Taking on the Lawless and Disordered President

Rick, Joe, and Stuart are joined by election law attorney Mario Nicolais. Mario was one of the Colorado attorneys who took the battle to keep insurrectionist Donald Trump off the ballot to their Supreme Court. Mario, Joe, Rick, and Stuart talk about the legal battles attempting to hold Trump in check - how successful they are so far and if they can constrain the authoritarian Trump.

Today Rick details the chilling effect of ABC's capitulation in a lawsuit brought by Trump, examining its dangerous implications for press freedom and journalism in America. He warns that this decision sets a precedent, emboldening Trump and others to intimidate media outlets into silence through lawsuits, threats, and governmental pressure. He explores how corporate interests, fear of retaliation, and the erosion of trust in the media are undermining the free press—a cornerstone of democracy.

Yale Economist and Leadership Expert Jeffrey Sonnenfeld demystifies the mirage of Trump as a business and family empire. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Follow Jeffrey on X at http://twitter.com/JeffSonnenfeld Follow Rick Wilson on X at http://www.twitter.com/TheRickWilson and subscribe to his substack at https://therickwilson.substack.com. Join the fight with Lincoln Project at http://www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at http://www.twitter.com/ProjectLincoln.

It's the home stretch, and something we haven't touched on enough is Trump's love affair with Tariffs. In this episode Rick sits down with Edward Goldberg, an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and expert on political economy and trade. Together, they explore the dangers of Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and the broader risks of economic isolationism. Goldberg draws historical parallels, such as China’s decision to burn its fleet in 1433 and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1929, to demonstrate the economic consequences of shutting down global trade. They also discuss the misconceptions around globalization, its connection to job loss, and the vital role of immigration and open trade in driving American innovation and prosperity. And to cap things off, Rick rants about the horror show at Madison Square Garden.

The first part of Chapter 10 introduces the fictional character Dr. Joy Brewer, a dedicated researcher focused on studying cancer clusters affecting Black Americans. Joy learns from her colleague, Dr. Matthias Kunz, that all federal grants linked to race or gender are being canceled, jeopardizing her life’s work. Despite her attempts to advocate for her essential research, the political climate forces her into a corner where she must reconsider her direction. This part of the chapter closes with Joy’s resolute decision to remain true to her mission, suggesting a significant personal and professional loss amidst the disaster of Trump and his ideological allies. In the second part of chapter, the fictional Webster "Web" Powers, addresses a packed ballroom in Washington, D.C., on a day he considers pivotal for his political ambitions. Web, who has transformed from a simple condo salesman into a powerful figure opposing what he sees as “woke” ideologies in education and government, relishes the fear among his audience—representatives from universities and research institutions. He recalls how his concerns about a lack of patriotic historical education for his children led him on a crusade to eliminate anti-American content from schools, which in turn propelled him into politics. After achieving success in Florida by banning critical race theory and related concepts from education, he is ready to extend his efforts nationally. During his speech, he unveils plans to remove references to race, gender identities, and diversity from federal policies and grants, branding the funding of such initiatives as “racism.” His announcement indicates that billions in federal research funds supporting various racial and gender-focused studies will now be terminated, causing dread among established academics who relied on these grants. Web takes pleasure in exerting control, sensing that his audience, once dismissive towards him, is now subservient to his newfound authority. Ultimately, both narratives illustrate what happens when a Trump second term guided by Project 2025 destroys the lives and work of dedicated individuals committed to social justice and scientific integrity. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Danai Gurira and Joel Hurt Jones who read the chapter and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser and Marilys Ernst. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.