I was in government for 30 years. What worries me the most is the unknown sub-cabinet people and mid level staffers that will be coming in under the radar in every part of the Federal government. Thousands of them. Destruction is their goal. We are talking fanatics who will seek to destroy our government or enrich themselves. In many cases, they will seek to do both. This may the largest danger we face.
Do you laugh when the bastards call themselves Patriots. What base motives are they following that would allow them to destroy our democracy (which isn't perfect, but it's better than what they're offering - they want to give us a king - ha!).
I agree with this concern, that a lot of very dangerous people will be swarming in under the radar. I mean, do we really think that an alcoholic running the Defense Dept is going to actually be the one running the show? Absolutely not. It’s an impossibility. And I say that with compassion… as a grateful recovering alcoholic.
It must. It will take all hands on deck to ensure it does. Get involved. Join a Dem group. Donate if you can. Share truth and ensure misinformation is called out with facts replacing it. Push back on social media. Engage with your local Representative/Senator. Support Dem candidates by volunteering. Two years from now are mid terms. Goal one is to displace Republicans and elect Dems to wrestle power away from Trump. It begins now!
I agree and will be trying my best. My Congressman is MAGA and has been getting re-elected for years because North Carolina so gerrymandered things here that he is in practically for life. But I see an opening if things are really bad in the next two years. Gerrymandered or not, he could get the boot, which would be the goal.
My Congressman is MAGA too, we lost him due to lines being drawn before 2022, we rejoiced since we had a Dem (Davis) as ours then. Then the lines were redrawn and he was sent to a District which the GOP found Louderbuck (a MAGA transplant from eastern shore of VA) but our Dem won there. NC is the worst for gerrymandering ever.
They gerrymandered my district by surrounding Wilmington with enough red counties to effectively give the people in Wilmington a Big F.U. I’ve never seen such blatant gerrymandering, but I am relatively new to North Carolina and still learning the ropes.
Fabulous conversation Steve and Paul!!! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Learned a lot too. Good to know these young, patriotic leaders are stepping up to the plate. As are you Steve!! Hint hint.
Time for ALL of us to step up. Whine time is over. For me anyway. It's time to get to work. We truly don't have a second to waste. Thank you Steve. Hope you have a nice before Christmas weekend with the family. ❤️🇺🇸💙
I think you're right Lisa. If we can clearly state what kind of country we want, fair and just for all, tolerate eccentricities but champion stability - I'm a solid Independent.
Okay. I’ll donate and work for any and all “Ds” for 2026, but please stop the candidates from “Dialing (or texting) for Dollars”. I received up to 50 of these messages a day, asking, pleading, begging, threatening for money. I assume the Republicans do the same thing, but it is so demeaning when anyone does it. Is it demeaning to the candidate, or to the potential donor? Both, I think…
And ActBlue. I’ve used them to donate since the early 2000s and I’m wondering if they’re selling our names to other candidates. It just seems that my rate of unsolicited begging letters increases after I donate through them.
To the DNC. Please support your candidates. Give out some of your dough. It’s sad the amount of begging that’s done.
NO kidding. I got mad one day and texted them back. "Stop trying to shame me into donating!!" I was furious. They were sure awful at times. Somebody needs to be aware of that as well.
Lisa, I think most of us are aware of the extent of the problem, but are just too tired to do something about it as you did. I really think that if the DNC was more generous in doling out money to qualified candidates, there might be more new candidates.
I just respond with Stop or Stop2end….it is terrible. Going to allot an amount to donate and then end the romance. I too hate to be shamed but am not going to the poorhouse for the Party
Wow. Paul Rieckoff is an outstanding guest on the show. His inside view of what will happen if Pete Hegseth is allowed to head the massive and consequential Defense Department is staggering. His knowledge of how the military works and can be manipulated to serve Trump's ends is eye-opening. I hope there are some failsafes in place, but I'm doubtful. So many norms and traditions have been scuttled under Trump. We need a leader with intelligence, creativity, cunning, and the ability to look around the corners looming ahead.
Powerful interview! This IS the conversation we NEED to be having. I turned MSM off. The media, for the most part, and the Democratic party have put us in significant harm's way. After listening to this interview, I am considering becoming an Independent voter. Steve and Paul R. ARE Leaders!
Wow! Things are tough if you have to verify me on an external link!
I appreciate all you are doing Steve Schmidt. I am not a Trump supporter. I am Canadian and we are affected by the radical right-wingers also as most countries are. But I have a question. Was Trump really elected fair and square democratically? If so, why do you support democracy if it gave us Trump?
