305: The Canary in the Coal Mine with Halie Soifer
Host Reed Galen is joined by Halie Soifer, the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America to discuss the latest in the Israel/Hamas War, how to defend against the rising levels of antisemitism in the United States, and how the choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump has never been more clear. Plus, why antisemitism is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to the degradation of democr...
48m Dec 19, 2023
48m
304: Donald Trump is a Narcissistic Sociopath with George Conway
Host Reed Galen is joined by George Conway, a Lincoln Project Co-Founder, attorney, contributing columnist for the Washington Post, and Board President for the Society For the Rule of Law. They discuss the manipulative nature of Donald Trump, the latest with his numerous trials, and the tangible dangers of a second Trump term. Plus, how the GOP became the perfect vessel to embrace Donald Trump ...
45m Dec 14, 2023
45m
303: Four Years Ago We Began the Lincoln Project
Host Reed Galen is joined by fellow Lincoln Project Co-Founder Rick Wilson to look back on why we began the Lincoln Project four years ago, what we’ve witnessed in the four years since our launch, and where we go from here…in 2024 and beyond. To hear more from Rick Wilson, be sure to check out his Substack, listen to The Enemies List, and check out his books, Running Against the Devil & Everyth...
1hr 4m Dec 12, 2023
1hr 4m
302: Once Again, We Got Donald Trump
Host Reed Galen answers questions asked by the members of the Lincoln Project community about the GOP and its cognitive dissonance, the presidential field in the 2024 election, and why this election is a choice election. Plus, we got him again! For more from Reed Galen, be sure to subscribe to “The Home Front”. If you’d like to ask a question or share a comment with The Lincoln Project, send an...
19m Dec 07, 2023
19m
301: Stop Pretending Trump Plays By the Rules
Host Reed Galen is joined by Lincoln Project Senior Advisors Stuart Stevens and Joe Trippi to discuss where we currently stand as a nation, why our democracy continues to face an existential threat, and why the pro-democracy movement must remain laser-focused on 2024. Plus, our biggest worries…and what we’re most optimistic about. For more from Stuart Stevens, be sure to check out his new book,...
40m Dec 05, 2023
40m
300: Liar in a Crowded Theater with Jeff Kosseff
Host Reed Galen is joined by Jeff Kosseff, Author and Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Law in the United States Naval Academy’s Cyber Science Department. They discuss Jeff’s latest book, Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of Misinformation, which examines and defends legal protections for false speech. You can pick up LIAR IN A CROWDED THEATER wherever fine books are fo...
40m Nov 30, 2023
40m
299: When West Point Rugby Went to War with Martin Pengelly
Host Reed Galen is joined by Martin Pengelly, Author and Washington Breaking News Correspondent for Guardian US. They discuss Martin’s latest book, Brotherhood: When West Point Rugby Went to War, a story of American rugby and a story of the U.S. Army created through intimate portraits of men shaped by West Point’s motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” Plus, examining the U.S. Army as an organization i...
56m Nov 28, 2023
56m
298: Encore Presentation: The Stakes of Global Democracy with Aleksandra K. Wiśniewska
This episode was originally released on August 4, 2023. In this encore presentation, host Reed Galen is joined by the Political Scientist, Humanitarian Expert, and now member of the Polish Parliament, 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 militar...
53m Nov 22, 2023
53m
297: Network of Lies with Brian Stelter
Host Reed Galen is joined by Author and Journalist Brian Stelter to discuss the political media landscape, why the right-wing media ecosystem is so big and how it’s so effective in its messaging, and what really goes on behind the scenes at Fox News…especially during Donald Trump’s “Big Lie”. Plus, how does the media combat the flattening effect of cable news as a medium? Be sure to pick up Net...
47m Nov 21, 2023
47m
296: What Will Your Legacy Be?
Host Reed Galen answers questions asked by the members of the Lincoln Project community about the 2024 election, third party candidates, the Israel/Hamas conflict, Trump’s bevy of legal cases, and so much more. Plus, thoughts on Donald Trump’s “Vermin” speech and why the mission of the pro-democracy coalition is more important now than ever before. Be sure to read the New York Times article abo...
28m Nov 16, 2023
28m
295: The GOP Governs Through Fear with Ashley Ehasz
Host Reed Galen is joined by Ashley Ehasz, the Democrat running for the U.S. House to represent Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District. They discuss how being a combat veteran informs her approach to leadership, why Democrats are the party of national security, and how the GOP governs through fear and subterfuge. Plus, a look at Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional district and Ashley’s 2024 mat...
36m Nov 14, 2023
36m
294: How to Be Abe Lincoln with Jonathan Shapiro
Host Reed Galen is joined by Author, Television Writer/Producer, and Former Federal Prosecutor…Jonathan Shapiro. They discuss the life, mind, and leadership of our nation’s 16th president as well as the seven steps to being Abraham Lincoln as told through Shapiro’s newly released book, How to Be Abe Lincoln: Seven Steps to Leading a Legendary Life. The seven steps are laugh, improve, navigate, ...
38m Nov 09, 2023
38m
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