The Lincoln Project

Host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to fellow co-founder Mike Madrid and Former U.S. Congressman Beto O'Rourke about the state of the vote around the country and why Joe Biden might be the first Democratic Presidential Candidate to win Texas since 1976.

Sarah Lenti, Susan Del Percio, and Mike Madrid join host Ron Steslow to break down the Vice Presidential Debate and Donald Trump becoming a coronavirus superspreader.

In the second episode of a two-part series, host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to emergency room physicians Dan Barkhuff, Natasha Kathuria, and Murtaza Akhter about how the polarization around the pandemic affects medical care and how minority communities are disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.

In the first episode of a two-part series, host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to emergency room physicians Dan Barkhuff, Natasha Kathuria, and Murtaza Akhter about their experiences fighting the coronavirus on the ground.

Host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to his fellow co-founders Mike Madrid and Rick Wilson about the current state of the vote across the country and how the election is shaping up in Florida.

Host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow co-founders Reed Galen and Steve Schmidt, and Lincoln Project senior advisor Tara Setmayer to break down the key moments from the first presidential debate.

Mary Trump joins host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow to talk about how Donald Trump’s lies and bullying impact the American people and her new book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.

Host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to fellow co-founder Mike Madrid and Lucy Caldwell, political strategist and former Senior Political Advisor for the Goldwater Institute, about the current state of the vote across the country and how a Cindy McCain endorsement could impact the race in Arizona

Our host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to co-founder Reed Galen,  Lincoln Project Executive Director Sarah Lenti, and Orin Kerr, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law about the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her legacy, and the impact a Supreme Court vacancy may have on the Presidential Election. They also discuss Trump refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power after the Election. 

Host and co-founder Ron Steslow talks to renowned documentarian Alex Gibney and cyber conflict researcher Camille François about how Russia interfered in the 2016 Presidential Election and what Russia is doing right now to influence the outcome of this election. Gibney directed the two-part documentary Agents of Chaos which premieres on HBO and HBO MAX on September 23  and 24 at 9 PM ET.

Host and co-founder Ron Steslow talks to fellow co-founder Mike Madrid about how the vote is shaping up in this election and what to watch for in Pennsylvania and other Rust Belt states that started distributing ballots last week. 

Host and co-founder Ron Steslow talks to Reed Galen, Susan Del Percio, and Sarah Lenti on this week’s roundup. They discuss the most recent tapes of Donald Trump’s conversations with Bob Woodward, how the global opinion of the United States has plummeted under Donald Trump, and two victories for ballot access this week.

In our latest Explained episode, host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow co-founder Rick Wilson to break down how Trumpism has taken hold in the Republican-controlled Senate and why we need to elect patriots to protect our democracy.

In our first State of the Vote Episode, our host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow talks to fellow co-founder Mike Madrid and Lincoln Project Political Director Zack Czajkowski about how the 2020 election is underway. They discuss the state of the electoral map across the country and the early results we’re seeing as voters in North Carolina mail in their ballots.

Host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow co-founders Jennifer Horn and Mike Madrid to weigh in on the stunning revelations in Bob Woodward's new book: that Trump knew the coronavirus was deadly in February and lied to the American people.

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow sits down with fellow co-founder Steve Schmidt and senior advisor Stuart Stevens to break down how political polarization has evolved into radicalization and violence during Trump’s presidency.

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow co-founder Mike Madrid to break down how votes are counted, how the surge in mail-in ballots will impact when we know who wins the Presidential election and why this November may hold the three most critical weeks in American democracy.

Our host Ron Steslow talks to Reed Galen, Jennifer Horn, and Tara Setmayer about what Joe Biden’s calls to end violence and begin healing mean for the presidential election and Attorney General Bill Barr’s comments on racism in policing and election security during a recent CNN interview. 

Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer-prize winning historian and staff writer for The Atlantic, joins Lincoln Project co-founder and host Ron Steslow to discuss her new book Twilight of Democracy. They discuss why America isn’t immune to the lure of authoritarianism, how the warning signs are on display in the United States, and what voters can do to protect democracy.

Anne’s book Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism is available now.

