1 00:00:21,021 --> 00:00:23,064 The last time the Senate convened, 2 00:00:23,148 --> 00:00:26,568 we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals 3 00:00:26,609 --> 00:00:31,573 who tried to stop Congress from doing our duty. 4 00:00:31,573 --> 00:00:34,325 The mob was fed lies. 5 00:00:34,409 --> 00:00:36,703 They were provoked by the president 6 00:00:36,703 --> 00:00:39,330 and other powerful people. 7 00:00:39,414 --> 00:00:41,583 And they tried to use fear and violence 8 00:00:41,583 --> 00:00:43,168 to stop a specific proceeding 9 00:00:43,209 --> 00:00:45,754 of the first branch of the federal government, 10 00:00:45,795 --> 00:00:48,465 which they did not like. 11 00:00:48,465 --> 00:00:51,092 But we pressed on. 12 00:00:51,176 --> 00:00:53,678 We stood together and said an angry mob 13 00:00:53,762 --> 00:00:58,933 would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation, 14 00:00:59,017 --> 00:01:01,352 not even for one night. 15 00:01:01,436 --> 00:01:03,563 We certified the people's choice 16 00:01:03,563 --> 00:01:05,815 for their 46th president. 17 00:01:05,857 --> 00:01:07,817 Tomorrow, President-elect Biden 18 00:01:07,901 --> 00:01:10,987 and Vice President-elect Harris will be sworn in. 19 00:01:11,029 --> 00:01:14,240 We'll have a safe and successful inaugural 20 00:01:14,324 --> 00:01:17,702 right here on the West Front of the Capitol, 21 00:01:17,786 --> 00:01:20,789 the space that President Bush 41 called 22 00:01:20,789 --> 00:01:24,084 "democracy's front porch." 23 00:01:30,298 --> 00:01:32,926 There's a nervousness, I think, right now, 24 00:01:32,926 --> 00:01:35,929 between the events of January 6th, 25 00:01:35,970 --> 00:01:37,639 some internal things that are going on 26 00:01:37,639 --> 00:01:38,765 with The Lincoln Project, 27 00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:41,059 and just life in general right now. 28 00:01:41,059 --> 00:01:44,020 Reed asked me to start making calls 29 00:01:44,104 --> 00:01:48,274 and let go of the entire political team. 30 00:01:52,362 --> 00:01:55,156 Several of them did ask me, "Is this because of Mike?" 31 00:01:55,198 --> 00:01:57,826 and I was told not to answer that this was because of Mike. 32 00:01:57,826 --> 00:02:00,370 And I tried to talk around it. 33 00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:03,248 I probably didn't do it well. 34 00:02:05,291 --> 00:02:08,586 - How are you, gang? - We're great. 35 00:02:08,670 --> 00:02:10,755 We should have movers soon. 36 00:02:11,131 --> 00:02:13,758 I think we want to try and do some, you know, 37 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,969 maybe do a podcast thing over here-- 38 00:02:15,969 --> 00:02:19,806 - Yeah. - And a LPTV thing and... 39 00:02:20,348 --> 00:02:22,225 It was always the plan that we were going to 40 00:02:22,267 --> 00:02:25,103 downsize significantly after the election. 41 00:02:25,145 --> 00:02:27,564 But it wasn't that we were going to fire all political. 42 00:02:27,564 --> 00:02:29,732 It was like political was going to be smaller, 43 00:02:29,774 --> 00:02:31,025 creative would grow, 44 00:02:31,067 --> 00:02:33,486 there'd be a pro-democracy arm. 45 00:02:33,528 --> 00:02:36,739 Like Reed would always say, "Campaigns end." 46 00:02:36,781 --> 00:02:39,826 You go, you get other jobs. 47 00:02:39,868 --> 00:02:41,452 Like... that's... 48 00:02:41,494 --> 00:02:43,621 you know, it was never supposed to be this 49 00:02:43,663 --> 00:02:47,208 self-sustaining organization that was making millions 50 00:02:47,250 --> 00:02:49,711 and millions and millions and millions of dollars. 51 00:02:51,713 --> 00:02:53,798 It probably could have been. 52 00:02:57,302 --> 00:03:00,263 I don't know. I don't know. 53 00:03:01,389 --> 00:03:04,642 quiet music plays 54 00:03:14,194 --> 00:03:15,987 This wasn't working out for us, 55 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:19,532 bringing up these fricking... 56 00:03:21,701 --> 00:03:23,661 Whew, it's hot. 57 00:03:23,745 --> 00:03:26,831 Do you want to see the rest of your home? 58 00:03:26,915 --> 00:03:30,627 Lucas and I were a little bit concerned moving out here 59 00:03:30,668 --> 00:03:33,213 because it was like, okay, 60 00:03:33,213 --> 00:03:38,009 what happens if we move out here and we're not kept on? 61 00:03:38,051 --> 00:03:42,347 And we were like, oh, come on, that's crazy talk. 62 00:03:43,264 --> 00:03:45,183 But when we both got the phone calls, 63 00:03:45,225 --> 00:03:47,977 we, like, called each other, we were like, "Fuck." 64 00:03:53,274 --> 00:03:54,692 Hey, buddy, how are you? 65 00:03:54,776 --> 00:03:58,446 Struggling at the moment, but I did get a cappuccino. 66 00:03:58,488 --> 00:03:59,322 So I'm-- 67 00:03:59,364 --> 00:04:01,491 - Oh, halfway there. - Doing okay. 68 00:04:01,532 --> 00:04:04,285 You know, all good things come to an end, buddy. 69 00:04:04,369 --> 00:04:06,287 And they're not-they're not an end, they're-- 70 00:04:06,371 --> 00:04:08,206 in many ways, it's a new beginning. 71 00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:09,457 - And, uh... - Yeah. 72 00:04:09,499 --> 00:04:11,542 Seeing you guys and how hopeful you were 73 00:04:11,626 --> 00:04:15,922 and how passionate you were reminded me of... 74 00:04:15,964 --> 00:04:18,216 of when I was in my early 20s and out of college 75 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:19,550 and doing campaign work, 76 00:04:19,592 --> 00:04:22,929 because you're fighting to make the country better 77 00:04:22,929 --> 00:04:25,932 and fighting for a worldview that's inclusive. 78 00:04:25,932 --> 00:04:27,350 It was really my honor. 79 00:04:27,392 --> 00:04:29,727 And I want to thank you for that. 80 00:04:29,811 --> 00:04:32,230 If this was in person, I might have, like, teared up, 81 00:04:32,272 --> 00:04:36,651 but because it's not, I'm, like, keeping it together. 82 00:04:36,651 --> 00:04:38,695 But I appreciate it. 83 00:04:38,695 --> 00:04:39,988 Love you, man. 84 00:04:40,029 --> 00:04:42,365 Thanks, man, love you too. 85 00:04:44,284 --> 00:04:46,327 President Trump will not attend 86 00:04:46,411 --> 00:04:49,539 Joe Biden's inauguration as presidents have done 87 00:04:49,539 --> 00:04:53,334 to acknowledge a peaceful transfer of power. 