ad-tech industry by cutting disinformation off from its lifeline…which is advertisements and money. They discuss the latest with the video platform Rumble and how a disturbing amount of toxic content/disinformation continues to be monetized (many times without t...
40m Oct 05, 2023
40m
283: The Identity Trap with Yascha Mounk
Host Reed Galen is joined by writer and academic Yascha Mounk for a wide-ranging and nuanced discussion on American identity and how it informs our society, our political discourse, and ultimately our small-d democratic future. Plus, what to expect in the upcoming Polish election. For more on this topic be sure to pick up Yascha Mounk’s latest book, The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power...
55m Oct 03, 2023
55m
282: The Moonstruck Moment with Michael Steele
Host Reed Galen is joined by Former Lt. Governor of Maryland and Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele. They discuss the field of 2024 GOP presidential candidates, the normative force of MAGA/right-wing media, and what to make of the impending government shutdown (and Kevin McCarthy’s catch-22). Plus, why our nation as a whole needs to re-embrace “E Pluribus Unum”...
38m Sep 28, 2023
38m
281: Sleeping with the Devil
Host Reed Galen is joined by fellow Lincoln Project Co-Founder Rick Wilson and Lincoln Project Senior Advisors Stuart Stevens and Joe Trippi to discuss why it's so important for Americans to understand what a good job President Joe Biden is doing, the real reason behind the GOP wanting to shut down the government, and what a recent poll out of New Hampshire could reveal about 2024. If you’d lik...
50m Sep 26, 2023
50m
280: Easy Money with Ben McKenzie
Host Reed Galen is joined by the television star turned crypto-critic…Ben McKenzie. They discuss the rise of cryptocurrency, who’s drawn to it, and why no one can seem to explain exactly what it is. Plus, a look at the fraud of Sam Bankman-Fried/FTX and other major players in the crypto-space…and how Donald Trump’s presidency/MAGA set the stage for cryptocurrency to take off in the way that it ...
52m Sep 21, 2023
52m
279: “I’m Here, and I’m Not Going Anywhere”
Host Reed Galen shares why The Lincoln Project is dedicating the month of September to ensuring that Americans across the country know just how good of a job that President Joe Biden is doing. For this moment in time, he’s exactly who is needed to lead the pro-democracy coalition. Plus, Donald Trump has nothing to offer the American people except for ugliness, division, and destruction. If you’...
15m Sep 19, 2023
15m
278: The Architecture of Dark Money with Heidi Przybyla
Host Reed Galen is joined by Heidi Przybyla, an award-winning National Investigative Correspondent for Politico. They get into her latest reporting on how the likes of Ginni Thomas and Leonard Leo gamed Citizens’ United and what dark money means for the MAGA movement as 2024 approaches…but first, what’s going on with Kevin McCarthy, his caucus, and the latest series of events in the GOP clown s...
25m Sep 14, 2023
25m
277: In the Window with Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Host Reed Galen is joined by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Author and Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. They discuss the role extremist groups play in a nation’s evolution to authoritarianism, how every Trump rally since 2015 has been a radicalization site, and how the history of strongmen can inform our nation’s current political moment. If you’d like to hear more from Ruth, c...
33m Sep 13, 2023
33m
276: Defeating the New Strain of MAGA with Simon Rosenberg
Host Reed Galen is joined by Simon Rosenberg, the Veteran Political Analyst, Strategist and Commentator. They discuss why it's so important for Democrats to continue spotlighting the accomplishments of President Joe Biden, why the current brand of the GOP is such a tough sell to the American people, and why Republicans continue to threaten a government shutdown when they’ve never ended well. Pl...
59m Sep 08, 2023
59m
275: A Sprinter Van and 77 Counties with Madison Horn
Host Reed Galen is joined by Madison Horn, a cybersecurity expert and former 2022 Democratic candidate for U.S Senate from Oklahoma. They discuss how her cybersecurity background has informed her politics, the dangerous power of misinformation/disinformation online, and why modern campaigns cannot treat rural voters like they commonly have in the past. If you’d like to connect with The Lincoln ...
