Mayor John Giles – A Never-Trump Republican Speaks Out

In the last show of 2024, Joe and Alex discuss a possible war with... checks notes... Greenland? Panama? It's just another day in the world of Trump. Why Joe thinks it's all governing by rally - and why it shows that the Trump coalition is still more fragile than many understand. Is Joe Manchin right? Is the Democratic brand toxic? Finally: What are Joe and Alex's bold predictions for 2025 and 2026 (and beyond?) Happy New Year everyone - see you in 2025!

Fellow straight-shooter Ron Filipkowski – the Editor-in-Chief of MeidasTouch – and host Rick Wilson huddle up to speak some hard truths to the Democrats. Instead of their typical infighting, bickering, and turning on one another, the Democrats need to take a page from the old-school Republican playbook: hold the line, stand united as one, and channel all of that wasted energy toward the real enemy. Be sure to check out Ron’s latest article on Substack here: https://www.meidasplus.com/p/the-one-big-reason-why-dems-are-losing?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Follow Ron Filipkowski on X at @RonFilipkowski and subscribe to his Substack at https://substack.com/@ronfilipkowski. Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X or at https://bsky.app/profile/therickwilson.bsky.social at Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.

Al From writes, "I never want a president — even Trump — to fail. But I don’t want a president to fail the country, either. "

Yeah, hate and Donald Trump won. Hope and Kamala Harris lost, but that's not the end of America's story. It’s time to get to work earning the hearts, heads and trust of Gen Z by talking to them now - not just before the next election. The good news? It was a perception election we have the power to shift those perceptions. Maya's guest Victor Shi has a lot of good news and hope that you won't want to miss!

Is democracy in decline? Clearly. In this episode Rick sits down with Emily Amick, co-author of Democracy in Retrograde, to discuss the challenges facing American democracy and how to reclaim civic engagement in the age of polarization and outrage. They explore the rise of minority rule, the impact of social media on public discourse, and the erosion of community ties. Emily shares actionable insights from her book, including how individuals can create sustainable civic action plans and rebuild connections to strengthen democracy. Emily's book, Democracy in Retrograde, available now.