88 00:04:53,418 --> 00:04:54,961 There are plenty in Washington 89 00:04:55,003 --> 00:04:58,965 who'd rather Trump not make it to inauguration day at all. 90 00:04:59,007 --> 00:05:00,508 House Democrats introduced 91 00:05:00,508 --> 00:05:03,136 one article of impeachment on Monday, 92 00:05:03,177 --> 00:05:05,054 charging U.S. President Donald Trump 93 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:06,806 with incitement of insurrection 94 00:05:06,848 --> 00:05:10,685 in their second push to remove him from office. 95 00:05:10,685 --> 00:05:13,104 We just got 75 million votes, 96 00:05:13,104 --> 00:05:17,942 and that's a record in the history of sitting presidents. 97 00:05:22,030 --> 00:05:25,241 A goodbye, we love you, 98 00:05:25,283 --> 00:05:28,244 we will be back in some form. 99 00:05:28,286 --> 00:05:31,289 So have a good life. We will see you... 100 00:05:31,289 --> 00:05:33,624 "Have a good life." 101 00:05:33,708 --> 00:05:35,293 "Have a good life." 102 00:05:35,293 --> 00:05:37,086 Who fucking says that? 103 00:05:37,170 --> 00:05:39,756 "Have a good life." 104 00:05:39,756 --> 00:05:41,507 I mean, come on. 105 00:05:42,467 --> 00:05:46,429 Amazing 106 00:05:46,471 --> 00:05:48,514 Grace 107 00:05:48,556 --> 00:05:51,100 How sweet 108 00:05:51,142 --> 00:05:55,021 The sound 109 00:05:55,063 --> 00:05:58,066 That saved 110 00:05:58,066 --> 00:06:00,777 A wretch 111 00:06:00,777 --> 00:06:03,821 Like me 112 00:06:05,406 --> 00:06:10,036 I once was lost 113 00:06:10,078 --> 00:06:16,042 But now I'm found 114 00:06:16,084 --> 00:06:18,836 Was blind 115 00:06:18,878 --> 00:06:25,301 But now I see 116 00:06:25,802 --> 00:06:28,596 Our history has been a constant struggle 117 00:06:28,638 --> 00:06:31,766 between the American ideal that we're all created equal 118 00:06:31,766 --> 00:06:36,187 and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, 119 00:06:36,229 --> 00:06:39,524 nativism, fear, demonization 120 00:06:39,524 --> 00:06:41,692 have long torn us apart. 121 00:06:41,776 --> 00:06:44,987 Through Civil War, the Great Depression, 122 00:06:45,071 --> 00:06:46,864 World War, 9/11, 123 00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:48,866 through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, 124 00:06:48,950 --> 00:06:53,079 our better angels have always prevailed. 125 00:06:53,538 --> 00:06:56,416 In each of these moments, enough of us-- 126 00:06:56,457 --> 00:06:59,293 enough of us have come together 127 00:06:59,335 --> 00:07:02,255 to carry all of us forward. 128 00:07:02,255 --> 00:07:04,382 This is a great nation. 129 00:07:04,424 --> 00:07:06,426 We're a good people. 130 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:09,679 And over the centuries, through storm and strife, 131 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,891 in peace and in war, we've come so far, 132 00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:16,269 but we still have far to go. 133 00:07:16,310 --> 00:07:20,106 soft, stirring music 134 00:07:56,142 --> 00:07:57,268 Hello? 135 00:07:57,310 --> 00:08:00,605 Did you see the article this morning? 136 00:08:00,605 --> 00:08:05,359 Yeah, it's really upsetting. 137 00:08:05,401 --> 00:08:07,195 Um... 138 00:08:07,195 --> 00:08:10,072 it's just unbelievable. 139 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:13,367 edgy music plays 140 00:08:13,409 --> 00:08:16,496 The Lincoln Project is in the hot seat. 141 00:08:16,537 --> 00:08:20,291 21 men have accused co-founder John Weaver 142 00:08:20,291 --> 00:08:22,001 of sexual harassment. 143 00:08:22,043 --> 00:08:24,504 Allegations that Weaver sent them 144 00:08:24,504 --> 00:08:26,339 sexually provocative messages, 145 00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:28,382 often suggesting that he could help them 146 00:08:28,466 --> 00:08:30,343 get work in politics. 147 00:08:32,512 --> 00:08:34,764 He told one man that he would, quote, 148 00:08:34,764 --> 00:08:37,350 "Spoil you when we see each other, 149 00:08:37,350 --> 00:08:39,644 "give advice, help with bills. 150 00:08:39,644 --> 00:08:42,355 You help me sensually." 151 00:08:46,651 --> 00:08:48,402 According to The New York Times, 152 00:08:48,486 --> 00:08:51,197 one of the boys was just 14 years old 153 00:08:51,197 --> 00:08:53,199 when Weaver first contacted him. 154 00:08:53,199 --> 00:08:54,742 Weaver has been on medical leave 155 00:08:54,742 --> 00:08:56,577 from The Lincoln Project since last summer 156 00:08:56,661 --> 00:09:00,623 and hasn't responded to NBC News' requests for comment. 157 00:09:01,207 --> 00:09:03,709 The Lincoln Project said it was, quote, "shocked," 158 00:09:03,751 --> 00:09:06,837 calling Weaver "a predator, a liar, and an abuser," 159 00:09:06,921 --> 00:09:08,839 adding, "The totality of his deceptions 160 00:09:08,923 --> 00:09:11,425 "are beyond anything any of us could have imagined, 161 00:09:11,467 --> 00:09:15,179 and we are absolutely shocked and sickened by it." 162 00:09:23,896 --> 00:09:26,899 Hey, folks, I want to talk to you tonight about John Weaver. 163 00:09:27,441 --> 00:09:29,819 And it's not an easy story to tell. 164 00:09:30,736 --> 00:09:33,656 Over the weekend, on Sunday, the New York Times 165 00:09:33,656 --> 00:09:35,157 published a story about John Weaver, 166 00:09:35,199 --> 00:09:38,202 one of the seven co-founders of The Lincoln Project. 167 00:09:39,328 --> 00:09:41,706 That story was about... 168 00:09:41,747 --> 00:09:44,417 contacts with John that began in 2014, 169 00:09:44,458 --> 00:09:46,627 while he was working for John Kasich, 170 00:09:46,711 --> 00:09:51,132 with a young man, a young man of 14 years. 171 00:09:51,632 --> 00:09:53,884 This is the first time we'd heard this story, 172 00:09:53,968 --> 00:09:55,803 first time we'd had any information 173 00:09:55,803 --> 00:09:58,764 about John contacting a child. 174 00:09:58,806 --> 00:10:03,019 And I have to tell you, it shocked us, disgusted us. 175 00:10:03,019 --> 00:10:06,856 It left us in a state of absolute just dread 176 00:10:06,897 --> 00:10:09,609 over the fact that that a child could have been 177 00:10:09,609 --> 00:10:12,153 victimized by John Weaver. 