35m Sep 06, 2023
35m
274: Encore Presentation: A Slow Civil War with Jeff Sharlet
This episode was originally released on April 12, 2023. In this encore presentation, host Reed Galen is joined by journalist and New York Times bestselling author, Jeff Sharlet. Jeff shares scenes from his travels across the United States which exemplify the convergence of MAGA, religion, militias, and fascism. The aftermath of Ashli Babbitt’s death, the “jokes'' from a men’s rights hotel room,...
52m Sep 01, 2023
52m
273: Elon Musk Hates His Reflection and Blames the Mirror with Imran Ahmed
Host Reed Galen is joined by Imran Ahmed, the Founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). They discuss the landscape of online hate and how it has exponentially grown in the last decade, the role of social media in the dangerous rise of misinformation/disinformation, and why it is so important for the fabric of our society to hold social media companies accountable for the...
51m Aug 30, 2023
51m
272: The Illusion of Last Night’s Debate
Host Reed Galen shares his thoughts on last night’s Republican Presidential Primary Debate and Donald Trump’s “counter-programming” on Twitter with Tucker Carlson. Plus, what do the events of last night mean for the 2024 election, and how should the pro-democracy coalition respond? If you’d like to connect with The Lincoln Project, send an email to podcast@lincolnproject.us. Learn more about yo...
15m Aug 24, 2023
15m
271: The Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation with Jon Ward
Host Reed Galen is joined by author and Senior Political Correspondent for Yahoo News. They discuss the rise of the American Evangelical movement, the types of people it attracts, and how it became so closely tied to Trumpism. To hear more from Jon Ward, be sure to check out his latest book (Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation), his podcast (The Long Game), and h...
40m Aug 23, 2023
40m
270: The GOP's Unpresidential Pledge
Host Reed Galen is joined by Lincoln Project Senior Advisor Stuart Stevens. They preview the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate slated for next week, examine the state of the GOP writ large (spoiler alert…it isn’t good), and discuss how Trumpism (and everyone that allows it to persist) is inarguably un-American. For more in-depth information be sure to check out the post-2012 RNC A...
51m Aug 18, 2023
51m
269: The Mythological Recession with Ron Insana
Host Reed Galen is joined by Ron Insana (Senior Analyst and Commentator at CNBC) to discuss the current state of the American economy, how remote-work and other post-pandemic variables have greatly affected the commercial real estate market, and how the economic policies of authoritarian states like China never seem to work. Plus, the wise words of Princess Leia. If you’d like to ask a question...
35m Aug 16, 2023
35m
268: Political Gravity’s Inevitable Pull with Judd Legum
Host Reed Galen is joined by Judd Legum, Founder and Author of the Popular Information newsletter. They discuss how those inside the Washington ecosystem don’t seem to be adequately alarmed that Donald Trump could return to office, how Ron DeSantis is influencing the Republican field despite his atrocious campaign, and how the changing dynamics between Democrats, Republicans, and corporations w...
37m Aug 11, 2023
37m
267: Is Post-Americanism the New Normal? (with Brad Thor)
Host Reed Galen is joined by New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor. They discuss Brad’s most recently published thriller, the competing forces with the Russian military ecosystem, the security threats of social media, and whether or not “post-americanism” is our nation’s new normal. If you’d like more from Brad Thor be sure to pick up his latest book, Dead Fall, and check out his website ...
30m Aug 09, 2023
30m
266: The Stakes of Global Democracy with Aleksandra K. Wiśniewska
Host Reed Galen is joined by the Political Scientist and Humanitarian Expert, Aleksandra K. Wiśniewska to discuss the importance of humanitarian aid on the international stage, her first-hand account of the current state of Ukraine (the people, the politics, and the military), and how Poland plays a crucial role as NATO’s eastern flank. Plus, what is the root cause of so many European nations m...
53m Aug 04, 2023
53m
265: Donald Trump: Thrice Indicted
In a special bonus episode, host Reed Galen gives you his thoughts on Donald Trump's third indictment. He discusses why this indictment should worry Trump much more than his previous two, what sort of response we can expect from the Republican party, and why it's never been more crucial for the pro-democracy coalition to decisively defeat Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. If you’d...
8m Aug 03, 2023
8m
264: The Game of Small Numbers
Host Reed Galen is joined by Lincoln Project Senior Advisor Joe Trippi to discuss the current state of the 2024 presidential election, why a decisive win for Joe Biden would deliver a devastating blow to Donald Trump and his movement, and why defending our nation's democracy is so crucial when it comes to defending democracy around the world. If you’d like to ask a question or share a comment w...
