UnPresidented: Creating change that empowers the Resistance

Latest Episodes:

Famed Democratic strategist James Carville on how Democrats win in 2022 and beyond May 20, 2021

Show notes

Longtime Democratic campaign expert James Carville, who was the lead strategist in charge of getting Bill Clinton elected president in 1992, joins us to talk about how Democrats should message in order to win now and in the future. Carville talks about why Democrats aren't as good as Republicans at messaging, how "woke" messaging is hurting us at the polls, why Democrats didn't do better in the 2020 congressional elections, whether we should give Joe Manchin a harder time for opposing the elimination of the filibuster, how Donald Trump managed to win, and whether we should even care about Trump voters as we look to the future. James is a fun, frank and fascinating guy to interview. I think you'll really enjoy this chat, and learn something too. This is one of our free episodes. To hear the rest of our shows, and support our work, please consider becoming a patron over at Patreon, thanks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Sedition Commission May 19, 2021

Show notes

In today's show, Cliff and I talk about the battle over Congress establishing an independent commission to investigate the January 6th Insurrection -- or as Cliff and I call it, the Sedition Commission. From that, we move to the Arizona presidential election "recount," where even GOP officials have had enough of the Trumpers' games. We also get into how Trump and his minions, including that Women for Trump lady, have upped their rhetoric about the election having been stolen -- even for them, the new rhetoric is bad. And last, but not least, we start the show with a discussion about those God-awful cicadas. This is one of our premium episodes. You can listen to 30 minutes here, and then, if the spirit moves you, head on over to Patreon and become a patron. Thanks so much. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Republicans are planning another Insurrection May 14, 2021

Show notes

Today, Cliff and I do a deep dive on the implications of the House GOP having removed Liz Cheney from leadership, and replaced her with nouveau Trump sycophant Elise Stefanik. This isn't just about the GOP being upset that Cheney was mean to Trump. When you look at this move, alongside the increased noise we're hearing from Republicans defending the Insurrection, the Jim Crow 2.0 laws that GOP is passing in the states, and the fact that Republicans are currently favored to win the House back in 2022, it's clear that Republicans are preparing to steal the 2022 congressional and 2024 presidential elections, and they won't be afraid to use violence if they have to. It ain't good news, but it's important that we be ready for what's coming. This is one of our free episodes. To hear the rest of our shows, and support our work, please consider becoming a patron over at Patreon, thanks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Begala on how Dems win in 2022 and beyond May 10, 2021

Show notes

On today's show, we talk to c, who played a key role getting Bill Clinton elected president in 1992, and is now a Democratic strategist, author CNN contributor. Among our topics: Why Democrats didn't do better in the 2020 elections, both presidential and congressional? How Biden won the Democratic primary? Biden's great new polls, and whether they help Democrats in 2022. Hillary Clinton's "responsibility gene" and whether it handicaps Democrats. What role the Insurrection should play in our messaging? Is the GOP civil war a bigger threat to them or us? How do we stop Republicans from stealing the presidency in 2024? How do we deal with Joe Manchin? This is one of our premium episodes. You can listen to 30 minutes here, and then, if the spirit moves you, head on over to Patreon and become a patron. Thanks so much. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joe Walsh says it's too late to save the GOP May 06, 2021

Show notes

In today's show, former conservative Republican congressman, and outspoken anti-Trumper, Joe Walsh joins us again to talk about Liz Cheney growing opposition to Trump, her oped in the Washington Post saying that the GOP is "at a turning point," and whether it's already too late for both Cheney and the Republican party. Joe thinks it IS too late for both Cheney and the party, and that a third party will be formed of centrists. But in the meantime, we'll have an increasingly neo-fascist Republican party to deal with, and they may just take back the House in 2022, and the White House in 2024. Joe also calls out the other 9 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump -- where they have been the last two weeks when Cheney needed their support? They've been silent. That's the heavy and heady stuff we discuss in today's episode. It was really interesting, hope you enjoy. This is one of our free episodes. To hear the rest of our shows, and support our work, please consider becoming a patron over at Patreon, thanks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rex Huppke on the GOP yet again jumping the shark May 04, 2021

Show notes

Chicago Tribune humor columnist Rex Huppke joins us to talk about the growing civil war in the Republican party between Trumpers and the few sane GOPers, like uber-conservative Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who don't believe in violent insurrection. We then segue into a discussion of the 2022 and 2024 elections: Whether Democrats may lose the House in 2022, and whether Trump will run again in 2024. And we end with a chat about good newspapers being taking over by venture capital firms that then destroy them. This is one of our premium episodes. You can listen to 30 minutes here, and then, if the spirit moves you, head on over to Patreon and become a patron. Thanks so much. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Democratic Messaging Matters Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

Today's leitmotif is messaging. Staring with Biden quasi- State of the Union address last night before a joint session of Congress, and then leading to a long conversation about Democratic strategist James Carville's Vox interview about how Democrats are doing a lousy job messaging. Carville's interview is fantastic -- don't believe what you've heard about it. It is a master class on how Democrats should and shouldn't message -- from climate change to defining bad Republicans -- when trying to pass legislation and win elections. This is one of our free episodes. To hear the rest of our shows, and support our work, please consider becoming a patron over at Patreon, thanks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lies, Lies, and more Republican Lies. Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

On today's show, Cliff and I talk a lot about lies -- Republican lies, to be precise. How the GOP is lying about Biden, and how they're lying about Kamala. We also get into the topic of why so many people aren't getting their second Covid vaccine, and why we think their reason is pretty bogus. Oh yeah, we also talk about how the media is lying about Biden's approval rating, trying to make some really good numbers sound bad. That sounds like a short show, but it's actually a pretty long one. And fun, I think. Enjoy. That sounds like a short show, but it's actually a pretty long one. And fun, I think. Enjoy. This is one of our premium episodes. You can listen to 30 minutes here, and then, if the spirit moves you, head on over to Patreon and become a patron. Thanks so much. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everything you wanted to know about Obamacare Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

On today's show we have Charles Gaba, the editor of ACASignups, one of the top Web sites out there for detailed data about the Affordable Care Act, aka ACA, aka Obamacare. Charles joins us in an almost two-hour episode to talks about: 1. What is Obamacare? Who does it benefit, and what are the details of what it does and what subsidies it provides? 2. The details of the upcoming Supreme Court decision that might strike down the ACA. What are the options for what the court might do, and how will each affect Obamacare's survival. AND, what can Congress do to fix it? 3. Next steps for health care reform in America, from Obamacare 2.0 (what Biden can do to expand Obamacare), to Medicare for All and improving Medicare's own coverage. This is an in-depth episode that ran long, but that's because the topic is so interesting, important and detailed. Let us know what you think. This is a free episode. To hear the rest of our shows, and support our work, please consider becoming a patron over at Patreon, thanks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

HuffPost DC bureau chief Amanda Terkel joins us to discuss covering Trump vs Biden Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

In today's show, our old friend Amanda Terkel, the DC bureau chief of the Huffington Post -- and before that, longtime ThinkProgress guru -- joins us to talk about the issues of the day, and a smattering of journalistic ethics to boot. Cliff and I conclude with a longer-than-expected discussion of cryptocurrency investing, and the anti-vaxx movement. This is one of our premium episodes. You can listen to 30 minutes here for free, and then head on over to Patreon and become a patron to hear the rest of the show, and support our work. Thanks! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.