178 00:10:12,153 --> 00:10:18,659 You know, for four years now, my kids have been victimized. 179 00:10:18,743 --> 00:10:21,245 They've been stalked, they've been harassed, 180 00:10:21,329 --> 00:10:23,789 they've had rape threats and death threats, 181 00:10:23,831 --> 00:10:25,666 because I oppose Donald Trump. 182 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:27,418 And that's a burden they had to bear. 183 00:10:27,418 --> 00:10:31,047 And they've been great kids, and they're amazing kids. 184 00:10:31,797 --> 00:10:33,215 But the thought of this guy doing this 185 00:10:33,299 --> 00:10:34,800 to other people's kids, 186 00:10:34,884 --> 00:10:38,721 it sickens me to the core, and all of us. 187 00:10:38,763 --> 00:10:40,681 I hope that you will continue to repose 188 00:10:40,723 --> 00:10:43,267 the confidence you've shown in us for the last year. 189 00:10:43,351 --> 00:10:45,686 We will earn it from you every day. 190 00:10:45,728 --> 00:10:47,521 We will keep this mission going. 191 00:10:47,605 --> 00:10:50,191 And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 192 00:10:50,232 --> 00:10:53,778 somber music plays 193 00:10:53,778 --> 00:10:55,196 Here's a fun fact. 194 00:10:55,237 --> 00:10:58,157 I've been in the same room with John Weaver in my life 195 00:10:58,157 --> 00:10:59,659 one time. 196 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:01,577 I met John... 197 00:11:01,619 --> 00:11:04,830 virtually, of course, through LP. 198 00:11:07,541 --> 00:11:10,628 The deepest feeling I have right now 199 00:11:10,670 --> 00:11:15,466 is a regret I did not know what I should have known. 200 00:11:15,466 --> 00:11:17,885 Let me tell you, if that had come to me, 201 00:11:17,885 --> 00:11:21,180 th-that John was-was saying to interns 202 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:23,057 or staff members or anybody, 203 00:11:23,057 --> 00:11:24,642 "I will give you a job at The Lincoln Project 204 00:11:24,642 --> 00:11:26,894 for sexual whatever..." 205 00:11:26,894 --> 00:11:29,730 he'd be out the next day, be out that minute. 206 00:11:39,073 --> 00:11:40,032 Your door's open. 207 00:11:40,116 --> 00:11:42,410 I just left it open 208 00:11:42,410 --> 00:11:44,954 - for you. - I know. 209 00:11:44,954 --> 00:11:46,914 So... how you feeling? 210 00:11:46,914 --> 00:11:48,708 You know, just sort of permanently like 211 00:11:48,749 --> 00:11:50,584 -"What the fuck?" - Yeah. 212 00:11:50,626 --> 00:11:53,379 I haven't been able to relax in... 213 00:11:53,379 --> 00:11:55,840 you know, a week and a half. 214 00:11:57,842 --> 00:12:00,511 This is dystopian as fuck. 215 00:12:00,553 --> 00:12:01,929 I know. 216 00:12:01,929 --> 00:12:06,350 I have a lot of thoughts and a lot of feelings, I guess. 217 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:07,935 Which are? 218 00:12:07,977 --> 00:12:10,521 I would love to be released from my NDA. 219 00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:12,189 - Yes. - That's all I want. 220 00:12:12,273 --> 00:12:13,482 Yep. 221 00:12:13,524 --> 00:12:15,526 I don't even think I'm allowed to call the interns 222 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:17,528 and be like, "Are you okay? Did this happen to you?" 223 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:20,531 - Like, how are you doing? - Yeah. 224 00:12:20,573 --> 00:12:24,326 So people feel, yes, 225 00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:25,786 it's a bad thing that happened. 226 00:12:25,870 --> 00:12:28,122 But I don't think anybody's imagining that, 227 00:12:28,122 --> 00:12:32,710 at least from the people that I know, who are donors-- 228 00:12:32,752 --> 00:12:34,587 Let me just say a sentence to you. 229 00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:35,838 The Lincoln Project 230 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,467 knew that John Weaver was doing this in June 2020. 231 00:12:39,467 --> 00:12:41,093 They continued to put him in contact 232 00:12:41,135 --> 00:12:44,305 and hire his interns into October 2020. 233 00:12:44,346 --> 00:12:46,724 uneasy music plays 234 00:12:46,724 --> 00:12:49,685 I warned them about this in a three-page email, 235 00:12:49,727 --> 00:12:54,064 detailing 15 instances of sexual harassment 236 00:12:54,148 --> 00:12:55,775 by John Weaver. 237 00:12:56,275 --> 00:12:58,277 I was told that there was an investigation, 238 00:12:58,277 --> 00:13:04,325 that he was sidelined, and I believed the assurances 239 00:13:04,366 --> 00:13:05,868 that I got from the organization 240 00:13:05,868 --> 00:13:07,703 that John had been cut out. 241 00:13:07,745 --> 00:13:12,124 I did not realize the degree of the deception and the cover-up 242 00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:15,044 until October, when he got back involved, 243 00:13:15,044 --> 00:13:16,879 and I was like, "What the fuck?" 244 00:13:16,879 --> 00:13:19,465 And at that point, it was five days to the election 245 00:13:19,507 --> 00:13:20,883 and I was like, "What am I gonna do 246 00:13:20,925 --> 00:13:23,219 with this information right now?" 247 00:13:23,260 --> 00:13:26,013 Then it's in the fucking New York Times, 248 00:13:26,013 --> 00:13:29,558 and their comment is, "We didn't know." 249 00:13:30,768 --> 00:13:32,645 I'm just playing devil's advocate, 250 00:13:32,686 --> 00:13:34,897 but in terms of like, it was all consensual-- 251 00:13:34,939 --> 00:13:38,734 No, and I don't think you wanna have this fight with me. 252 00:13:39,276 --> 00:13:43,656 John has been doing this to people for 30 years. 253 00:13:43,697 --> 00:13:47,493 He did a version of it to me. 254 00:13:48,452 --> 00:13:50,538 You know, it's just, um... 255 00:13:51,914 --> 00:13:55,751 It was like 2011, and I was 19, 256 00:13:55,835 --> 00:13:57,920 and I just got a message from out of the blue. 257 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,089 I knew who he was. 258 00:14:00,714 --> 00:14:02,633 And he was telling me that there was a governor 259 00:14:02,633 --> 00:14:04,385 that was going to run for president in 2012 260 00:14:04,385 --> 00:14:05,761 on the Republican side 261 00:14:05,803 --> 00:14:08,013 and he was looking for smart, young, digital talent 262 00:14:08,055 --> 00:14:12,726 and kept trying to get me to come to New York a few times. 