Thomas Edsall joins Joe Trippi and Alex, to discuss his latest article in the New York Times, "Republican Strategists Who have Carefully Planned All of This," and how Republicans are carefully orchestrating their expansion of how they use government power.

Show notes:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/opinion/republican-party-intrusive-government.html

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After the dust settles from two huge elections in Wisconsin and Chicago, what does Joe think our lessons for 2024 should be? What two issues are going to dominate 2024 -- and why might they just be MAGA kryptonite? And of course, the media fell into the Trump Trap, despite Joe's warning. Plus, what strategy does Joe call "totally insane" and doomed to fail?

Read Alex Shephard's piece in The New Republic here: https://newrepublic.com/article/171624/cable-news-trump-indictment-disastrous

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With Trump commanding headlines once again -- what trap do we ALL have to avoid falling into? What is the best way to beat him next year -- and why does Joe think very few other Republicans might step up to challenge him in the primary? Why is the Wisconsin supreme court race so crucial -- and what can Dems take away from it for the rest of the cycle? Plus, why no matter what happens with Trump, why Ron DeSantis' no-good-very-bad run just keeps getting worse. 

(Note: This episode was recorded hours before the Trump indictment). Help win Wisconsin at wisdems.org and jointheunion.us!

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It's been a wild week for Donald Trump. Why does Joe think there's only one way out for him from not one, two, or three... but SIX ongoing investigations. And why does Trump, deep down, really WANT to get arrested? Plus, why "Rob" DeSantis' chances of winning a primary are gone... and have been for a while. Finally - If you're looking for ways to help in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, visit wisdems.org and jointheunion.us.

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Turns out, turning up the heat on Fox News really does pay dividends. New data showing that the leaked texts are seriously hurting the right-wing outrage machine. Also - What is the shift in the GOP really about? It's not about going more conservative. Joe and Alex dive into the much darker truth. Why even the optimists have turned dark. And why DeSantis' flip on Ukraine might be a huge blunder -- and why Joe calls it the final come-down from the fantasy that the GOP nomination is anything other than Trump's. Plus, a new revelation of one more "perfect phone call" from Trump to try to steal Georgia...

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Why this might be the beginning of a downward spiral for FOX and ultra-MAGA. What's the only way Dems can really break up the right-wing propaganda machine? We also take a look at 2024 -- and why "candidate quality" is going to keep biting the GOP over and over again. Can the American people give the GOP the necessary "wallop" to end MAGA politically? Finally, Joe and Alex answer more listener questions than ever before. Why seeing really is believing when it comes to Joe Biden's accomplishments.

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Joe explains why as a campaign manager every time Ron DeSantis goes out he cringes. Why Trump going to war with Fox News is good news for the rest of us. Why is Joe getting shades of 2016 again looking at the Republican primary field? The "yuuuge" danger Fox is facing right now. Why most of the field is stuck being a hostage, and why the press continues to get the frame wrong. And speaking of the wrong frame - why it's nuts to even consider a "succession" plan for Joe Biden when he's doing such a good job.

Watch the Fox clip Joe and Alex were laughing about: https://www.axios.com/2023/03/02/republican-2024-primary-fox-news-desantis-trump

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Guest Juliet Jeske of Decoding Fox News joins the show to explain how Fox is dividing us and even divided against itself. This week they framed Biden's democracy trip as a choice between Ukraine and Ohio, doing Putin's propaganda work for him. And then they had MTG on to talk about a "national divorce", spurring their own custody battle between Fox hosts. Is it all for the ratings? That's what the Dominion lawsuit showed. We choose our favorite texts! Follow Juliet on Twitter @DecodingFoxNews.

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Joe gives us all a reality check about the power of Trumpism and why Nikki Haley needs- to put it kindly - a whole lot of things to break her way to even be relevant. And why the "next generation" argument doesn't hold water in today's ultra-MAGA GOP. Joe and Alex also tackle what Joe thinks is the wackiest listener question we've ever gotten - we're wondering if it's from Trump himself. 

Read Stuart's NYT piece on Nikki Haley here: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/13/opinion/nikki-haley-republican-party.html

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Special guest Reed Galen joins Joe and Alex for a special guest episode looking deep inside the chaos going on in the GOP right now. What all the challengers to Trump are getting wrong in 2024 -- and why running for President is way, way harder than anyone realizes. Why is it such a slog, even if you're the favorite? And why all that adds up to anyone thinking they can beat Trump is doing some wishful thinking. Plus - why popping the right-wing balloon is important in more ways than one. And we even get to a few listener questions! Check out The Lincoln Project podcast at https://lincolnproject.us/podcasts/.

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