Author: The Bulwark

Kevin McCarthy hasn't been doing much of anything all year as speaker, except lurching from crisis to crisis and leading from behind. Meanwhile, Trump is much more angry about being seen as less rich than potentially going to prison. Dana Milbank joins Charlie Sykes.

The bipartisan loathing of Gaetz is almost a kumbaya moment. Meanwhile, Trump likes to say the US is turning into a third world country, and he's working on that with his calls to shoot shoplifters and execute drug dealers. Will Saletan joins Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.

The first impeachment hearing was panned on both sides, while House Republicans keep promising a new unicorn. Plus, the GOP is not going to follow Trump's abortion pivot, Biden gets an assist from Cindy McCain, and charting the future of conservatism. David Frum joins Charlie Sykes for the weekend pod.

show notes:
https://www.dacapopress.com/titles/jack-beatty/the-rascal-king/9780306810022/

The kids' table debate was a cacophony of speed talking, interruptions, and yelling. Plus, Milley responds to the death threat, more Dems tell Menendez to go, and the bonfire continues to burn on Capitol Hill, with McCarthy handing out the books of matches.  A.B. Stoddard joins Charlie Sykes.

show notes:
https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/trump-sold-out-pro-lifers

The ex-POTUS has been put out of business in New York, after his fraud was found so overwhelming that no trial was needed. Meanwhile, his lawyers are prepping for Alito and Thomas to weigh in on a gag order, and some Republicans go Team Menendez. Ben Wittes joins Charlie Sykes for The Trump Trials.

Cassidy Hutchinson atones. Bob Menendez refuses. Plus: the government shutdown about nothing. And MAGA’s war on (checks notes) Taylor Swift.  Will Saletan joins Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.

Olivia Nuzzi, Bret Stephens, and Ben Terris joined Charlie Sykes on stage in Austin over the weekend. While the Dems have Gretchen Whitmer to look forward to, the GOP's future may be people like Vivek—because the base must be entertained. Meanwhile, we may be facing a government shutdown because Gaetz and Boebert think it will increase their celebrity status.

Our democratic order is facing a two-front war. While the immediate crisis may be from the right, the left is presenting its own threats—which only helps make far-right populism stronger. Political scientist and democracy hipster Yashca Mounk discusses his new book with Charlie Sykes on the weekend pod.

show notes:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/712961/the-identity-trap-by-yascha-mounk/

Trump is trying to intimidate witnesses and jurors in the election case, and Chutkan's only remedy may be to move up the trial date. Plus, Republicans embarrassed themselves with the AG, the Epps conspiracy may never go away, and a new witness emerges in the docs case. Ben Wittes joins Charlie Sykes for The Trump Trials.

show notes:

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/on-clerks-and-caimans-jeffrey-clark-s-removal-hearing

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trump-s-motion-for-recusal-of-judge-chutkan-is-extraordinarily-weak

House Republicans are bickering and calling each other names, while the Matt Gaetz caucus threatens to hold the country hostage with a government shutdown. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans think the dress code change is the most important story of the week. Manu Raju joins Charlie Sykes.