263 00:14:12,810 --> 00:14:15,437 And then I sort of rebuffed him. 264 00:14:17,231 --> 00:14:19,149 He started, like, play a victim a little bit, 265 00:14:19,191 --> 00:14:21,735 like he was like, "I'm stuck in such a terrible situation. 266 00:14:21,819 --> 00:14:23,070 Do you have any advice for me?" 267 00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:26,031 And I was like, "No." Like, I'm 20, 268 00:14:26,115 --> 00:14:28,117 and you're married with children and gay. 269 00:14:28,158 --> 00:14:30,202 I don't know how to help you here. 270 00:14:31,328 --> 00:14:33,372 And then as soon as I re-engaged, 271 00:14:33,372 --> 00:14:34,915 'cause I felt bad for him, 272 00:14:34,957 --> 00:14:38,544 he slipped it right back to the predatory-style behavior. 273 00:14:42,089 --> 00:14:46,594 My dad asked me a really kinda tough question. 274 00:14:46,594 --> 00:14:48,512 You know, "How did you get so close to people 275 00:14:48,554 --> 00:14:51,015 who are apparently this bad?" 276 00:14:51,015 --> 00:14:53,309 - Yeah. - And I didn't have an answer. 277 00:14:53,350 --> 00:14:54,935 And I still don't. 278 00:14:54,977 --> 00:14:58,814 Well, I think we all saw the good in this organization. 279 00:14:58,898 --> 00:15:00,858 - It sucks, dude. - Yeah. 280 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:03,235 It sucks. 281 00:15:03,319 --> 00:15:06,238 "Dear Sarah, Reed, Rick, Steve, and Stuart, 282 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,949 "I wanted to first express my gratitude 283 00:15:08,991 --> 00:15:11,660 "for the opportunity that The Lincoln Project 284 00:15:11,744 --> 00:15:13,203 "has provided to me. 285 00:15:13,287 --> 00:15:15,748 "I believe The Lincoln Project was on the right side 286 00:15:15,748 --> 00:15:17,708 "in putting country over party. 287 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:20,127 "It is with a heavy heart that I express my belief 288 00:15:20,169 --> 00:15:22,379 "that The Lincoln Project is an organization 289 00:15:22,463 --> 00:15:23,797 "that preaches morality 290 00:15:23,881 --> 00:15:26,717 "but in practice, cannot stand up to that belief. 291 00:15:26,717 --> 00:15:28,594 "I'm formally issuing my resignation 292 00:15:28,594 --> 00:15:30,846 "to The Lincoln Project, effective immediately, 293 00:15:30,930 --> 00:15:32,514 "due in part to the events 294 00:15:32,598 --> 00:15:34,016 "surrounding co-founder John Weaver 295 00:15:34,016 --> 00:15:37,102 and the allegations that have come to light." 296 00:15:37,811 --> 00:15:40,022 That's that. 297 00:15:46,111 --> 00:15:48,155 To learn of everything that's come out 298 00:15:48,197 --> 00:15:51,033 has been incredibly gut-wrenching. 299 00:15:51,033 --> 00:15:53,953 I just want to read out something 300 00:15:53,953 --> 00:15:56,956 that they have, you know, publicly put out there. 301 00:15:57,915 --> 00:16:01,418 It's one of them that interned with the, uh, with our team, 302 00:16:01,502 --> 00:16:03,212 the political team. 303 00:16:15,224 --> 00:16:17,935 "At the time, I was a senior in college, studying government, 304 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:19,645 "and I thought connecting with him 305 00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:21,230 "could really open some doors for me. 306 00:16:21,230 --> 00:16:22,982 "But in exchange for open doors, 307 00:16:22,982 --> 00:16:24,775 "Weaver always wanted sex. 308 00:16:24,775 --> 00:16:27,778 "This went on for more than three years. 309 00:16:27,778 --> 00:16:29,905 "I never knew the extent of his actions, 310 00:16:29,989 --> 00:16:32,282 "and I hope others he targeted for grooming 311 00:16:32,324 --> 00:16:34,910 "will feel comfortable with telling their stories. 312 00:16:34,994 --> 00:16:38,372 I just wish I had said something soomer--sooner." 313 00:16:41,250 --> 00:16:44,003 There is almo--I-- there is no way. 314 00:16:44,003 --> 00:16:46,130 Learning what happened now, there is no way 315 00:16:46,130 --> 00:16:48,716 that the principals and people on the principals' calls 316 00:16:48,716 --> 00:16:53,137 and the founders did not know that this was happening. 317 00:16:53,137 --> 00:16:57,474 edgy music plays 318 00:16:57,516 --> 00:16:59,893 When the allegations went public last month, 319 00:16:59,935 --> 00:17:02,688 The Lincoln Project said it was, quote, "Shocked." 320 00:17:02,688 --> 00:17:04,898 But a new report says top leaders at the group 321 00:17:04,982 --> 00:17:08,444 knew about at least ten allegations against Weaver. 322 00:17:09,403 --> 00:17:11,155 Here, you have, in June-- 323 00:17:11,155 --> 00:17:13,198 the group was told about Weaver, 324 00:17:13,282 --> 00:17:17,369 about these horrible text messages to young boys, 325 00:17:17,453 --> 00:17:18,996 promising sex for jobs, 326 00:17:18,996 --> 00:17:21,373 and they did nothing. 327 00:17:37,973 --> 00:17:41,351 It wasn't complete news to me. 328 00:17:41,393 --> 00:17:45,147 There had been rumblings of John for decades. 329 00:17:45,189 --> 00:17:48,942 He had a reputation around this stuff. 330 00:17:48,984 --> 00:17:50,861 And I'm going to just be really straight. 331 00:17:50,861 --> 00:17:53,280 I had interns coming out of my ears. 332 00:17:53,322 --> 00:17:57,159 John would send them to me. I'd get resumes. 333 00:17:57,201 --> 00:17:59,203 And I found out, after the fact, 334 00:17:59,203 --> 00:18:01,789 that the interns that John at the time was sending me 335 00:18:01,830 --> 00:18:04,792 were people that he was DMing. 336 00:18:05,334 --> 00:18:09,296 When we first received this email, right? 337 00:18:09,296 --> 00:18:12,633 First thing I do-- send it to the attorney. 338 00:18:12,633 --> 00:18:13,926 Take a look at this. 339 00:18:13,967 --> 00:18:16,512 Do the necessary investigations. 340 00:18:17,012 --> 00:18:20,641 It turns out that the people who were named in the email-- 341 00:18:20,682 --> 00:18:21,809 they didn't want to-- 342 00:18:21,809 --> 00:18:23,644 they didn't want to pursue a formal complaint 343 00:18:23,685 --> 00:18:24,937 within the organization. 