The Lincoln Project

Trump decided to cosplay as something divine—and then picked a fight with the Pope. In this episode, Rick Wilson unpacks the sheer audacity and absurdity of Donald Trump elevating himself to messiah status while clashing with Pope Leo I. From ego-driven delusion to global embarrassment, this is what happens when performance politics collides with actual faith and authority. It’s chaotic, it’s surreal, and it’s another reminder that the line between spectacle and reality isn’t just blurred—it’s gone. A different kind of Holy War has begun. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to https://surfshark.com/lincolnproject and use code lincolnproject at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! #ad Visit https://quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

Bondi. Epstein. DOJ surveillance. Congress folding. This episode is a front-row seat to a system cracking in real time. Rick Wilson is joined by Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint to unpack the collapse of Pam Bondi — from her questionable moves inside the U.S. Department of Justice to her firing tied to the still-explosive Epstein files that just won’t disappear. They break down reports of DOJ surveillance on members of Congress inside a makeshift SCIF, why Bondi’s “burn book” flopped, and how fear, loyalty tests, and political pressure have turned Congress into a rubber stamp instead of a check on power. This is what it looks like when institutions bend—and who pays the price when they do. • • • • • You can find Rep. Becca Balint on X @RepBeccaB, on Bluesky @balint.house.gov, and on her Youtube @RepBeccaB. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Head to https://superpower.com and use code [LINCOLN] at checkout for $20 off your membership. After you sign up, they’ll ask how you heard about them, so make sure to mention this podcast to support the show. #ad Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at https://getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #ad Go to https://bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ to unlock 15% off + free shipping. #ad

Epstein isn’t going away—and thanks to Melania Trump’s bizarre press statement, it just hijacked the entire week. What was supposed to be about Iran and a ceasefire is now back to the one story that won’t die: Epstein, power, and the questions still hanging over Donald Trump. Rick Wilson breaks down the PR meltdown, the failed pivots, and why Epstein has become the permanent elephant in the room—because in 2026, this isn’t just a scandal anymore… it’s the whole damn story. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. For information regarding your voter registration, go to www.voteriders.org. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/lincolnproject. #ad Visit https://expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to four extra months. #ad #Trump #MelaniaTrump #Epstein #EpsteinFiles #TrumpEpstein #BreakingNews #Politics2026 #Iran #Ceasefire #NewsAnalysis #RickWilson #LincolnProject #PoliticalPodcast #USPolitics #Scandal #ViralNews #CurrentEvents #Media #Election2026 #EITR

Trump’s numbers are slipping. The GOP is fracturing. And James Carville is calling it exactly how he sees it. In this unfiltered conversation, Rick Wilson and Carville rip into the state of Trump’s campaign, the cracks forming inside MAGA, and why voter fatigue could reshape the 2026 election. If you’ve been wondering whether the chaos is real—it is. And it’s getting worse. • • • • • You can find James Carville on X @JamesCarville. Check out his podcast, 'Politics War Room' wherever you watch or listen. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go https://sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 or use code ‘LINCOLN50’ at checkout for 50% off your first order. #ad Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/lincolnproject. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. #ad #Trump #MAGA #GOP #RickWilson #JamesCarville #Election2026 #PoliticalChaos #TrumpCollapse #BreakingPolitics #USPolitics

Unlike the Survivors, Bondi couldn't survive Epstein. Pam Bondi is out—and the timing says everything. As the Epstein files resurface and pressure builds around Trump’s inner circle, the infamous “firing season” has officially begun. For this week's Elephant in the Room, Rick breaks down why Bondi got cut loose, what it signals about the escalating Epstein fallout, and how Trump’s pattern of loyalty tests and political purges is playing out in real time. This isn’t damage control—it’s survival mode. And if history tells us anything, Bondi is just the beginning. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #PamBondi #EpsteinFiles #BreakingNews #TrumpScandal #Epstein #PoliticalNews #Corruption #Accountability #USPolitics

Trump isn’t impulsive. He’s not “just winging it.” According to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his new book Trump's Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the Trump Leadership Toolbox, Donald Trump operates on a repeatable, deliberate playbook—ten core behaviors he’s used for decades. What looks like chaos is actually strategy. What feels like a meltdown is often the move itself. In this episode, Rick Wilson and Yale Business School Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld break down Trump’s pattern of power: the same tactics, the same outcomes, over and over again. Once you see the playbook, you can’t unsee it. • • • • • Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is on X at @JeffSonnenfeld, and his new book, ,’Trump's Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the Trump Leadership Toolbox,’ is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #TrumpStrategy #JeffreySonnenfeld #TrumpPlaybook #PoliticalAnalysis #LincolnProject #RickWilson #TrumpTactics #BreakingNews #USPolitics #Election2026 #Trump2026 #MAGA #PoliticalPodcast #NewsAnalysis #CurrentEvents #TrumpChaos #PoliticalStrategy

