Rick Wilson's The Enemies List

Truth in politics has become an oxymoron. In this episode Wilson is joined by veteran journalist and author Steven Brill to discuss his latest book, "The Death of Truth." Brill, the founder of NewsGuard, dives into how social media and the internet have become powerful tools for spreading disinformation, influencing politics, and polarizing society. The conversation covers the impact of generative...

Dominance in politics matters, clearly, but how do we have strong leadership without authoritarianism? In this episode Rick speaks with political scientist Steven Fish, discussing his new book, "Comeback: Routing Trumpism, Reclaiming the Nation, and Restoring Democracy's Edge." They dive into the dynamics of political dominance, the importance of strong leadership, and the failures of current Demo...

As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaches, Ricks sits down with Garrett Graff to discuss his latest book, When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day. Graff's book offers a compelling recounting of this pivotal moment in history through the voices of over 700 interviews. The conversation explores the logistical challenges, the cultural and racial dynamics among American troops, and the per...

Now that we have the dramatic and decisive guilty verdict against Trump, what happens next? In today's episode, Rick dissects the landmark moment in the former president's long history of legal and ethical controversies. He explores the broader implications of the verdict, dismantling Trump's aura of invincibility and labeling him unequivocally as a felon. Through vivid analogies and historical re...

What really happens in the White House Situation Room? In this episode Rick sits down with George Stephanopoulos to discuss his new book, "The Situation Room: The Inside Story of the Presidents in Crisis." They delve into the history and evolution of the White House Situation Room, from its creation by John F. Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs to its current high-tech incarnation. George shares insigh...

Understanding the new world order is a moving target. In this episode Rick engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ian Bremmer, president and founder of the Eurasia Group. Bremmer, a prominent political scientist and author, delves into the complexities of the shifting global power dynamics and the rise of a multipolar world. The discussion touches on the implications of Russia's aggressi...

James Comey writes fiction! On the show today, the former FBI Director joins to discuss his latest novel, "Westport." They explore the inspiration behind Comey's second foray into fiction, drawing from his time at a hedge fund and his experiences in law enforcement. The conversation dives into the current political landscape, focusing on the high-profile trials of Donald Trump and their implicatio...

There were just a few brave Republicans to openly criticize Trump for falsely claiming the election was stolen in 2020, today's guest was one of them. In this episode we welcome former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, Geoff Duncan, for an insightful conversation about the state of the Republican Party and American politics. Duncan shares his unexpected journey into politics, his vision for a renewe...

History can be viewed through the lens of political upheaval and revolution. On today's episode Rick is joined by Fareed Zakaria to discuss Zakaria's new book, "The Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present." They explore the historical patterns of cultural and political upheavals, beginning with the Tea Party movement and the cultural backlash during Barack Obama's presid...

How do we make sense of the chaos Donald Trump's election interference trial? To help us find clarity Rick welcomes Norm Eisen, a CNN commentator and the author of "Trying Trump." Eisen provides an insider's look into Donald Trump's first election interference criminal trial, offering detailed observations from his frequent visits to the courtroom. The discussion dives into the legal strategies an...

Trump is a hot mess, we know this. And while everyone seems to have an opinion, few have the depth of knowledge and insight like today's guest. David Cay Johnston, a seasoned journalist and author known for his deep dives into American politics and economics, joins Rick to discuss the deeply troubling trajectory of Trump’s influence on American politics. Johnston, who has authored several critical...

For years we've heard from the Trump campaign that the 2020 election was stolen via an elaborate scheme of coordinated voter fraud. On today's show, we speak with Ken Block, author of "Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign." Block shares his experiences as a data analyst tasked by the Trump campaign to investigate claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Throughou...

Democracy will be won or lost in America's exurbia. In today's episode, Rick speaks with author David Masciotra, discussing his new book "Exurbia Now! The Battleground for American Democracy." The conversation dives into the transformation of American political life influenced by the migration from urban to suburban and ultimately to exurban areas. Masciotra sheds light on how these shifts reflect...

American political discourse has become more toxic than ever. In today's episode, Rick speaks with Frank Bruni, author of the new book "The Age of Grievance," which examines the pervasive culture of outrage and grievance driving contemporary American politics. Together, they analyze the roots of this phenomenon, tracing it back to historical and media influences, such as the rise of conservative m...

Trump will be the next president, according to today's guest, if we do not learn the lessons of the past. On this episode Rick connects with author of the book Blowback and a vocal critic of Donald Trump, Miles Taylor. They dive into the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency, particularly focusing on the drastic changes he could impose on American democracy and government functionality. T...

In the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential election, there potential implications for the country are darker than you may imagine. Project 2025 is one such outcome. In this episode, Rick is joined by author Andra Watkins to discuss her Substack publication, "How Project 2025 Will Ruin Your Life." Watkins, a former Christian nationalist, dives into the details of Project 2025, a...

The Republican party has changed. On this episode Ricks sits with Isaac Arnsdorf, a Washington Post reporter and author to discuss the profound transformation within the Republican Party instigated by the MAGA movement. Arnsdorf shares insights from his book, revealing how grassroots activism, led by figures like Steve Bannon, has reshaped the party from the bottom up. The episode explores the str...

Conservatives in America are not typically known as lovers of environmental advocacy. Well, our guest bucks that trend. Benji Backer, an environmental advocate and author of "The Conservative Environmentalist" joins Rick to discuss the urgent need for practical and innovative solutions to environmental challenges, critiquing both extreme denial and radical approaches currently dividing the politic...

It feels like all anyone wants to talk about these days is how AI is taking over. Well, we thought it time to have an expert on to break it all down. In this episode Rick speaks with AI expert Daniel Faggella in a comprehensive discussion on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. They speak to the implications of AI on the workforce, economy, and society, examining both the current sta...

The participation of talented young people is a critical element in a functioning democracy. On this episode, Rick sits down with Gevin Reynolds, a rising figure in Democratic politics with experience in the Biden White House. They dive into the 2024 campaign landscape, focusing on Biden's presidency and the strategic positioning of the Democratic party. Reynolds shares insights on the administrat...

From polls and pundits to dramatic headlines, sorting through the chaos of the presidential election is no easy task. To help parse madness, Rick had a conversation with Elaine Kamarck, political expert and senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. The two give their view of the current state of American politics and the presidential election. They discuss the dynamics of the primary elections, vo...

Big tech collects our data, this much we know. But to what extent? To explore this question Rick speaks with Byron Tau, a former Wall Street Journal reporter and author of "Means of Control." Together, they unravel the complex alliance between technology companies and government agencies, exposing how this partnership has birthed a new American surveillance state. They explore the evolution of dat...

America is no stranger to extremist political groups, a phenomenon further highlighted on January 6th. However, one thing we don't understand clearly enough is the overlap with our veteran community. On this episode Rick speaks with Ken Harbaugh, veteran and co-producer of "Against All Enemies," a documentary exploring why veterans are drawn into extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepe...

Many Americans are asking the question "what's going on with Trump's legal battles?" Today on the show Rick speaks with author and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin to dissect the intricate legal battles Trump faces in Georgia, Florida, and D.C., scrutinizing their procedural complexities and wider implications. Their discussion extends to the repercussions of Trump's actions on American democracy, exa...

Barbara Comstock is a former Republican Congresswoman and longtime RNC veteran. We were excited to have her on the show to discuss the dramatic shifts within the Republican Party and the repercussions of its current trajectory. Together, the two discuss the challenges posed by aligning the party too closely with Trump, the impact on election integrity, and the future of the party. Comstock shares...