Recent years have shown a steady decline in the strength of our democracy. In this episode, Rick welcomes Bob Bauer, a seasoned Washington operative and former White House counsel, to discuss his new book, "The Unraveling: Reflections on Politics Without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis." Bauer shares insights on the ethical and institutional challenges facing American democracy, contrasting the current political climate with the Watergate era. The conversation delves into the critical role of the White House counsel, the dangers of an overpowered presidency, and the corrosive impact of disinformation and treating political opponents as enemies.
Eighty years ago, members of the Greatest Generation raised the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima in defense of freedom and democracy. Today, the test of our times is a battle against fascism and in defense of democracy on our own soil. Everything is at stake and, this time, winning is on us.
As Trump continues his war on the media, our guest, journalist and media expert Mark Jacob says this might actually be an opportunity for journalists and outlets to regain their independence from the tyranny of ACCESS. Could these attacks actually make journalism stronger? Catch up now as Mark, Rick, and Joe discuss what the media has to do - and what we all have to do when they don't do their job of holding power accountable.
Another crazy week of the Trump administration is in the books. Why Joe thinks Trump's Ukraine "negotiations" are one of the most incompetent things he's ever seen... which is saying something. Why Alex thinks this is just another long-term problem the Republican Party faces post Trump. Plus - Joe's take on what Democrats can rally around, right now - and his unique idea to unite the Trump opposition sooner rather than later.
Evelyn Quartz writes: "The ACA fight proved that Americans want progress. They took an imperfect system and fought for it because the alternative was too horrible. It only worked because ordinary Americans refused to let it be taken away."
Is the world on the brink of permanent instability? In this episode Rick Wilson sits down with renowned author and geopolitical analyst Robert D. Kaplan to discuss his latest book, Wasteland: A World in Permanent Crisis. Together, they explore the challenges of our increasingly interconnected and unstable world, from the decline of great powers and the erosion of democracy to the disruptive forces of AI and automation. Kaplan offers a sobering comparison to the Weimar Republic and stresses the urgent need to rediscover the principles of historic liberalism in the face of rising global disorder.