344 00:18:24,978 --> 00:18:28,023 A board member comes to me subsequent to that and says, 345 00:18:28,107 --> 00:18:29,441 "I'm not happy with the outcome." 346 00:18:29,525 --> 00:18:32,694 And I said, "What do you want me to do about it?" 347 00:18:33,237 --> 00:18:37,324 The board was made up of me, Ron, and Mike. 348 00:18:37,366 --> 00:18:40,702 It only took two people to make a decision. 349 00:18:45,207 --> 00:18:47,668 I think it was, at least from my perspective, 350 00:18:47,668 --> 00:18:49,878 as much as I know, it was 351 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,715 a bunch of right-wing, 352 00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:55,425 you know, sort of Trump-aligned trolls 353 00:18:55,467 --> 00:18:58,637 who had been working on this for many, many months. 354 00:18:58,679 --> 00:19:00,180 They were out to get us. 355 00:19:00,264 --> 00:19:01,348 We woke up this morning. 356 00:19:01,348 --> 00:19:04,852 Veracity, our new digital vendor, pulled. 357 00:19:04,852 --> 00:19:07,729 Anedot, who runs our money, pulled out. 358 00:19:07,771 --> 00:19:09,731 Um, m-more people have resigned. 359 00:19:09,815 --> 00:19:11,942 It's just-it's-it's like... 360 00:19:11,942 --> 00:19:15,154 it's falling apart. 361 00:19:20,367 --> 00:19:23,370 There is a destructive nature to secrets 362 00:19:23,412 --> 00:19:26,915 and how they eat at you internally. 363 00:19:29,418 --> 00:19:30,794 The day the story came out, 364 00:19:30,878 --> 00:19:34,840 I got my first phone call from an intern at the Project. 365 00:19:34,882 --> 00:19:37,301 He said the cornerstone of Trumpism 366 00:19:37,342 --> 00:19:39,303 is about an abuse of power. 367 00:19:39,303 --> 00:19:41,471 This is one of the reasons why I joined. 368 00:19:41,513 --> 00:19:44,224 But, he said, I feel like I've become a victim 369 00:19:44,308 --> 00:19:46,643 of what I was fighting against. 370 00:19:48,187 --> 00:19:51,398 I said, this is it. I'm done, this--I'm done. 371 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,693 moody music plays 372 00:19:59,156 --> 00:20:01,992 Late afternoon, after I had resigned, 373 00:20:01,992 --> 00:20:06,288 my attorney texted me and said, 374 00:20:06,288 --> 00:20:08,874 "Oh my God, Steve's statement." 375 00:20:12,211 --> 00:20:15,631 Steve suggested that I was seeking hush money. 376 00:20:15,672 --> 00:20:19,134 Not only was I not-- I would never. 377 00:20:19,218 --> 00:20:21,678 It is so... 378 00:20:21,762 --> 00:20:23,388 arrogant and hypocritical 379 00:20:23,472 --> 00:20:27,017 and antithetical to what we said we were all about. 380 00:20:33,273 --> 00:20:35,984 Let's lay it all out. 381 00:20:37,110 --> 00:20:39,947 Jennifer Horn sent a letter 382 00:20:39,947 --> 00:20:41,949 asking for lifetime compensation 383 00:20:41,949 --> 00:20:43,700 on Christmas Eve. 384 00:20:43,784 --> 00:20:45,702 Lifetime financial security, 385 00:20:45,744 --> 00:20:49,331 on the backs of the donors of The Lincoln Project. 386 00:20:49,373 --> 00:20:51,541 And my answer was no. 387 00:20:51,625 --> 00:20:53,335 Outrageous. 388 00:20:54,127 --> 00:20:55,587 About five weeks later, 389 00:20:55,671 --> 00:20:57,673 the first story came out 390 00:20:57,673 --> 00:20:59,383 about John Weaver, 391 00:20:59,424 --> 00:21:02,928 and she started using that 392 00:21:02,928 --> 00:21:04,805 to lever the organization, 393 00:21:04,805 --> 00:21:09,059 demanding compensation, 394 00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:11,812 and then, after she resigned, 395 00:21:11,812 --> 00:21:14,273 leaked to the press 396 00:21:14,273 --> 00:21:17,150 that The Lincoln Project's leadership 397 00:21:17,192 --> 00:21:19,945 had covered up 398 00:21:19,987 --> 00:21:22,990 serious allegations... 399 00:21:22,990 --> 00:21:26,243 of sexual misconduct 400 00:21:26,243 --> 00:21:28,203 against a founder of the organization 401 00:21:28,287 --> 00:21:30,289 so we can all keep making money. 402 00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:33,375 It was disgusting. 403 00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,585 You are publicly attacking a woman 404 00:21:35,669 --> 00:21:38,714 going through an aggressive contract negotiation 405 00:21:38,714 --> 00:21:42,217 for fair compensation for what she was contributing. 406 00:21:42,301 --> 00:21:45,971 It was such a sexist thing for them to do. 407 00:21:45,971 --> 00:21:47,597 When they make an attack 408 00:21:47,681 --> 00:21:50,267 suggesting that I would do such a thing, 409 00:21:50,267 --> 00:21:52,102 they attack the integrity 410 00:21:52,144 --> 00:21:54,187 of everything I've ever accomplished. 411 00:21:54,271 --> 00:21:56,690 And one of the more offensive moments 412 00:21:56,732 --> 00:21:59,735 of the entire, uh, saga, 413 00:21:59,776 --> 00:22:04,406 was Jennifer Horn playing the victim card, um... 414 00:22:05,824 --> 00:22:08,452 As... 415 00:22:08,452 --> 00:22:12,164 "I'm a woman who's been treated badly here." 416 00:22:12,205 --> 00:22:15,125 Please. Jennifer Horn, 417 00:22:15,125 --> 00:22:17,294 a contract employee 418 00:22:17,294 --> 00:22:21,590 who was given an honorific co-founder title, 419 00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:25,469 uh, spent most of The Lincoln Project on leave-- 420 00:22:25,469 --> 00:22:28,305 paid leave-- because her mom was sick, 421 00:22:28,305 --> 00:22:30,682 then ran a couple of Facebook groups. 422 00:22:30,766 --> 00:22:32,934 She says, "I want lifetime compensation." 423 00:22:33,018 --> 00:22:34,186 No. 424 00:22:34,186 --> 00:22:36,938 And the response is, "You're anti-woman." 425 00:22:38,315 --> 00:22:40,734 Okay. Guess so. 426 00:22:41,985 --> 00:22:43,904 Answer's still no. 427 00:22:44,404 --> 00:22:46,782 I didn't learn anything new about them 428 00:22:46,823 --> 00:22:47,949 from that episode. 429 00:22:47,991 --> 00:22:51,244 I knew exactly who they were and exactly what their MO was. 430 00:22:51,286 --> 00:22:56,291 Anybody who gets in your way is disposable. 