Democratic Party

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

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.

Political scientist, author, and entrepreneur Ian Bremmer -- who's also the founder and president of Eurasia Group and the founder of GZERO Media -- stops by to chat with Rick about how we're fucked, and why we're fucked. There is nothing like sitting down with a good ole expert friend at the beginning of a potential World War to discuss the American economy, AI, global politics, and the growing dangers inside and outside the U.S. democratic government. ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Follow Ian Bremmer at @ianbremmer on X & @ianbremmer.com on Bluesky Check out more of Ian's work at @eurasiagroup.net and @gzeromedia.com

Another crazy week of the Trump administration is in the books. Why Joe thinks Trump's Ukraine "negotiations" are one of the most incompetent things he's ever seen... which is saying something. Why Alex thinks this is just another long-term problem the Republican Party faces post Trump. Plus - Joe's take on what Democrats can rally around, right now - and his unique idea to unite the Trump opposition sooner rather than later.

Can Democrats win back rural and working-class voters before it’s too late? In this episode Rick Wilson sits down with Adam Frisch, former congressional candidate from Colorado, to discuss the state of the Democratic Party and its challenges in connecting with rural and working-class voters. Frisch shares insights from his campaign against Lauren Boebert, emphasizing the importance of dignity, economic messaging, and breaking through the Democratic Party’s institutional mindset. He also critiques the party’s communication strategies and highlights the need for candidate-led campaigns. Together, they explore the impact of Trump’s policies, the role of soft power, and the looming economic consequences that could shift voter sentiment in the coming months.

Al From writes, "The bottom line is this: we cannot expect voters to return us to national power as long as they have no confidence that the government will improve their lives."

Joe and Alex lead today's pod with some good news - but not for Trump! Why wins in Minnesota and Iowa are good signs as we gear up for Virginia and NJ this year - and for 2026. How can Democrats' message evolve? Why Joe views this as a long-term battle - and we can win it. What does Trump's freeze fiasco tell us about what's coming? Turns out, when you put the Project 2025 guys in charge... they try to implement Project 2025. And one radical idea Democrats might want to look to as a way to unify against Trump.

"When it comes to messaging, Democrats cannot be afraid to go big. Zoom out. Speak to people's emotions right now and propose concrete plans to improve their lives."

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.

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.

John Avlon joins Rick for a come-to-Jesus discussion about what Democrats got wrong in 2024. Follow John Avlon on X @JohnAvlon. Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. Join the fight with Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at @ProjectLincoln. And please subscribe, rate and review this podcast, thank you!

A live hour-long audience Q&A with Rick, Joe, and Stuart. Your burning questions answered!

Yevgeny Simkin joins us today to discuss how social media shaped this election. Did the propaganda train win them this election? Does whoever control the information control the nation? He's also here to help promote the new social media platform that looks to overtake X, and it's called Sez.us. Simkin and Joe explain the importance of this app and the features that places Sez.us miles ahead of X.

Last week on Fox News the 2024 election was reduced to a battle to win over one of the smallest voting demographics in the American electorate - Black men a group normally loyal to the Democratic Party. The network also ramped up fear of the emasculating left by pushing stories of trans female athletes and government programs that pay for gender affirming surgeries for prisoners. Kamala Harris was presented as an evil shrew while Tim Walz was an ineffective effeminate even though he’s been a highly successful politician since he flipped a Republican Congressional district blue and rose to the highest office in the state of Minnesota.

Rick Wilson sits down with Congressman Jared Moskowitz to unpack the performative politics dominating the Republican caucus, highlighting how spectacle often overshadows substance in today’s GOP, and how good it feels to make James Comer eat his words. They explore the impact of these theatrics on effective governance, especially during crises, and how misinformation fuels political grandstanding. Follow Jared Moskowitz on X at @JaredEMoskowitz or connect with him at moskowitz.house.gov. Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. Join the fight with Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X, subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com, and buy his books “Everything Trump Touches Dies: A Republican Strategist Gets Real About the Worst President Ever” and “Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump – and Democrats from Themselves” at fine bookstores everywhere.

We're four weeks out from election day but early voting is well underway in many states. Simon Rosenberg shed light on how the early vote is looking - learn why it's encouraging - and set the stakes for continuing to work more and worry less over the next month. Catch up now!

The Democratic party is changing. In this episode of The Enemies List, Rick speaks with historian Timothy Shenk about his new book, Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics? They explore the evolution of the Democratic Party, shifting from a working-class base to a more affluent, educated coalition, and the challenges that come with this transformation. Shenk delves into the party's struggle to reconnect with working-class voters and the rise of technocratic approaches in politics, while offering insights on how the party can adapt moving forward.