Author: The Bulwark

Republican leaders in Wisconsin sound like they're planning an end-run around democracy, Musk is running with one of the oldest antisemitic tropes in the world, and even MAGA Republicans in Texas don't like Ken Paxton. Will Saletan joins Charlie Sykes today.

How different would things be if other Republicans had stood up to MAGA like the way Kemp did for Fani Willis? Plus, Ted Cruz tried on beer-swilling tough guy, Candace sampled the Trump playbook, and the BS behind the political consultant game. Tim Miller joins Charlie Sykes for the long weekend pod.

Giuliani is going to pay $$$$ for defaming Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss—and Trump may too, for his financial statements in New York. Meanwhile, ex-POTUS faces a criminal trial before the RNC, and Mark Meadows sounded wishy-washy in Georgia. Ben Wittes and Anna Bower join Charlie Sykes for The Trump Trials.

show notes:

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/mark-meadows-takes-the-stand

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trump-has-jan.-6-trial-date-and-it-s-the-eve-of-super-tuesday

Does cynical Nikki Haley have the guts to run an edgier campaign? Plus, Vivek's Hermain Cain moment, Iowa's unpredictable caucus voters, and the denialism about Grandpa Joe. Mike Murphy joins Charlie Sykes today. 

From Trump's court calendar to concerns about Biden's age, we may be underestimating how bad next year could be. Plus, Mark Meadows' dubious claims about Georgia, Vivek and the show, lefty book bans, and the MAGA mob effort to blackmail us out of a constitutional republic. David French joins Charlie Sykes.

The new hotness, Ramaswamy, is serving up a load of bull. Plus, the risks of our political gerontocracy, the mug shot heard 'round the world, and of course, most GOP presidential candidates would vote for a convicted felon before Biden. Will Saletan is back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.

We were always going to get this first-of-its-kind presidential portrait. What else would you expect from a con man and a criminal? But this is all because of the choices Trump made, and because the party has refused to take every single off-ramp. Tim Miller joins Charlie Sykes for the weekend pod.

At Wednesday's debate, Ramaswamy touched all the MAGA erogenous zones, Haley had a great night while Tim Scott did not, and DeSantis seemed to shrink even more. But as the debate audience made clear, no one can say bad things about the No. 1 guy's crimes. A.B. Stoddard joins Charlie Sykes.

Almost nothing concentrates the mind more than an indictment, so expect other minor players in Trumpland—especially in Georgia—to flip on the don. Plus, the constitutional argument for blocking Trump's candidacy. Ben Wittes is back with Charlie Sykes for a special edition of The Trump Trials.

show notes:

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/dry-run-ouster-county-official-insurrectionist-creates-ominous-precedents-trump

Trump's co-defendants don't even dispute what they're accused of doing—they just claim it wasn't illegal. Plus, will the debate penetrate Fox's hermetically sealed silos, despite the ex-president's attempt to counter-program? Tom Nichols joins Charlie Sykes today.