431 00:22:56,375 --> 00:22:59,669 Anybody who stands up and says, 432 00:22:59,753 --> 00:23:02,422 "This is not why we got in this fight," 433 00:23:02,464 --> 00:23:04,049 is disposable. 434 00:23:04,091 --> 00:23:06,343 I mean, that's just the tip of the iceberg 435 00:23:06,343 --> 00:23:07,803 of what they're capable of. 436 00:23:07,803 --> 00:23:09,721 I mean, look at what we did at The Lincoln Project. 437 00:23:09,805 --> 00:23:12,349 Imagine the firepower that we aimed at Donald Trump 438 00:23:12,349 --> 00:23:15,143 being aimed at you. 439 00:23:15,185 --> 00:23:19,022 moody music 440 00:23:23,735 --> 00:23:26,446 I think I just, like had gotten out of the shower 441 00:23:26,488 --> 00:23:29,074 and just was, like, flipping open Twitter. 442 00:23:29,908 --> 00:23:31,159 For the first second I was like, 443 00:23:31,243 --> 00:23:32,536 this can't be what I think this is. 444 00:23:32,536 --> 00:23:36,540 Steve tweeted out screenshots of my conversation 445 00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:39,668 with the reporter, Amanda Becker. 446 00:23:40,627 --> 00:23:42,671 It felt like an assault, 447 00:23:42,712 --> 00:23:44,881 and I went into, like, a full-blown panic. 448 00:23:44,923 --> 00:23:47,717 My heart was racing. My head was pounding. 449 00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:50,137 Pacing back and forth in the room. 450 00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:52,264 And that's when George called. 451 00:23:52,264 --> 00:23:53,849 I was like, "George, call them. 452 00:23:53,849 --> 00:23:55,517 "You have to make them take it down. 453 00:23:55,517 --> 00:23:57,394 "Call Reed. Call Reed right now. 454 00:23:57,436 --> 00:23:59,312 They have to take it down." 455 00:23:59,354 --> 00:24:01,273 But it was too late. 456 00:24:01,314 --> 00:24:03,900 I mean, it was everywhere by then. 457 00:24:05,485 --> 00:24:10,907 I am shocked at how dirty it was. 458 00:24:10,991 --> 00:24:14,286 But I shouldn't be shocked, 459 00:24:14,286 --> 00:24:18,790 because that is absolutely who they are. 460 00:24:39,227 --> 00:24:42,689 I do have a regret, uh, with regard to that. 461 00:24:42,689 --> 00:24:46,359 I regret the apology. Um... 462 00:24:48,570 --> 00:24:52,240 She went and hired a Lincoln Project staffer 463 00:24:52,282 --> 00:24:55,494 to be her personal publicist. 464 00:24:55,535 --> 00:25:00,582 Um... she gave that person access to her Twitter account. 465 00:25:00,582 --> 00:25:03,084 When that person had access 466 00:25:03,168 --> 00:25:05,587 to Jennifer Horn's Twitter account, 467 00:25:05,629 --> 00:25:10,509 he saw Jennifer Horn's direct messages with a reporter 468 00:25:10,509 --> 00:25:14,429 where she was threatening to destroy The Lincoln Project. 469 00:25:14,471 --> 00:25:18,517 And this person was aware that while that was going on, 470 00:25:18,517 --> 00:25:21,853 Jennifer was also in a financial dispute. 471 00:25:21,937 --> 00:25:27,108 Her conduct was as absolutely inappropriate, 472 00:25:27,150 --> 00:25:29,778 unprofessional, and unethical 473 00:25:29,819 --> 00:25:32,781 as Ron Steslow's and Mike Madrid's 474 00:25:32,822 --> 00:25:37,661 and is another person who claimed herself to be a victim 475 00:25:37,661 --> 00:25:39,412 and played a leading role 476 00:25:39,454 --> 00:25:42,165 in really functionally destroying the organization 477 00:25:42,207 --> 00:25:43,542 over nonsense. 478 00:25:43,542 --> 00:25:46,378 So yeah, I do regret apologizing to her. 479 00:25:46,419 --> 00:25:49,297 She's not owed an apology. 480 00:25:52,926 --> 00:25:55,554 The Democrats are facing an uphill battle 481 00:25:55,554 --> 00:25:59,474 in Mr. Trump's historic second impeachment trial, 482 00:25:59,558 --> 00:26:03,144 this time for his role in the January 6 attack 483 00:26:03,186 --> 00:26:05,522 on the U.S. Capitol. 484 00:26:05,522 --> 00:26:06,898 Two weeks ago, 485 00:26:06,940 --> 00:26:09,025 Republicans were condemning Donald Trump. 486 00:26:09,067 --> 00:26:13,363 Now, some already appear to be softening their stance. 487 00:26:13,363 --> 00:26:15,657 Most of the evidence is hearsay. 488 00:26:15,699 --> 00:26:16,783 This is not evidence. 489 00:26:16,783 --> 00:26:18,910 This is a liberal Democratic novel. 490 00:26:18,994 --> 00:26:22,038 The process of impeachment and conviction 491 00:26:22,122 --> 00:26:25,375 is a narrow tool... 492 00:26:25,375 --> 00:26:30,505 a narrow tool for a narrow purpose. 493 00:26:30,547 --> 00:26:32,465 If we impeached every politician 494 00:26:32,507 --> 00:26:35,677 who gave a fiery speech to a crowd of partisans, 495 00:26:35,677 --> 00:26:38,263 this Capitol would be deserted. 496 00:26:38,305 --> 00:26:41,808 Impeachment is for removal from office. 497 00:26:41,850 --> 00:26:45,061 And the accused here has already left office. 498 00:26:45,103 --> 00:26:47,314 Hyper-partisan Democrats 499 00:26:47,314 --> 00:26:49,816 are about to drag our great country 500 00:26:49,858 --> 00:26:53,445 down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol, 501 00:26:53,486 --> 00:26:55,405 the likes of which has never been seen 502 00:26:55,447 --> 00:26:56,740 in our nation's history. 503 00:26:56,781 --> 00:26:58,867 Instead of stopping the Trump train, 504 00:26:58,867 --> 00:27:00,577 his movement will grow stronger, 505 00:27:00,619 --> 00:27:02,912 for you will have made him a martyr. 506 00:27:04,748 --> 00:27:06,458 On this President's Day, 507 00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:07,792 Donald Trump supporters 508 00:27:07,834 --> 00:27:09,961 gathering to celebrate a former President, 509 00:27:10,003 --> 00:27:11,838 fresh off his second acquittal. 510 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,799 And tonight, he is plotting out his next steps. 511 00:27:14,883 --> 00:27:17,218 You have all these Republicans 512 00:27:17,302 --> 00:27:19,137 kissing the ring still. 513 00:27:19,137 --> 00:27:23,099 Given that Trump is still wielding so much power, 514 00:27:23,183 --> 00:27:24,601 I think it does reflect 515 00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:28,647 we are still very much in the midst of this crisis. 