This week, Rick's Elephant in the Room unpacks TACO Trump. (And, kudos to the Wall Street Bros who coined the "perfect" term -- "Trump Always Chickens Out.") As the anthropologist on Donald Trump, Rick (who has studied this man for over ten years -- thank you for your service!) sheds light on how TACO applies to all aspects of Trump. This flacid, feeble, fatuous fool is not the strong man he *thinks* he portrays. Completely inept, played by dictators, confused by intelligent people, and obsessively corrupt, Trump has always been a weak, small, stupid man in politics, in business, and in his personal life. Regardless of the news cycle, there's one thing we can always count on -- Trump Always Chickens Out, no matter the stakes.
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You can check out Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.
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27:30
John Bolton on America's Isolationism
Former UN Ambassador, attorney, and foreign affairs expert Mr. John Bolton stops by the studio to talk with Rick about America's status on the global stage. Bolton articulates all of the complicated moving pieces of how America impacts the world and sheds light on threats toward the U.S., the effect of tariffs on our U.S. allies, Russia and Ukraine, and local security.
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You can check out Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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38:48
Trump, a Doddering Old Fool
This week, Rick's Elephant in the Room is Trump's mental decline. With the White House decidedly halting transcripts of Trump's speeches, and a rise of extreme political sharks circling the Oval Office, what's left of Trump's mental cognition has also apparently been deported without a court hearing. On a strict diet of Big Macs and Adderall, Trump's last "cognition test" -- 'Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.' -- seems to be a high point for our drooling Dear Leader.
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You can check out Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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17:51
From Baller to Senator: The G.O.A.T. of Virginia's Government
Fighting for Virginia, Senator Aaron Rouse -- born and raised in Virginia Beach and from area code 757 -- has risen in politics from the local level to statewide office. In 2025, Aaron is excited to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, being a person of and for the people. A former safety for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, Aaron brings a team approach to politics -- we're all on the same team. Virginia is in a uniquely dire situation -- with many Virginians out of work and numerous government programs having been slashed -- due to DOGE. Coming from 757, Aaron understands the value of hard work and the need for a more holistic approach when governing the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike many politicians, Aaron is meeting people where they are, wherever that may be.
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You can learn more about Aaron in his latest ad --> https://youtu.be/rQWZF_GFn3E.
Feel free to follow and support his campaign at Rouseforvirginia.com/donate, on X at @AaronRouseVA, and on Bluesky at @aaronrouse.bsky.social.
Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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36:48
Exhausted AF But, Still, We Persist (and Resist)
This week's Elephant in the Room is exhaustion. You're feeling it, we're feeling it, and Trump and his administration are feeling it. Trump is falling asleep during meetings, and for his staffers, living in fear is draining. Overthrowing a democracy consumes a lot of energy from all sides. We knew another Trump term would mean another serious bout of adrenal fatigue, but this time, the array of high-stakes, stressful headlines is on another level.
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You can follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com where he writes several pieces every week and hosts live chats with the top political minds.
Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The creators of the most watched and talked-about ad content in the political/cultural sphere, THE LINCOLN PROJECT, and co-founder/host Rick Wilson, have a reputation for saying the things others are afraid to say.
Headed up by LP's notorious creative team, THE LINCOLN PROJECT podcast features a range of special guests, from leading political minds to the hottest pop-culture icons. Broadening the subject matter beyond politics and making the conversation more relatable to everyone, The Lincoln Project podcast’s mission is to reignite the political flame in every American and break down the biggest topics of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
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