It can feel at times like there's nothing we don't know about Trump. However, there are still a few select people who seem to be able to uncover more and more, giving us critical insight into the former President. In this episode, Rick interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner about their new book, Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success. They delve into Trump’s long-standing strategy of creating an illusion of wealth, his reliance on tax loopholes, and how he used his father's empire to prop up his failing ventures. The conversation also touches on Trump's role in the USFL's downfall, his relationship with banks, and the lasting impact of The Apprentice on his public image.
Susanne and Russ' book, Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, available now.
Politics is a battlefield, and right now, Democrats are struggling to break free from the traps set by Republicans. In this episode Rick Wilson sits with Democratic strategist Joel Payne to discuss the current political landscape and the challenges facing the Democratic Party. They break down the Republican Party’s attempts to box Democrats in on spending bills, the broader cultural and messaging battles, and how Democrats can better connect with voters by focusing on real-world concerns rather than policy jargon. Payne offers insight on the evolving political spectrum, the need for Democrats to fight smarter, and how Trump’s chaos-driven approach presents both challenges and opportunities
Are we buying Putin's latest con job? Why Joe and Alex think the proposed "ceasefire" in Ukraine might be broken before it's even agreed to. And returning home, Joe and Alex finish their look at the state of our union. What's going on with the economy - and why has Trump seemingly already broken one of his signature promises? How much pain are Trump supporters willing to take? And Joe lays out what Democrats can fight for - rather than just rolling over.
As the stock market tumbled and Trump’s approval ratings continued to drop the folks on Fox cherry-picked biased polls, mislead their viewers about tariffs, repeated the president’s lies about immigration and demonized Democrats.
The Oligarchs are in the White House with their Teslas parked out on the front lawn. But this didn’t just happen. What seems like sheer chaos is the result of a four-decades-long systematic plan to dismantle our democracy. It is the greatest transfer of wealth and power in world history, and the billionaires convinced half of us that it was done on our behalf. Anne Nelson, author of “Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right,” joined Maya to break down how it all happened - and what the hell we can do about it because you didn't vote for this!
What really fueled Donald Trump’s 2024 comeback? In this episode Rick sits with journalist and author Alex Isenstadt to discuss his new book, Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power. They dive into Trump's campaign strategy, his ability to harness cultural resentment, and the political maneuvers that secured his victory. From his outreach to young male voters through podcasts to the decisive role of figures like JD Vance and Elon Musk, Isenstadt provides an insider's perspective on how Trump reshaped his movement. They also explore the psychological impact of the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and how it further galvanized his supporters.