Trump. MAGA. The GOP. Voters are over it — and the receipts are stacking up. In this episode of The Elephant in the Room, Rick Wilson breaks down the 10 things voters hate most about Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and today’s Republican Party — from chaos and corruption to delusion, culture war burnout, and a campaign that feels completely out of touch with reality. This is the Elephant in the Room: Trump is losing independents, bleeding suburban voters, and failing the vibe check in 2026. If you want to understand why Trump’s support is cracking, why MAGA is struggling, and what it means for the election, this is the episode. P.S. Oh, and by the way, after this week's election, Trump's representative at Mar-a-Lago is Emily Gregory -- a Democrat and a woman. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #MAGA #GOP #DonaldTrump #Election2026 #Politics #LincolnProject #RickWilson #BreakingNews #PoliticalAnalysis #Voters #Democracy #Campaign2026 #TrumpNews #Republicans #USPolitics

Trump just fired Kristi Noem. Pam Bondi just got caught lying under oath. And now the panic inside Trump’s orbit is impossible to hide. Rick Wilson sits down with Congressman Jared Moskowitz to break down a White House running on fear, loyalty tests, and legal exposure. This isn’t spin — it’s the system cracking. Fast. Who gets thrown overboard next? Who flips when the pressure hits? And how close are we to the moment this whole thing turns? Inside this episode: • Noem’s firing and the loyalty purge inside Trumpworld • Bondi’s testimony and the perjury cloud getting darker • The unraveling of Trump’s inner circle Who’s next — and who flips first? • • • • • You can find Congressman Jared Moskowitz on X, @JaredEMoskowitz. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #PamBondi #KristiNoem #BreakingNews #Politics #MAGA #TrumpNews #Corruption #Accountability #JaredMoskowitz #RickWilson #LincolnProject #PoliticalScandal #USPolitics #election2026 Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #ad Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to four extra months. #ad

The Epstein story just snapped back into focus—and the timing couldn’t be more suspicious. This week, as headlines were dominated by a new war overseas, reports surfaced of three previously unseen interviews tied to one of Trump’s accusers—material that had never been publicly accounted for. Now they’re out, and the questions are stacking fast. Rick Wilson breaks down what’s known, what’s missing, and why this story keeps circling the same tight-knit network of power players who always seem to land on their feet. This isn’t just a scandal—it’s a pattern. Same names. Same circles. Same silence. And once again, the truth is trying to claw its way through. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. #Trump #DonaldTrump #Epstein #JeffreyEpstein #EpsteinFiles #EpsteinList #EpsteinCase #EpsteinScandal #TrumpEpstein #TrumpNews #TrumpScandal #BreakingNews #PoliticalScandal #CoverUp #EpsteinCoverUp #NewsUpdate #2026Politics #USPolitics #InvestigativeJournalism #Accountability #PowerAndCorruption #ElitePower #PoliticalCorruption #FollowTheMoney #ConnectTheDots #UnansweredQuestions #WhoKnewWhat #TimelineMatters #NewsAnalysis #RickWilson #LincolnProject #StayInformed Go to bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ to unlock 20% off sitewide + free shipping. #ad

Rick Wilson sits down with retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling to break down the rapidly escalating war with Iran under the Trump administration — from the growing threat to global shipping lanes to the shockwaves already hitting oil markets and regional stability. Drawing on decades of battlefield command, Hertling explains what real wartime leadership looks like, why lawful orders and military ethics matter, and how quickly reckless politics can collide with the brutal realities of modern warfare. Together, Rick and Hertling cut through the cable-news noise and Washington theatrics to talk about the hard truths of war, the responsibilities of command, and the kind of steady, serious leadership democracies need when the stakes are life and death. • • • • • You can find Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on X @MarkHertling. His new book, ‘If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal,” is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. #ad Head to www.superpower.com and use code [LINCOLN] at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod #ad Go to www.growtherapy.com/lincolnproject to find the right therapist for you. #ad Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to www.sundaysfordogs.com/LINCOLN50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code LINCOLN50 at checkout. #ad #Trump #IranWar #MiddleEastWar #RickWilson #LincolnProject #USMilitary #WarLeadership #MilitaryEthics #MarkHertling #WarInIran #Geopolitics #BreakingNews #USPolitics #ForeignPolicy #MilitaryLeadership #IranConflict #GlobalSecurity #LeadershipMatters