Our host Ron Steslow talks to his fellow co-founders Mike Madrid and Reed Galen about how the recent violence in Wisconsin,  Trump’s “law and order” strategy, and the wave of new polls just released following the conventions.

Our host Ron Steslow asks Rick Wilson, Steve Schmidt, and Stuart Stevens to break down what voters need to know about the optics and substance of the Republican National Convention and Donald Trump’s acceptance speech.

Host and Co-founder Ron Steslow asks retired Lt. Col. Fred Wellman, a Lincoln Project Senior Advisor and  former Spokesman for General David Petraeus, to break down the hypocrisy of the third theme of the 2020 Republican National Convention: “The Land of Heroes.”

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks Lincoln Project senior advisor and CNN political commentator Tara Setmayer to break down the hypocrisy of the themes for the first two nights of the 2020 Republican National Convention: "The Land of Promise" and "The Land of Opportunity."

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow brings in fellow co-founders Reed Galen, Steve Schmidt, and Jennifer Horn to talk about the Democratic National Convention and Joe Biden’s acceptance speech, a bi-partisan report detailing how Russia worked with  Trump’s campaign to influence the 2016 election, and Steve Bannon’s indictment. 

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow sits down with Beth Fukumoto, the former House Minority Leader in Hawaii's State Legislature. They discuss why Beth decided to run for office as a Republican, why she felt compelled to speak out against Donald Trump, and why she left the Republican party.

If you have advice or questions about the show you can email us at podcast@lincolnproject.us

In our first Explained episode, our host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow Lincoln Project co-founder Reed Galen to break down what you need to know and plan for before vote-by-mail in November.

For more information about the rules in your state, visit LincolnProject.us/vote or your local elections website.

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow Lincoln Project co-founders Steve Schmidt, Jennifer Horn, and Rick Wilson to break down this week’s top stories: Joe Biden’s highly anticipated selection of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, why FiveThirtyEight.com is saying it’s too soon to count Trump out, and what Trump’s executive order pausing payroll taxes will mean for Social Security and Medicare.

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow talks to former Navy SEAL, Harvard Medical School graduate, and president of Veterans for Responsible Leadership, Dan Barkhuff and Gold Star mom Judy Gentz whose son  Captain Joel Gentz was a combat rescue officer who died during a rescue mission in Afghanistan in 2010 about how Donald Trump’s words and actions have impacted the lives of military members and their families. 

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow asks fellow Lincoln Project co-founders Reed Galen, Jennifer Horn, and Mike Madrid to break down Trump's interview with Axios reporter Jonathan Swan. They also discuss the looming threat of evictions for millions of Americans and the electoral implications of such mass displacement.

Our host and co-founder Ron Steslow sits down with Lincoln Project Senior Advisor and legendary Republican media strategist Stuart Stevens to discuss his book, It Was All A Lie. They discuss Stuart’s thesis that Trump is not an aberration within the Republican party but rather the natural outcome of the last 50 years of its politics; how the party of Lincoln became a party of racial grievance; and how the Party’s focus on family values and fiscal conservatism has been disingenuous and often hypocritical for years.

Lincoln Project co-founders Reed Galen and Jennifer Horn join fellow co-founder and host Ron Steslow to discuss Trump’s threat to move the November election and what you need to know about how you cast your ballot in November whether it’s in person or by mail.

For the last few months, we’ve been gathering stories from voters across the country. Rita is the first of those voters to come on the show. In 2016, she voted for Donald Trump. Today,  she spoke to our host, Ron Steslow, about when she realized she couldn’t vote for him again in 2020, and why she’s doing everything she can to ensure Joe Biden gets elected in November. 

Lincoln Project co-founders Rick Wilson, Mike Madrid, and Steve Schmidt join fellow co-founder and host Ron Steslow to discuss this week’s stories: Federal Agents in Portland, Trump boasting about his cognitive test score, and Trump’s false claims about the coronavirus fatality rate. 

Host Ron Steslow has a wide ranging conversation with fellow Lincoln Project co-founder Jennifer Horn , Lincoln Project Senior Advisor and Honestly Speaking with Tara host Tara Setmayer, and Lincoln Project Executive Director Sarah Lenti about their perspectives on the Trump presidency, how they’ve been impacted by the administrations coronavirus response, why they see coronavirus as a right to life issue and why their conservative values have led them to put country over party and voting for Joe Biden in November. 