33m Aug 02, 2023
33m
263: No Labels, No Answers, No Democracy
Host Reed Galen is joined by the Lincoln Project’s Deputy Political Director, Philip Germain, to discuss the latest in the No Labels third-party-effort. They break down why the electoral math doesn’t work, how their recently published policy positions lack substance, and why a No Labels “Unity” ticket helps Donald Trump and hurts Joe Biden. Plus, are the true intentions of No Labels more nefari...
42m Jul 28, 2023
42m
262: The Absurdist in Chief with Jemima Kelly
Host Reed Galen is joined by Financial Times columnist Jemima Kelly to discuss the comedic value of Donald Trump, the Mar-a-Lago ecosystem, and why our nation still cannot look away from Donald Trump. Plus, a UK lens on the American political landscape. Be sure to check out the latest from Jemima Kelly at Financial Times. If you’d like to ask a question or share a comment with The Lincoln Proje...
32m Jul 26, 2023
32m
261: Blowback with Miles Taylor
Host Reed Galen is joined by Miles Taylor, a national security expert who previously served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They discuss Miles’ (sometimes horrific) experiences from inside the Trump administration at DHS, why he came out against the administration (first anonymously and then unmasked), and the ultimate blowback that followed once he left. Plus, wh...
59m Jul 21, 2023
59m
260: Samuel Adams, The Revolutionary with Stacy Schiff
Host Reed Galen is joined by Pulitzer Prize winning and New York Time bestselling author, Stacy Schiff to discuss the life of Founding Father Samuel Adams, his role in the American Revolution, and the legacy he leaves behind (despite his best efforts not to). Plus, what are the parallels between our nation's infancy and today. If you'd like more from Stacy Schiff, be sure to pick up her latest ...
47m Jul 19, 2023
47m
259: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America with Brendan Ballou
Host Reed Galen is joined by Brendan Ballou, a Federal Prosecutor who served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. They discuss the inner-workings of how private equity works, how it's reshaped American business (by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy), and how...
42m Jul 13, 2023
42m
258: The GOP’s Bet Against the American People
Host Reed Galen answers questions asked by the members of the Lincoln Project community about what to expect in the upcoming road to the 2024 presidential election, the state of the Biden administration, the long con of the GOP, and so much more. Plus…cocaine! If you’d like to ask a question or share a comment with The Lincoln Project, send an email to podcast@lincolnproject.us. Learn more abo...
26m Jul 12, 2023
26m
257: The Clown, The Spectacle, The Show
Host Reed Galen is joined by fellow Lincoln Project Co-Founder Rick Wilson to discuss the latest slew of Supreme Court decisions, the state of the 2024 GOP primary field, and why Donald Trump will continue to be the leader of the Republican Party (whether they like it or not). Plus, why nobody has any interest in “Diet Trump”. If you’d like to ask a question or share a comment with The Lincoln ...
37m Jul 07, 2023
37m
256: The GOP’s Mythical America with Joe Walsh
Host Reed Galen is joined by former U.S. Congressman, Presidential Candidate, and Radio Host, Joe Walsh. They discuss the threat that Donald Trump continues to pose to our nation’s democracy, the journey populism took to arrive at the forefront of the Republican Party, and the ever expanding field of presidential primary candidates (and the spoilers). Plus, the GOP’s mythical vision of America....
34m Jul 05, 2023
34m
255: The Russian Game of Thrones with John Sipher & Trygve Olson
Host Reed Galen is joined by Trygve Olson (Lincoln Project Senior Advisor) and John Sipher, a foreign policy and intelligence expert who served 28 years in the Central Intelligence Agency’s National Clandestine Service. They give their analysis on last weekend’s Wagner Rebellion including what it means for Putin, how it will impact the Ukrainians, and the response of the United States and NATO ...
42m Jun 30, 2023
42m
254: The Future of America’s Generations with Dr. Jean Twenge
Host Reed Galen is joined by Dr. Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University. They discuss the current state of the different generations in America, their differences, and what to expect from each generation in the future. Plus, how has each generation interpreted our nation’s ever-evolving outlook on family and community? If you’d like to ask a question or share a comme...