Democracy won't work unless it is fixed. It is at risk because voters vote emotionally rate than with logic. And I know it is old hat but TV has been a problem. Problems all started when TV hit us strongly, dating back to JFK.
As a psychologist, I am aware that emotions are transmitted by the voice. Research shows this can happen over video. People are responding more to emotions expressed in the voice during interviews than to facts. Trump uses emotions to stir us up and puts us into an emotional frame of mind. Then we don't think properly. Trump's approach is to subterfuge us and put us into what is called a double bind. The more we ignore this the more we are vulnerable to it.
Totally agree about Hegseth being the one to stay focused on, and also agree with the belief that a veteran might have the greatest success winning a future presidential race. An independent would be ideal but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water re party affiliation. The individual is the key, Jason Crow comes to mind often. He is an extraordinary American and, among other things, has the charisma of leadership.
The way forward.. or back, as indeed we are in retreat, requires that we suss out the greatest weaknesses of authoritarian regimes, that we strategize around their achilles heels while beefing up our greatest strengths. To do this, we must enlist Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Timothy Schneider and other brilliant Americans who understand the strengths and weaknesses of fascism.
Lastly, I am finding it very helpful to read the works of Black Americans, like James Baldwin (The Fire Next Time) and Eddie S. Glaude (We are the Leaders we Have Been Looking For), because they have been fighting the good fight for a very long time, and have a lot of wisdom to impart as we witness the (partial) implosion of our (as yet imperfect) democracy.
Thank you Steve. You are such an important voice…. I’m sorry that my cell block won’t be anywhere near your’s and Paul’s.
Excellent conversation with Paul, Steve. I rarely listen to something of this length (definitely not a podcast person) but am so thankful I listened to all of this. Informational and educational. Thank you both!
Thanks Steve for bringing Paul. I like Paul's energy and focus. Very helpful listening to the entire broadcast. Thank you Paul for your work. Plus, you are a great team!
Don’t give up. That’s what they want you to do. There is a guardrail we can build.
We ended up with Trump because we’ve become a celebrity over substance culture. The focus on Elon not being elected is a waste of time. The fact we elected Trump doesn’t make Trump better than Elon. Just add Elon to the list of mistakes this undereducated culture keeps making since mobster-like administrators hijacked our education system and disposed of called-to-teach teachers. I know this because I was one of them. My organization trying to expose this since 2002 has hundreds of stories of others like me at EndTeacherAbuse.org.
Rather than waste your time on what’s irrelevant compared to the fact that celebrity is EVERYTHING these days, read about what’s really going on in our schools at WhiteChalkCrime.com and then run for school boards on a democracy platform with two others to take over these boards that did Trump to us. School boards controlled by self-serving administrators made people fools rather than citizens. You can change that even if you don’t have a child in your school, even if you’re old or young. Rather than agonize over what we’re facing, take action. If you can’t do it, get your adult child or your neighbor to do it. Spread the word. Make substance go viral.
Thank you Steve and Paul for that in-depth analysis of where we are in America now, in politics now. I hope most Americans CARE and are patriots -- I am, but I consider politics as our lives. We live under these laws that are passed, so I don't consider it a sidebar or something to be thought of at election time. I consider myself sort of weird among my friends, as I come from a military family and was raised with patriotic values. On bases cars stopped when Taps was played and you got out and put your hand over your heart. Military kids and the military are a small percentage of the population. But that background formed who I am, and I have always been proud that I come from the only country purely of immigrants (if you exclude the Natives and slaves brought here against their will). PROUD of that fact. I've been a lifelong Democrat b/c I feel they are for The People. Paul's discussion that Independents will decide the future could very well be right. I am 80, so doubt that I will leave the Democratic Party, though I did monetarily support the Independent candidate Paul spoke of. He makes a lot of sense.
First and foremost, we Dems must defeat the totally unqualified Hegseth, and the other traitors to American values. That is imperative and critical -- trump must not be allowed to normalize weirdos for these important positions. Then, we can stop the unequal distribution of wealth>power that he has foisted upon the political scene. But thank you Steve and Paul for lots to ponder.
I was in government for 30 years. What worries me the most is the unknown sub-cabinet people and mid level staffers that will be coming in under the radar in every part of the Federal government. Thousands of them. Destruction is their goal. We are talking fanatics who will seek to destroy our government or enrich themselves. In many cases, they will seek to do both. This may the largest danger we face.
