Rick sits down with Jason Zengerle to dissect Hated by All the Right People, a scalpel-sharp look at how Tucker Carlson morphed from bow-tied conservative pundit into the high priest of grievance politics. They trace the Iraq War as the inflection point that cracked the old GOP brain, Tucker’s Fox News era where outrage became currency, and his post-Fox glow-up as a free-range chaos entrepreneur feeding the MAGA algorithm. But this isn’t nostalgia — it’s about consequences. As a new war with Iran explodes into missile and drone retaliation this weekend, Rick and Jason connect the dots between right-wing media radicalization, foreign policy brinkmanship, and the profit model that rewards escalation over truth. Tucker didn’t just witness the unraveling of the conservative mind — he built a business on it. And as 2026 approaches, the rage machine he helped engineer isn’t just warping politics — it’s shaping global stakes.
•
•
•
•
•
You can find Jason Zengerle on X @zengerle, and as a staff writer for the New Yorker. His book, ‘Hated by All the Right People’ is available now, wherever fine books are sold.

Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

This week Rick's Elephant in the Room is MAGA’s decline. Donald Trump’s latest State of the Union didn’t project strength — it exposed unraveling policies, economic instability, authoritarian overreach, and growing questions about cognitive fitness, all while his inner circle — Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller and their enablers — tighten their grip on power. As the GOP fractures and the 2026 midterms loom, voters are watching a movement lose altitude in real time. The real question isn’t whether MAGA is declining — it’s whether Democrats will hold the architects of corruption and extremism accountable when power shifts, because without consequences in 2026, decline isn’t defeat… it’s just intermission.
•
•
•
•
•
Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Go to www.expressvpn.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can get up to 4 extra months. #ad

Visit www.sundaysfordogs.com/lincoln50 or use code ‘LINCOLN50’ for 50% off your first order. #ad

Former DOJ prosecutor Dan Goldman joins us to break down the growing firestorm around Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, and the Epstein files. As scrutiny over the Epstein investigation intensifies, Bondi’s defense of Trump raises serious questions about DOJ independence, selective prosecution, and political loyalty inside the Department of Justice.

Goldman explains what the Epstein files could mean for Trump legally, whether accountability is being delayed or deflected, and how the DOJ is supposed to function when powerful figures are involved. If you’re looking for clear analysis on Trump and Epstein, Pam Bondi’s role, DOJ ethics, and the fight over equal justice under the law — this is it.
•
•
•
•
•
You can find Rep. Dan Goldman on X @RepDanGoldman & @danielsgoldman. You can also find him at www.goldman.house.gov.

Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

Visit www.ethos.com/lincolnproject to find out how you can protect your family in minutes, with affordable life insurance. #ad