The Latest

Rick talks to Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles – a never-Trump Republican – at the DNC. They discuss the importance of country over party, the need for our political leaders to have character and a commitment to the Constitution, as well as the ongoing legacy of John McCain. Follow Mayor Giles on X @MayorGiles

Rick Wilson checks in from the DNC in Chicago and brings you his interview with Stephen Ukaki about his film, 'Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy.’ Their discussion explores the ways in which evangelical activism and religious manipulation have shaped the political landscape and caused the emergence of Christian Nationalism, a dangerous bastardization of the Gospels that helped Donald Trump win the election in 2016 and, if left unchecked, could help him win this year as well. Follow Stephen Ujaki on X @StephenUjaki, watch his film – ‘Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy’ – on fine streaming platforms everywhere, learn more about the film or arrange a screening at www.badfaithdocumentary.com.

Andra Watkins writes, "While I’m more hopeful than ever about our prospects in November, electing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is only one victorious battle in this war."

Rick gives us a solo episode from the Democratic National Convention where he centers us on what we need to know and why it matters.

Kamala Harris is a copycat of Trump but also a communist. Will Cain tried to pretend Trump came up with the Child Tax Credit. Greg Gutfeld exaggerated Tim Walz’s DUI arrest from 1996. There was a Casserole Controversy! Trump advisor and Project 2025 author made up a bunch of nonsense about Black and Latino Americans. Tammy Bruce encouraged Joe Biden to turn into Dark Brandon at the DNC and Stuart Varney went rogue - Democrats are good for the stock market.

America is infected with a fascist streak that imperils our way of life. In today's episode Rick is joined by Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works and the upcoming book Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future. They delve into the troubling rise of authoritarianism in the United States, discussing how revisionist history and the manipulation of education are being used to consolidate power. The conversation explores the dangers of erasing marginalized perspectives, the role of tech and media in spreading disinformation, and the ongoing struggle to preserve democratic values in the face of rising fascist tendencies.

We're at the point where the avalanche of good polls for Kamala Harris are just impossible to ignore. What should we really be paying attention to? Joe has his eye on a few of the more eye-popping numbers out there - and why they're real. Plus - Trump's back on Twitter. Why we aren't exactly shaking in our boots after another "perfect" conversation. And what should we be looking for at the Democratic convention next week? Plus - if you're sick of all the BS on Twitter... Sez.us is coming. Check it out and sign up now.

Deanne Stillman writes, "The possibility of now having Tim Walz as Vice President turns the 'white guy as ignorant yahoo/shaman' upside down."

Stuart Stevens writes, "When you begin to grasp the complexity and difficulty of building and executing a presidential campaign, it makes the achievement of the Harris campaign all the more impressive."

Rick dives deep with Brian Tyler Cohen about his explosive new book, "Shameless: Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy." Together, they unpack the glaring hypocrisy between the GOP’s ‘patriotic’ talk and their counterintuitive actions, while also stressing the urgent need for Democrats to stay focused and secure the necessary votes to preserve democracy.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo writes, "JD Vance says he wants to destroy America’s Constitution while rounding up its citizens and hoping the world can believe his lies long enough for Donald Trump to become the country’s first King".

So how did Trump maintain a stranglehold on the Republican party after his first term? What happened at Mar-a-Lago and what can we learn that we don't already know? In this episode Rick sits with Meridith McGraw, a national political correspondent for Politico and author of the new book "Trump in Exile." They delve into McGraw's comprehensive reporting on Donald Trump's activities and influence during his time at Mar-a-Lago following his departure from the White House. The discussion covers Trump's legal challenges, his interactions with key political figures like Kevin McCarthy, and the strategic moves that bolstered his position within the Republican Party. McGraw also shares insights on the internal dynamics of Trump's team and his rivalry with Ron DeSantis. Meridith's book, Trump in Exile, available now.

The folks at Fox News are still freaking out that Kamala Harris is starting to beat Trump in some polls. Last week was “Let’s Swift Boat Tim Walz” week as multiple Fox News hosts accused the Minnesota Governor of stolen valor even though he served in the National Guard for 24 years. Brian Kilmeade invented Chinese conspiracy theories. Jesse Watters tried to force his Black co-host to wear a “White Dudes for Harris” cap. Laura Ingraham attacked Tim Walz for being an assistant coach. Judge Jeanine Pirro made up crime stats and a Fox guest went rogue.

Rick, Stuart, Joe, and special guest Simon Rosenberg are handing out the hopium! The Harris-Walz ticket is blazing hot, but what does that mean for down-ballot races? And are we actually talking about Texas and Florida? Oh my, yes we are!

Rick speaks with hostage negotiator Mickey Bergman on what it takes to bring wrongly-detained Americans home from Russia and other hostile actors.

Mattie Timmer writes, "Armed only with normalcy, approachability and some hearty, genuine laughter, the Harris candidacy has camo caps trending and red hats, well, not."

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.

Mark Jacob writes: "Journalists need to stop inviting politicians on their programs if they refuse to answer questions. Otherwise it’s not news – it’s just a game of dodgeball."

Steven Beschloss writes: "I will never get over July 16, 2018, the day that Donald Trump betrayed America and sided with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Helsinki."