Do you laugh when the bastards call themselves Patriots. What base motives are they following that would allow them to destroy our democracy (which isn't perfect, but it's better than what they're offering - they want to give us a king - ha!).
Bastards they are.
I agree with this concern, that a lot of very dangerous people will be swarming in under the radar. I mean, do we really think that an alcoholic running the Defense Dept is going to actually be the one running the show? Absolutely not. It’s an impossibility. And I say that with compassion… as a grateful recovering alcoholic.
Tragically, everything is getting turned over to a foreign army and they will descend like a plague.
It must. It will take all hands on deck to ensure it does. Get involved. Join a Dem group. Donate if you can. Share truth and ensure misinformation is called out with facts replacing it. Push back on social media. Engage with your local Representative/Senator. Support Dem candidates by volunteering. Two years from now are mid terms. Goal one is to displace Republicans and elect Dems to wrestle power away from Trump. It begins now!
I agree and will be trying my best. My Congressman is MAGA and has been getting re-elected for years because North Carolina so gerrymandered things here that he is in practically for life. But I see an opening if things are really bad in the next two years. Gerrymandered or not, he could get the boot, which would be the goal.
Being involved in making that happen could be tremendously satisfying, John.
My Congressman is MAGA too, we lost him due to lines being drawn before 2022, we rejoiced since we had a Dem (Davis) as ours then. Then the lines were redrawn and he was sent to a District which the GOP found Louderbuck (a MAGA transplant from eastern shore of VA) but our Dem won there. NC is the worst for gerrymandering ever.
They gerrymandered my district by surrounding Wilmington with enough red counties to effectively give the people in Wilmington a Big F.U. I’ve never seen such blatant gerrymandering, but I am relatively new to North Carolina and still learning the ropes.
Great suggestions Sheila!! Been doing some of those things. Need to add some more.
Great, Lisa! We’re all in this together!
Fabulous conversation Steve and Paul!!! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Learned a lot too. Good to know these young, patriotic leaders are stepping up to the plate. As are you Steve!! Hint hint.
Time for ALL of us to step up. Whine time is over. For me anyway. It's time to get to work. We truly don't have a second to waste. Thank you Steve. Hope you have a nice before Christmas weekend with the family. ❤️🇺🇸💙
P.S. I loved how Paul talked about how Independents are our future. That's where it's at folks!! We've got to hold the Center.
I think you're right Lisa. If we can clearly state what kind of country we want, fair and just for all, tolerate eccentricities but champion stability - I'm a solid Independent.
Okay. I’ll donate and work for any and all “Ds” for 2026, but please stop the candidates from “Dialing (or texting) for Dollars”. I received up to 50 of these messages a day, asking, pleading, begging, threatening for money. I assume the Republicans do the same thing, but it is so demeaning when anyone does it. Is it demeaning to the candidate, or to the potential donor? Both, I think…
And ActBlue. I’ve used them to donate since the early 2000s and I’m wondering if they’re selling our names to other candidates. It just seems that my rate of unsolicited begging letters increases after I donate through them.
To the DNC. Please support your candidates. Give out some of your dough. It’s sad the amount of begging that’s done.
NO kidding. I got mad one day and texted them back. "Stop trying to shame me into donating!!" I was furious. They were sure awful at times. Somebody needs to be aware of that as well.
Lisa, I think most of us are aware of the extent of the problem, but are just too tired to do something about it as you did. I really think that if the DNC was more generous in doling out money to qualified candidates, there might be more new candidates.
I just respond with Stop or Stop2end….it is terrible. Going to allot an amount to donate and then end the romance. I too hate to be shamed but am not going to the poorhouse for the Party
Wow. Paul Rieckoff is an outstanding guest on the show. His inside view of what will happen if Pete Hegseth is allowed to head the massive and consequential Defense Department is staggering. His knowledge of how the military works and can be manipulated to serve Trump's ends is eye-opening. I hope there are some failsafes in place, but I'm doubtful. So many norms and traditions have been scuttled under Trump. We need a leader with intelligence, creativity, cunning, and the ability to look around the corners looming ahead.
No. Democracy will not survive a Dictator on Day One. I cannot even believe we are putting up with this BS.
barely, if at all. Evil wins far too often...
Trump will doubtless not survive the tsunami of psychotic hatred he has unleashed. Blowback is wicked.
Powerful interview! This IS the conversation we NEED to be having. I turned MSM off. The media, for the most part, and the Democratic party have put us in significant harm's way. After listening to this interview, I am considering becoming an Independent voter. Steve and Paul R. ARE Leaders!
Wow! Things are tough if you have to verify me on an external link!