This week’s Elephant in the Room: everything is starting to fall apart. Trump’s escalating Iran War looks less like strategy and more like a desperate attempt to change the subject from the growing fallout around the Epstein Files, mounting scandals, and an administration that seems increasingly out of its depth. Wars don’t erase political crises — they amplify them. And this one is already shaping up to be wildly unpopular, dangerously unpredictable, and potentially catastrophic for American lives, the global economy, and stability in the Middle East. Rick Wilson breaks down why Trump’s Iran war, the political explosion surrounding the Epstein scandal, and a White House running on panic and distraction could collide into one of the biggest geopolitical and political trainwrecks of the decade. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.shopify.com/lincolnproject to sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial. #ad #Trump #IranWar #EpsteinFiles #RickWilson #TheLincolnProject #PoliticalNews #BreakingNews #USPolitics #MiddleEast #ForeignPolicy #EpsteinScandal #Geopolitics #PoliticalCommentary #NewsAnalysis #WorldPolitics

The rule of law isn’t supposed to be optional in America — but lately Washington seems to have forgotten that. This week, Rick Wilson sits down with JP Cooney, former Deputy to Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, to talk about the growing crisis of lawlessness and why restoring accountability starts with fixing Congress itself. After years inside the Department of Justice working on some of the most consequential federal investigations in modern history, Cooney is stepping into the arena, running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District in 2026 to bring seriousness, backbone, and respect for the rule of law back to Washington. Rick and JP break down how Congress lost the plot, why consequences in government have become optional, and why the next generation of leaders needs to end the chaos, restore law and order, and rebuild trust in American institutions before the damage becomes permanent. • • • • • You can find J.P. Cooney on X @cooneycongress, and on Bluesky @cooneyforcongress.bsky.social. Check out his campaign website, at www.cooneyforcongress.com. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.superpower.com and use code ‘LINCOLN’ for 20% off your membership. #ad Go to www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

The Elephant in the Room: the “fun part” of Trump’s Iran war is over. The bombs dropped and the headlines rolled — but now comes the reality of a conflict with no strategy, no exit plan, and no adults in the room. Rick Wilson breaks down how Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio stumbled into a rapidly escalating Iran war that could cost billions, risk American lives, and spiral into the next Middle East forever war. And as the conflict grows, so do the questions: Is this about national security — or a convenient distraction from the Epstein files and other scandals closing in at home? • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com #ad

Rick sits down with Jason Zengerle to dissect Hated by All the Right People, a scalpel-sharp look at how Tucker Carlson morphed from bow-tied conservative pundit into the high priest of grievance politics. They trace the Iraq War as the inflection point that cracked the old GOP brain, Tucker’s Fox News era where outrage became currency, and his post-Fox glow-up as a free-range chaos entrepreneur feeding the MAGA algorithm. But this isn’t nostalgia — it’s about consequences. As a new war with Iran explodes into missile and drone retaliation this weekend, Rick and Jason connect the dots between right-wing media radicalization, foreign policy brinkmanship, and the profit model that rewards escalation over truth. Tucker didn’t just witness the unraveling of the conservative mind — he built a business on it. And as 2026 approaches, the rage machine he helped engineer isn’t just warping politics — it’s shaping global stakes. • • • • • You can find Jason Zengerle on X @zengerle, and as a staff writer for the New Yorker. His book, ‘Hated by All the Right People’ is available now, wherever fine books are sold. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

This week Rick's Elephant in the Room is MAGA’s decline. Donald Trump’s latest State of the Union didn’t project strength — it exposed unraveling policies, economic instability, authoritarian overreach, and growing questions about cognitive fitness, all while his inner circle — Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller and their enablers — tighten their grip on power. As the GOP fractures and the 2026 midterms loom, voters are watching a movement lose altitude in real time. The real question isn’t whether MAGA is declining — it’s whether Democrats will hold the architects of corruption and extremism accountable when power shifts, because without consequences in 2026, decline isn’t defeat… it’s just intermission. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to 4 extra months. #ad Visit www.sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 or use code ‘LINCOLN50’ for 50% off your first order. #ad

