"They did their own research"

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

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.

One of the first pieces Resolute Square published was this by Dr. Jen Mercieca in Dec. 2022. It's essential reading today with Trump poised to return to the White House because right-wing framing is dangerous to democracy - and it's becoming more intense.

We begin this episode with a quick note of appreciation from Rick, to you and everyone who has supported in this fight. From there Rick sits down with New York Times bestselling author Michael Tackett to discuss his new book, The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party. Tackett unpacks McConnell's transformation from a pragmatic politician to a key architect of modern conservatism, his mastery of Senate rules, and his role in reshaping the judiciary. The conversation explores McConnell's relationship with Trump, his controversial post-January 6 decisions, and the enduring impact of his leadership. Michael's book, The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party, available now.

Stuart Stevens writes: "Pain is the only teacher in politics, and the Republican Trump party must be defeated again and again, up and down the ballot, until finally, a sense of self-preservation will drive it to change."