516 00:27:29,397 --> 00:27:31,316 It's not behind us. 517 00:27:50,627 --> 00:27:53,004 Hey, Stuart. How are you? 518 00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:56,132 Not great. 519 00:27:56,174 --> 00:27:59,260 It's been a horrible week. 520 00:27:59,344 --> 00:28:03,348 I-I mean, Stuart, I hired people, 521 00:28:03,348 --> 00:28:06,768 knowing the beginning started with John. 522 00:28:06,810 --> 00:28:09,187 And Reed knew as well. 523 00:28:13,608 --> 00:28:15,652 That-- 524 00:28:15,652 --> 00:28:17,445 T-that's not the issue. 525 00:28:17,487 --> 00:28:19,406 That is not the issue. 526 00:28:19,447 --> 00:28:21,866 somber music plays 527 00:28:21,908 --> 00:28:24,828 Ron had made Reed and Steve aware, back in March, 528 00:28:24,828 --> 00:28:28,206 of Conor and all these other guys. I-- 529 00:28:28,248 --> 00:28:29,457 I mean-- 530 00:28:32,585 --> 00:28:35,004 Well, then why were we trying to cover it up 531 00:28:35,088 --> 00:28:37,382 if it didn't matter? 532 00:28:37,424 --> 00:28:39,926 dark, moody music 533 00:28:39,968 --> 00:28:42,929 Look, I'm not going to pretend like I didn't know, 534 00:28:42,929 --> 00:28:45,974 if asked, is the bottom line. 535 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,354 I sent a letter to you and Reed, and nobody responded. 536 00:28:52,814 --> 00:28:56,317 I sent you and Reed my letter of resignation. 537 00:28:57,694 --> 00:28:59,320 Okay. 538 00:29:03,825 --> 00:29:07,495 I want to be honest about mistakes. 539 00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:09,205 If we were all about the mission 540 00:29:09,289 --> 00:29:12,917 and being anti-Trump and acting differently from Trump, 541 00:29:13,001 --> 00:29:16,087 things should have been handled differently at the start. 542 00:29:16,171 --> 00:29:18,339 I threw out all my Lincoln Project gear. 543 00:29:18,381 --> 00:29:19,549 The only I kept is that thing. 544 00:29:19,549 --> 00:29:23,636 I-I'm embarrassed to have been a part. 545 00:29:23,678 --> 00:29:25,054 The Lincoln Project 546 00:29:25,138 --> 00:29:27,932 has been coming apart at the seams in recent weeks. 547 00:29:27,974 --> 00:29:29,601 Reporting on the anti-Trump group, 548 00:29:29,601 --> 00:29:31,144 a new New York Times article claims 549 00:29:31,144 --> 00:29:33,980 there is a civil war inside The Lincoln Project 550 00:29:33,980 --> 00:29:36,566 over financial mismanagement. 551 00:29:36,566 --> 00:29:38,026 The Associated Press reports 552 00:29:38,067 --> 00:29:41,404 more than half of the money raised by the project in 2020 553 00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:43,114 was paid to consulting firms 554 00:29:43,156 --> 00:29:45,700 tied to the group's founders and staff. 555 00:29:45,784 --> 00:29:48,453 They used a loophole 556 00:29:48,495 --> 00:29:50,705 in the disclosure of campaign finances, 557 00:29:50,747 --> 00:29:52,248 and incidentally, it is a loophole 558 00:29:52,290 --> 00:29:54,667 that the Trump campaign used to great effect as well. 559 00:29:54,751 --> 00:29:56,920 So exactly where that money ended up 560 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,422 simply is not knowable. 561 00:29:59,464 --> 00:30:00,632 They've got all the money. 562 00:30:00,673 --> 00:30:02,509 They drained-- they took all the money 563 00:30:02,509 --> 00:30:04,594 from the nice, mean-- well-meaning liberals. 564 00:30:04,636 --> 00:30:06,554 Meghan McCain also got in on this. 565 00:30:06,596 --> 00:30:08,932 She tweeted that "John Weaver and Steve Schmidt 566 00:30:08,932 --> 00:30:10,892 "were so despised by my dad, 567 00:30:10,892 --> 00:30:13,269 "he made it a point to ban them from his funeral. 568 00:30:13,311 --> 00:30:16,356 "Since 2008, no McCain would have spit on them 569 00:30:16,397 --> 00:30:18,942 if they were on fire." 570 00:30:27,116 --> 00:30:28,660 So first and foremost, 571 00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:30,787 I just wanna apologize to everybody. 572 00:30:30,829 --> 00:30:35,375 One of the base tenets of our... 573 00:30:35,416 --> 00:30:36,751 of our-our movement-- 574 00:30:36,793 --> 00:30:39,295 which, it is a movement, I really believe that-- 575 00:30:39,337 --> 00:30:41,631 has been honesty and transparency. 576 00:30:42,173 --> 00:30:46,886 And on that front, in too many ways, we failed. 577 00:30:46,928 --> 00:30:49,514 We have brought in a law firm 578 00:30:49,556 --> 00:30:51,724 called Paul Hastings, out of Los Angeles, 579 00:30:51,766 --> 00:30:53,017 who is going to come in. 580 00:30:53,059 --> 00:30:54,686 They've already actually started, uh, 581 00:30:54,686 --> 00:30:57,605 their inquiry, uh, into the... the situation 582 00:30:57,647 --> 00:30:59,023 regarding John Weaver. 583 00:30:59,065 --> 00:31:01,734 Specific questions about John, um, 584 00:31:01,818 --> 00:31:04,737 are being answered as we speak, and we'll have a report out. 585 00:31:04,821 --> 00:31:07,031 I think also there's been a lot of questions 586 00:31:07,073 --> 00:31:09,033 about the finances of the organization, 587 00:31:09,075 --> 00:31:10,618 which I'm happy to answer questions about. 588 00:31:10,660 --> 00:31:12,078 Let me just say this-- 589 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,539 is that no one created generational wealth. 590 00:31:14,581 --> 00:31:16,916 I know that expression's been thrown around a lot. 591 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:20,920 I believe that every dollar we spent last year, uh, 592 00:31:20,962 --> 00:31:22,171 was an effective dollar. 593 00:31:22,255 --> 00:31:25,300 And I'm happy to answer any questions. 594 00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:29,137 Hey, Reed, you guys have really screwed up here, 595 00:31:29,137 --> 00:31:31,723 and I still think you're on your back foot. 596 00:31:31,723 --> 00:31:33,016 - Yeah. - I want to hear, 597 00:31:33,057 --> 00:31:35,935 "We are accountable, personally and forever." 598 00:31:36,019 --> 00:31:38,021 I am not convinced that you can't talk about 599 00:31:38,021 --> 00:31:41,608 why you had so many people from your organization leave. 