Republican Party

Rick Wilson calls out the craven political opportunism of the GOP as they immediately focused on how they could benefit from Hamas' attack on Israel, including using it to defund Ukraine and hand it to Putin.

Just how badly is the House's insanity wounding the GOP?

The media appears to finally be coming around to understanding that this is no normal election and the GOP is far from a normal political party, explains special guest Sen. Doug Jones.

Stuart and Simon discuss how wildly out of step the GOP is with younger voters and the majority of Americans on cultural issues.

Stuart Stevens writes that the Ukraine aid "vote is being celebrated as a 'bipartisan' success, a description that obscures the reality that a majority of the Republicans voted as Vladimir Putin would have voted. Today, Bernie Sanders is to the right of the majority of Republicans on Russia. That is extraordinary. How did this happen?"

Conservatives in America are not typically known as lovers of environmental advocacy. Well, our guest bucks that trend. Benji Backer, an environmental advocate and author of "The Conservative Environmentalist" joins Rick to discuss the urgent need for practical and innovative solutions to environmental challenges, critiquing both extreme denial and radical approaches currently dividing the political landscape. Backer emphasizes a historical bipartisan approach to environmental issues and proposes a balanced pathway that leverages American ingenuity and respects local knowledge.

Simon Rosenberg dives into the latest 2024 election polls showing Biden's lead, updates on the GOP primary voting, internal GOP opposition to Trump, the Maryland Senate race, and fundraising efforts for Democratic candidates.

Joe and Alex are joined by former Congressman Scott Klug, host of the "Lost in the Middle" podcast. Scott's exploring the stories of Americans who are "lost" in the polarization today -- how does he see the fever breaking? What are the solutions he's found from Americans' stories? And we can't let him go without a Wisconsin preview - how does Scott see the state playing out in 2024?

What were Paul Manafort's connections with Russian interests during the 2016 election interference again? Discover why those connections matter & the potential implications of his possible reunion with the GOP & Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention, as examined by Brian Daitzman.

Barbara Comstock is a former GOP Congresswoman and longtime RNC veteran. We were excited to have her on the show to discuss the dramatic shifts within the Republican Party and the repercussions of its current trajectory. Together, Barbara and Rick discuss the challenges posed by aligning the party too closely with Trump, the impact on election integrity, and the future of the party. Comstock shares insights from her work on bipartisan efforts to combat election denialism, underscoring the conversation with reflections on the importance of democracy and the need for an inclusive political environment.

Robert McElvaine highlights the stark contrast between President Biden's SOTU and the opposition party's response and ambitions, “'Take America Back' means take the nation back from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, non-“Christians,” and so on. Back to the days when the United States was 'a white man’s country.' Back to before the revolutionary changes that took off in 1964.as well as the GOP's dangerous alignment with authoritarianism."

The Hur debacle, Britt's bad night, Ken Buck's ducking out, the RNC as Trump piggy bank - What does it mean for GOP congressional races that Trump is going to gobble up all the cash? Rick, Joe, and special guest David Pepper covered all that and much more!

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson stepped up to challenge Trump in the GOP primary and today he joins Rick to share his unique perspective on the state of the Republican Party, emphasizing the importance of returning to its traditional values of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and integrity. The discussion explores the challenges and strategies for reviving these core principles in today's insane political climate. The two also discuss the implications of Trump's potential re-election on the party's future, the importance of standing with allies, and the critical need for a Republican Party that actually solves problems.

Jonathan Martin, Senior Political Columnist at Politico, joins Rick for a pointed conversation on the state of American politics. They dive into the legacy of Mitch McConnell and the future of Senate leadership, analyzing potential successors, the potential for the Senate to devolve into MAGA further, and the evolving dynamics within the Republican Party.

This week on The Enemies List, Rick rants on the Michigan republican primary and its implications for the GOP, spotlighting Trump's failure to solidify the Republican base and the notable dissatisfaction among Republican voters. He calls out CPAC for embracing extremist elements (including neo-Nazis), arguing it has lost significance and has become part of the extreme MAGA ecosystem. He dissects Trump's CPAC speech, casting it as a harbinger of divisive and revenge-driven politics. The episode raises concerns about threats to democracy, the rule of law, and the influence of nationalistic rhetoric.

Turns out when most of your money is going to pay legal fees, people don't like to donate to your campaign. Joe gets into why Republicans have a huge hard money problem right now. Plus who's his pick in the Trump veepstakes? And why Alexei Navalny's final words are a lesson to everyone in the pro-democracy movement.

Rick Wilson goes deep on how the Republican Party can thank the financial and political troubles plaguing Donald Trump and the party for the rapid decline of the MAGA GOP, and it's only getting worse.

Rick is joined by former RNC Chairman, Michael Steele. And what a week for this conversation after "a tumultuous week for the Republican Party." Rick and Michael talk about the minefield Mike Johnson is tiptoeing through, the party's stance on immigration, the GOP's approach to Ukraine, and the resignation of Ronna McDaniel as party chair.

Joe explains why walking away from Ukraine is an invitation to Putin to continue with criminal invasions of other nations.

Tom joined the Strategy Session to discuss the geopolitical danger that the GOP has become and why they now are what they are.

Gone from the GOP are compassionate conservatism and dignified leadership, replaced by populist nationalism, marked by malice and division. On this episode, Rick is joined by writer and former speechwriter for the administrations of three Republican U.S. presidents, Peter Wehner. Together they engage in a deep discussion about the significant ideological and moral shifts within the Republican Party, particularly under Trump's influence.

Special guest Tom Nichols, Atlantic staff writer, author, and self-described "Curmudgeon. Cat guy. Democracy enthusiast, defender of experts," joined the Strategy Session for an essential conversation on the GOP, Trump, and Putin - and what that toxic brew means for the future of Ukraine, liberal democracies, and the risk of WWIII.

The GOP's shift to pro-Putin and its embrace of authoritarianism is undeniable. To discuss, former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton joins Rick. They explore the Republican Party's transformation, the Ambassador's insights into US foreign policy, NATO, and his concerns about Ukraine's security and the potential outcomes of a second Trump term.