33m Jun 28, 2023
33m
253: The Least of Us with Sam Quinones - Part 2
Host Reed Galen is joined for a two-part conversation by Journalist and Author Sam Quinones. In “Part 2”, they discuss how corporations prey on addiction to legally market their products, how communities that have recovered from large scale drug addiction are rich in “new coal” as a resource, and how the opioid crisis touches so many other non-drug issues in American society. If you’d like to a...
29m Jun 23, 2023
29m
252: The Least of Us with Sam Quinones - Part 1
Host Reed Galen is joined for a two-part conversation by Journalist and Author Sam Quinones In “Part 1”, they discuss what led to the rise of synthetic drugs in the United States, why these drugs became so easily available (by both illegal and legal means), and how the destruction of community and an unwillingness to acknowledge the problem has led to the state of the present-day opioid crisis....
38m Jun 21, 2023
38m
251: Take Back the Flag with Amy McGrath & Daniel Barkhuff
Host Reed Galen is joined by Amy McGrath (retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Colonel, candidate for U.S. House and Senate in Kentucky, and Founder of Honor Bound, Inc.) and Daniel Barkhuff (ex-Navy SEAL and Founder of Veterans for Responsible Leadership) to discuss what responsible leadership looks like, why Donald Trump’s latest indictment is so serious with regards to national security, and what i...
43m Jun 16, 2023
43m
250: The GOP’s “Wile E. Coyote Moment” with David Rothkopf
Host Reed Galen is joined by David Rothkopf (Contributing Columnist for The Daily Beast and Host of Deep State Radio) to discuss the latest in Donald Trump’s SECOND indictment, the national security implications of the Mar-a-Lago documents case (and Trump’s actions in general), and what impact Trump’s indictments will have on the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the GOP field. Plus, the ...
35m Jun 14, 2023
35m
249: The Big Break with Ben Terris
Host Reed Galen is joined by Ben Terris, a writer for The Washington Post's Style section with a focus on national politics. They discuss the inside-the-beltway culture of Washington DC, how Donald Trump effected that culture when he entered the political stage, and how that culture in many ways has warped the belief of so many that have entered. Be sure to pick up Ben’s new book, The Big Break...
45m Jun 09, 2023
45m
248: Politics is Downstream of Culture
Host Reed Galen is joined by Lincoln Project Senior Advisor Trygve Olson to discuss the recent debt ceiling deal (and what it means for all parties involved), the GOP primary field and Donald Trump’s ever-increasing insanity, and how culture war issues continue to drive the Republican Party. Plus, a possible candidate for the best hole-in-the-wall bar in Wisconsin. If you’d like to connect with...
36m Jun 07, 2023
36m
247: Love is the Antidote to Fear and Hate with Elizabeth Neumann
Host Reed Galen is joined by Homeland and National Security Expert, Elizabeth Neumann. They discuss the exponential increase in domestic terrorism (why it increased and how it should effectively be addressed), why the way we communicate is so key to reducing political polarity, and what strategies offer the best chance of success when it comes to de-radicalization. If you’d like to keep up with...
49m Jun 02, 2023
49m
246: The MAGA Train Rolls in One Direction
Host Reed Galen shares his reaction to the past week of news and gives his thoughts on the debt ceiling, the GOP field for 2024, and the warped definition of masculinity that those like Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, and Tucker Carlson continue to push. Plus, questions from the audience about GOP extremism, the dangers of a third party, and how to prevent further weaponization of the debt ceiling. If y...
31m May 31, 2023
31m
245: Saving Democracy with David Pepper
Host Reed Galen is joined by David Pepper, the Former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party and author of the new book, Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American. They discuss how gerrymandering not only leads to manipulated representation, but also it leads to poor candidate quality, poor policy outcomes, and rewards extremism. Plus, once Americans understand the threat to their dem...
37m May 25, 2023
37m
244: We, Not I with Victor Shi
Host Reed Galen is joined by Victor Shi…a writer, speaker, organizer, and the youngest elected delegate for Joe Biden in 2020. They discuss the state of Gen-Z, what issues are important to them, and what it will take to keep them active and engaged between now and the 2024 elections. Plus, why trusted messengers (and the message itself) are so key when it comes to reaching Gen-Z. If you’d like ...
38m May 23, 2023
38m