I appreciate all you are doing Steve Schmidt. I am not a Trump supporter. I am Canadian and we are affected by the radical right-wingers also as most countries are. But I have a question. Was Trump really elected fair and square democratically? If so, why do you support democracy if it gave us Trump?
Democracy won't work unless it is fixed. It is at risk because voters vote emotionally rate than with logic. And I know it is old hat but TV has been a problem. Problems all started when TV hit us strongly, dating back to JFK.
As a psychologist, I am aware that emotions are transmitted by the voice. Research shows this can happen over video. People are responding more to emotions expressed in the voice during interviews than to facts. Trump uses emotions to stir us up and puts us into an emotional frame of mind. Then we don't think properly. Trump's approach is to subterfuge us and put us into what is called a double bind. The more we ignore this the more we are vulnerable to it.
Great interview. Thank you!
Totally agree about Hegseth being the one to stay focused on, and also agree with the belief that a veteran might have the greatest success winning a future presidential race. An independent would be ideal but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water re party affiliation. The individual is the key, Jason Crow comes to mind often. He is an extraordinary American and, among other things, has the charisma of leadership.
The way forward.. or back, as indeed we are in retreat, requires that we suss out the greatest weaknesses of authoritarian regimes, that we strategize around their achilles heels while beefing up our greatest strengths. To do this, we must enlist Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Timothy Schneider and other brilliant Americans who understand the strengths and weaknesses of fascism.
Lastly, I am finding it very helpful to read the works of Black Americans, like James Baldwin (The Fire Next Time) and Eddie S. Glaude (We are the Leaders we Have Been Looking For), because they have been fighting the good fight for a very long time, and have a lot of wisdom to impart as we witness the (partial) implosion of our (as yet imperfect) democracy.
Thank you Steve. You are such an important voice…. I’m sorry that my cell block won’t be anywhere near your’s and Paul’s.
Excellent conversation with Paul, Steve. I rarely listen to something of this length (definitely not a podcast person) but am so thankful I listened to all of this. Informational and educational. Thank you both!
Thanks Steve for bringing Paul. I like Paul's energy and focus. Very helpful listening to the entire broadcast. Thank you Paul for your work. Plus, you are a great team!
Don’t give up. That’s what they want you to do. There is a guardrail we can build.
We ended up with Trump because we’ve become a celebrity over substance culture. The focus on Elon not being elected is a waste of time. The fact we elected Trump doesn’t make Trump better than Elon. Just add Elon to the list of mistakes this undereducated culture keeps making since mobster-like administrators hijacked our education system and disposed of called-to-teach teachers. I know this because I was one of them. My organization trying to expose this since 2002 has hundreds of stories of others like me at EndTeacherAbuse.org.
Rather than waste your time on what’s irrelevant compared to the fact that celebrity is EVERYTHING these days, read about what’s really going on in our schools at WhiteChalkCrime.com and then run for school boards on a democracy platform with two others to take over these boards that did Trump to us. School boards controlled by self-serving administrators made people fools rather than citizens. You can change that even if you don’t have a child in your school, even if you’re old or young. Rather than agonize over what we’re facing, take action. If you can’t do it, get your adult child or your neighbor to do it. Spread the word. Make substance go viral.
Thank you Steve and Paul for that in-depth analysis of where we are in America now, in politics now. I hope most Americans CARE and are patriots -- I am, but I consider politics as our lives. We live under these laws that are passed, so I don't consider it a sidebar or something to be thought of at election time. I consider myself sort of weird among my friends, as I come from a military family and was raised with patriotic values. On bases cars stopped when Taps was played and you got out and put your hand over your heart. Military kids and the military are a small percentage of the population. But that background formed who I am, and I have always been proud that I come from the only country purely of immigrants (if you exclude the Natives and slaves brought here against their will). PROUD of that fact. I've been a lifelong Democrat b/c I feel they are for The People. Paul's discussion that Independents will decide the future could very well be right. I am 80, so doubt that I will leave the Democratic Party, though I did monetarily support the Independent candidate Paul spoke of. He makes a lot of sense.
First and foremost, we Dems must defeat the totally unqualified Hegseth, and the other traitors to American values. That is imperative and critical -- trump must not be allowed to normalize weirdos for these important positions. Then, we can stop the unequal distribution of wealth>power that he has foisted upon the political scene. But thank you Steve and Paul for lots to ponder.
Love this video. You guys would make a great Prez/VP ticket, but I don't wanna be the guy who decides who fills each position. Ha!
Love it!!! ❤️