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.

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.

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.

The system feels rigged for the millionaires and the billionaires, and the populist red lights are flashing for 2024. Can the Democrats get back to being for the little guy, or will the man with the golden toilets convince them he's on their side? The Liberal Patriot's Ruy Teixeira joins Charlie Sykes.

Trump threw the pro-life movement under the bus in his NBC interview, and essentially pleaded the Fifth on Jan 6.  Plus, Jack Smith wants a gag order, and Boebert the groper generated some amazing headlines. Will Saletan is back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.

The billionaire was duped by Russian nuclear propaganda, but he's not the only one in the West who worries about provoking Russia by helping Ukraine. Plus, Putin's role in the far-right echo chamber, and why Romney stood up to Trump. Anne Applebaum joins Charlie Sykes for the weekend pod.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/elon-musk-let-russia-scare-him/675282/

Romney's text message to Mitch McConnell renews questions about what law enforcement knew ahead of the attack on the Capitol. Plus, the weak counter-programming planned for Trump's prosecutions, and the foolish ploy against Judge Chutkan. Ben Wittes joins Charlie Sykes for the Trump Trials.

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/five-observations-about-the-georgia-special-purpose-grand-jury-report