The Latest

There is a shift taking place amongst black male voters in America. In today's episode, Rick speaks with Leah Wright Rigueur, assistant professor of public policy at the Kennedy School of Government and author of "The Loneliness of the Black Republican." They jump into the current state of the 2024 election, discussing the widespread frustration with the repeat matchup of 2020 candidates and the underlying racial dynamics influencing political behaviors. Leah offers insights into the slow migration of Black men to the Republican Party, the erosion of democratic principles, and the troubling rise of grievance politics. The conversation also touches on the potential implications of having a convicted felon on the presidential ballot and the ongoing struggle for true democratic accountability in the United States.

A demented, fascist, malignant narcissist and a normal old guy walk onto a debate stage...no, it's not the beginning of a joke, it's this Thursday night's debate. Dr. John Gartner and Stuart Stevens talk with Resolute Square's Lisa Senecal about what to expect when Dementia Don and Good Ole Joe meet on the debate stage. It's a preview not to be missed!

On the two-year anniversary of the historic Dobbs Decision, guest Ryan Hamilton shares the experience he and his wife had, which Republicans continue to claim doesn’t exist: abortion laws endangering the life of a mother. Talking with host Rick Wilson, Ryan relays the harrowing experience of he and his wife losing their baby and the life-threatening circumstances they had to endure in the aftermath of archaic laws in Texas. You don’t want to miss this one.

David Pepper: Despite the strong majorities of Americans supporting reproductive freedom, abortion is generally banned in red, gerrymandered states—because the gerrymandering keeps those states from being representative democracies in the first place. They can pass unpopular laws and still face no accountability, so they do—keeping the far right happy.

What happens when your PR job is to represent clients including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar? Well, for one thing, a great many wild stories. In this episode, Rick welcomes Phil Elwood, the author of "All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians." Phil shares astonishing tales from his career in public affairs, detailing his work with notorious figures such as the Gaddafi family and Assad, and so many more. From orchestrating media strategies in high-stakes environments to confronting his own moral dilemmas, Phil's journey is both fascinating and eye-opening. Phil's book, "All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians," available now.

Joe and Alex discuss the latest from the Sunshine State... why Florida might be closer than people realize. And what does that mean nationally? We zoom out and look at that new Fox News poll that has some VERY encouraging numbers under the hood. Turns out 34 felony convictions isn't actually a good thing... And what does Joe think President Biden has to do to win the debate next week? It all comes down to one word...

What will our national religion be? Christian Nationalism survivor Andra Watkins writes that what "Christianity" would mean in a Christo-fascist nation would mean is not as obvious as one might think.

Brian looks at Biden's mental ability and his coping mechanisms for his stutter, compared Trump's erratic behavior and memory lapses raise concerns about his cognitive decline.

In Part 2 of Teri Kanefield's "Criminal Law" series, she picks apart the history of criminal laws, tapping into how they came to be, and how differently criminal law has been applied to different groups of people.

Amee Vanderpool writes, "The continued review, right before another major election, has also reminded the American electorate of the important adage that should be applied particularly to this case given the many lengthy inquiries, which is 'where there is smoke, there is fire.'"

The steady decline of traditional media seems a near certainty. In this podcast episode, Rick speaks with Margaret Talev, a journalist and head of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism, and Citizenship at Syracuse University. They discuss the evolving challenges in the news industry, including the decline of local news, the rise of misinformation on social media, and the growing distrust in media, particularly among conservatives. Talev emphasizes the importance of reliable news sources for a healthy democracy and describes efforts to rebuild local news and civic engagement. She also shares insights from focus groups and polling on voter behavior and media consumption, highlighting the impact of media sources on public perceptions and polarization.

Today on The Enemies List, Rick reads a particularly spicy post from his Substack.

Hunter Biden was found guilty of three felony gun charges and everyone on Fox News lost their ever loving minds over it. Judge Jeanine and several other hosts decided that First Lady Jill Biden was intimidating the jurors when she showed up at her stepson’s trial. Juan Williams pointed out the obvious that Americans are rarely charged for lying on gun forms. Jesse Watters and Charlie Hurt made things up about undocumented immigrants voting. Greg Gutfeld laid track for the next Big Lie where Trump will claim he won the 2024 election no matter what the outcome. Judge Jeanine also seemed to think Biden was president in 2018 and Ainsley Earhardt predicted Michelle Obama would run for president.

The first debate is a little over a week away, and it’s got everyone on all sides a bit…nervous. Simon Rosenberg joins Rick, Stuart, and Joe to do a little debate prep. Plus, prison is about to get a lot…sweatier. Will Stevie "Two Shirts" Bannon be allowed to wear two jumpsuits? What really matters is that he and others are starting to face accountability for their crimes. Will that move the dial for democrats? Simon is full of hope - and so is...Rick?? It's true! Catch up now.

In this episode, host Rick Wilson and CNN Pundit and former Daily Beast editor John Avlon discuss John's campaign as a common sense Democrat in New York's first district, the frustrations around affordability, the need to rebuild the middle class, and the importance of reaching out to Republicans. John also emphasizes the stakes of the race and the need for a broad patriotic coalition to defend American democracy. Follow John Avlon at @JohnAvlon on X and support his campaign at johnavlon.com.

In this week's Campaign Memo, Stuart Stevens writes of his decades of experience prepping candidates for debates, "Over the years, I’ve developed strong opinions on debates, how to prep, and how to win."

Navigating what it means to be Jewish in today's world is a nuanced conversation. In this episode Rick speaks with Noah Feldman, the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard University. The conversation dives into Feldman's latest book, "To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People." They discuss the evolving perspectives within the Jewish community, the challenges facing Israel, and the complex relationship between American Jews and Israel. Additionally, Feldman offers insights into the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, the impact of recent rulings, and the future of constitutional law in an era of political polarization. Noah's new book, "To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People," available now.

Host Rick Wilson has a come-to-Jesus moment with the campaigns and politicians who stand in opposition to Donald Trump. The lesson? Get on message.

Another big warning sign for Trump and MAGA after a massive underperformance in Ohio. Why Sherrod Brown has to be optimistic after a 20 point decline for Republicans... in Trump country, no less. How should Democrats message the Hunter Biden verdict? Joe thinks it's simpler than everyone is making it. And with more good news on the economy - will President Biden's performance start catching up to battleground Senate candidates? And Joe gets his crystal ball back out to answer a few listener questions.