Lincoln Project co-founders Rick Wilson, Reed Galen, and Steve Schmidt join fellow co-founder and host Ron Steslow to break down this week’s stories: Trump’s Rose Garden Rally, the administration's failed coronavirus response and how that has led to high unemployment and a stalled economy.

Host Ron Steslow asks fellow Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway to break down the two new Supreme Court decisions regarding the fate of Donald Trump — and the Trump corporation’s — tax returns and financial documents.

Host and Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow asks Rick Wilson and Reed Galen about this week’s top stories: Mary Trump’s forthcoming book, Donald Trump doubling down on his defense of the confederate flag, and Trump’s response to CDC guidelines for reopening schools.

Host Ron Steslow talks with fellow Lincoln Project co-founder Jennifer Horn about her time as chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, why she helped create The Lincoln Project, why conservatives must vote against Donald Trump, what it’s like to be attacked by the President of the United States on Twitter, and her personal experience dealing with Trump’s failed coronavirus response.

Host Ron Steslow breaks down this week’s pressing stories with fellow Lincoln Project co-founders Steve Schmidt and Reed Galen and Lincoln Project Executive Director Sarah Lenti. Together, they discuss: the Russian Bounties scandal, election security, and the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Host Ron Steslow talks to Lincoln Project co-founder Mike Madrid about The Lincoln Project Effect. They discuss Trump’s weakness with the Republican base, especially among seniors, faith-based voters, and college-educated voters. They walk through a path to victory in the electoral college, how voter demographics are shifting across the country, how Latino voters will affect the presidential  election and how racial consciousness will impact how Republican’s vote in November. 

Host Ron Steslow breaks down this week’s pressing stories with fellow Lincoln Project founders Jennifer Horn, George Conway, and Reed Galen. Together, they discuss: Attorney General Bill Barr’s attempted firing of a U.S. Attorney, Trump admitting he asked his staff to slow-down coronavirus testing, and Why Trump is rage tweeting about mail-in voting. 

Ron Steslow sits down with Lincoln Project co-founders and veteran political strategists Steve Schmidt and Reed Galen to discuss how the toxic culture of reality shows led to the Trump Presidency. They look back at America’s rise to become a global superpower, how Donald Trump has damaged America’s global reputation, and why Joe Biden can help us rebuild it.

Ron Steslow asks fellow Lincoln Project founders Reed Galen, Steve Schmidt, Rick Wilson, and John Weaver to weigh in on this week’s pressing stories: their expectations for Trump’s Tusla rally, Bolton’s claim Trump asked China for help with re-election, and why rising COVID-19 cases show Trump’s national reopening plan hurts Americans. Check out The Lincoln Project’s Chyna Ad on Youtube

Ron Steslow sits down with former Republican communications director and Senior Advisor to The Lincoln Project, Tara Setmayer. This wide-ranging conversation touches on the history of the Republican Party’s relationship with race, what has changed from Lincoln to Trump, the reemergence of the confederate flag and our recent ad, “Flag of Treason,” Trump’s response to the George Floyd protests, all of which are happening on the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can hear more from Tara on her podcast, “Honestly Speaking with Tara Setmayer.

Ron Steslow sits down with conservative attorney and Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway for a deeper discussion about his involvement with, and change of heart toward, Donald Trump. Ron and George also discuss how the President’s psychological state is affecting the country, and the two looming Supreme Court cases dealing with Trump’s tax returns that are due to set an important legal precedent around presidential power.

Lifelong Republicans have broken ranks with their party to defeat Donald Trump. Ron Steslow sits down with his fellow founders at The Lincoln Project to share with listeners who they are, what The Lincoln Project means to them, and why this movement is resonating with so many people. 

American politics is in crisis. Together, the founders of The Lincoln Project have spent over 200 years electing Republicans. But now, they’ve sparked a nationwide movement with a singular mission: To defeat Donald Trump and Trumpism. Make sure to subscribe for updates! The Lincoln Project's new podcast is launching June 8th.