This week Rick's Elephant in the Room is MAGA’s decline. Donald Trump’s latest State of the Union didn’t project strength — it exposed unraveling policies, economic instability, authoritarian overreach, and growing questions about cognitive fitness, all while his inner circle — Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller and their enablers — tighten their grip on power. As the GOP fractures and the 2026 midterms loom, voters are watching a movement lose altitude in real time. The real question isn’t whether MAGA is declining — it’s whether Democrats will hold the architects of corruption and extremism accountable when power shifts, because without consequences in 2026, decline isn’t defeat… it’s just intermission. • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to 4 extra months. #ad Visit www.sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 or use code ‘LINCOLN50’ for 50% off your first order. #ad

Former DOJ prosecutor Dan Goldman joins us to break down the growing firestorm around Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, and the Epstein files. As scrutiny over the Epstein investigation intensifies, Bondi’s defense of Trump raises serious questions about DOJ independence, selective prosecution, and political loyalty inside the Department of Justice. Goldman explains what the Epstein files could mean for Trump legally, whether accountability is being delayed or deflected, and how the DOJ is supposed to function when powerful figures are involved. If you’re looking for clear analysis on Trump and Epstein, Pam Bondi’s role, DOJ ethics, and the fight over equal justice under the law — this is it. • • • • • You can find Rep. Dan Goldman on X @RepDanGoldman & @danielsgoldman. You can also find him at www.goldman.house.gov. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can protect your family in minutes, with affordable life insurance. #ad

Former DOJ prosecutor Dan Goldman joins us to break down the growing firestorm around Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, and the Epstein files. As scrutiny over the Epstein investigation intensifies, Bondi’s defense of Trump raises serious questions about DOJ independence, selective prosecution, and political loyalty inside the Department of Justice. Goldman explains what the Epstein files could mean for Trump legally, whether accountability is being delayed or deflected, and how the DOJ is supposed to function when powerful figures are involved. If you’re looking for clear analysis on Trump and Epstein, Pam Bondi’s role, DOJ ethics, and the fight over equal justice under the law — this is it. • • • • • You can find Rep. Dan Goldman on X @RepDanGoldman & @danielsgoldman. You can also find him at www.goldman.house.gov. Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can protect your family in minutes, with affordable life insurance. #ad

Prince Andrew’s reported arrest in the widening Epstein scandal has reignited explosive questions about the Epstein files, elite corruption, and whether the United States operates under a two-tier justice system. While global headlines focus on the Prince Andrew arrest, a deeper issue is surfacing: why did Pam Bondi’s DOJ never investigate core co-conspirator Les Wexner, tied to the Epstein network? In this episode, we break down the latest Prince Andrew news, the unresolved controversies surrounding the Epstein files, mounting DOJ corruption allegations, and growing scrutiny over selective prosecution and elite immunity. If powerful figures can face consequences abroad, why were key players in the Epstein case never fully investigated by the Department of Justice? This is a deep dive into political corruption, accountability, the integrity of the justice system, and the uncomfortable question at the heart of the Epstein scandal — does justice truly apply equally under the law in America? • • • • • Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Go to www.growtherapy.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get affordable care that fits your life. #ad Visit www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad

For the first time ever, alumni of The Lincoln Project are running for Congress — and the 2026 midterms just shifted. In this special double-header, Rick sits down with Fred Wellman, running in St. Louis, Missouri (MO-02), and George Conway, running in New York, New York (NY-12), to break down what it means for the Lincoln Project to move from ads and strategy to actual ballots and House races. They dive into the stakes of the 2026 election, the fight to flip Congress, the threat of MAGA extremism, and why veterans, constitutional conservatives, and rule-of-law Republicans are stepping up in key swing districts. From the battle for the House majority to the broader fight to protect democracy, this episode unpacks the strategy, the map, and the momentum behind a political movement turning into candidates — and why this moment could redefine the future of Congress. #LincolnProject #2026Midterms #Congress #MAGA #Election2026 • • • • • You can find George Conway @gtconway3d on X, on Bluesky @gtconway.bsky.social, and at his campaign website, www.georgeconwayforcongress.com. You can find Fred Wellman on X @FPWellman, on Bluesky @fpwellman.bsky.social, and at his campaign website, www.wellmanformo.com. You can also check out his podcast, 'On Democracy with FPWellman.’ Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ for 15% off your first order + free shipping. #ad