600 00:31:41,649 --> 00:31:42,859 On some of those people that left, 601 00:31:42,901 --> 00:31:44,569 I literally cannot talk about it. 602 00:31:44,611 --> 00:31:45,945 I can't. 603 00:31:45,987 --> 00:31:47,989 And I can't even tell you why I can't talk about it. 604 00:31:47,989 --> 00:31:49,240 You can't talk like that. 605 00:31:49,282 --> 00:31:50,617 So let me- let me just say this. 606 00:31:50,617 --> 00:31:52,619 You're behind on transparency. 607 00:31:52,619 --> 00:31:54,537 You're behind on trust. 608 00:31:54,579 --> 00:31:58,291 We want to be able to be huge supporters of yours, 609 00:31:58,291 --> 00:32:00,251 but we have a hard time raising money 610 00:32:00,335 --> 00:32:03,713 for you folks right now, because you look so bad. 611 00:32:03,713 --> 00:32:05,715 I think you should consider the possibility 612 00:32:05,757 --> 00:32:09,135 that the brand is so damaged at this point, 613 00:32:09,135 --> 00:32:11,095 you might need to step aside. 614 00:32:11,137 --> 00:32:13,598 I'm committed to as much accountability 615 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:15,058 as there needs to be. 616 00:32:15,058 --> 00:32:16,267 So, like please understand, 617 00:32:16,351 --> 00:32:18,603 like, the easy path is to fold up the tent. 618 00:32:18,645 --> 00:32:21,272 And that would be disastrous. 619 00:32:21,314 --> 00:32:24,859 That would be a victory for the dark forces, truly. 620 00:32:24,901 --> 00:32:26,277 Look, all I'm saying is 621 00:32:26,361 --> 00:32:28,071 you gotta find some other way, right? 622 00:32:28,071 --> 00:32:29,614 I mean, part of what is 623 00:32:29,614 --> 00:32:32,158 giving me a little hesitation here 624 00:32:32,158 --> 00:32:34,953 is I am not convinced that you can't talk about the money 625 00:32:34,953 --> 00:32:37,246 and where it went. 626 00:32:38,623 --> 00:32:40,375 Fuck. 627 00:32:41,834 --> 00:32:44,045 Uhh. 628 00:32:46,297 --> 00:32:50,927 Last time I saw you guys was on inauguration day. 629 00:32:50,969 --> 00:32:53,721 It's different world, I mean, for us, since then. 630 00:32:56,265 --> 00:32:58,559 We stepped on a landmine, and then said, 631 00:32:58,601 --> 00:32:59,894 "You know what? That was fun. 632 00:32:59,978 --> 00:33:01,813 Let's do that three or four more times." 633 00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:04,440 So now we're up to sort of our mid-femur. 634 00:33:08,486 --> 00:33:10,154 We made mistakes last year. 635 00:33:10,238 --> 00:33:12,991 And what disappoints me most in myself, 636 00:33:12,991 --> 00:33:16,452 and us generally, um, is that, like, we knew better. 637 00:33:19,789 --> 00:33:22,417 And so we are now in a place where, 638 00:33:22,458 --> 00:33:24,043 three weeks ago, 639 00:33:24,085 --> 00:33:29,841 this was a story about one man's behavior, 640 00:33:29,882 --> 00:33:32,677 and it is now about a, you know, 641 00:33:32,719 --> 00:33:33,845 "What is The Lincoln Project? 642 00:33:33,886 --> 00:33:35,304 What's wrong with us?" 643 00:33:35,346 --> 00:33:37,348 We didn't hold ourselves up to the standards 644 00:33:37,432 --> 00:33:40,935 that we claimed to hold up everybody else to. 645 00:33:41,019 --> 00:33:44,188 Um... a-and that's fair. That's totally fair. 646 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:47,025 You know, I've been on the phone 647 00:33:47,066 --> 00:33:50,319 with donors for the last ten days. 648 00:33:50,403 --> 00:33:51,529 Um... 649 00:33:53,322 --> 00:33:56,117 I mean-I mean, it's Icarus, or hubris. 650 00:33:56,159 --> 00:33:58,995 Use whatever Greek tragedy you want to. 651 00:33:58,995 --> 00:34:01,664 Like, this is not a new story. 652 00:34:05,043 --> 00:34:07,920 We built this thing. We caught fire. 653 00:34:08,004 --> 00:34:10,840 You know, by September, people are saying, 654 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:13,301 well, what are you gonna do next? 655 00:34:13,301 --> 00:34:15,261 And we hadn't won the campaign yet, 656 00:34:15,303 --> 00:34:17,513 and they're already asking us that. 657 00:34:17,597 --> 00:34:20,016 So this sort of, like, 658 00:34:20,016 --> 00:34:22,143 th-these heady, you know, 659 00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:25,229 sugarplums dancing in your head... 660 00:34:26,689 --> 00:34:29,984 It's really, really easy to, like, have everybody love you. 661 00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:33,404 I-I've never been in that position before, right? 662 00:34:33,488 --> 00:34:34,447 You know? 663 00:34:34,447 --> 00:34:37,909 You know, your friends calling, you know, and saying, 664 00:34:37,950 --> 00:34:39,285 "You guys are heroes," 665 00:34:39,327 --> 00:34:40,995 and I'm like, that is ridiculous. 666 00:34:41,037 --> 00:34:42,205 Right? 667 00:34:42,246 --> 00:34:44,707 Um... they don't do that anymore. 668 00:34:47,502 --> 00:34:50,254 We're back to being Republicans. 669 00:35:04,644 --> 00:35:07,396 What's different about the American political system, 670 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:09,982 more than anything else, is money. 671 00:35:10,066 --> 00:35:13,152 The amount of money in American politics 672 00:35:13,236 --> 00:35:14,946 is pretty unique for a democracy. 673 00:35:14,946 --> 00:35:16,447 It is unique for democracy. 674 00:35:16,531 --> 00:35:20,076 Take The Lincoln Project. We raised $100 million. 675 00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:22,286 80% of that was from small donors. 676 00:35:22,328 --> 00:35:25,706 I mean, we had billionaires who gave us money. 677 00:35:25,748 --> 00:35:27,125 Um, and under our legal structure, 678 00:35:27,166 --> 00:35:29,210 you could give unlimited money, because Citizens United. 679 00:35:29,210 --> 00:35:33,047 The story here, really, is the rise of soft money 680 00:35:33,089 --> 00:35:36,134 after the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United. 681 00:35:36,175 --> 00:35:39,345 Super PACs, unlike regular political action committees, 682 00:35:39,387 --> 00:35:41,264 can raise an unlimited sum of money 683 00:35:41,264 --> 00:35:44,100 with very few restrictions. 684 00:35:44,142 --> 00:35:47,145 The way a super PAC works, a federal super PAC, 685 00:35:47,145 --> 00:35:51,149 is it can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. 686 00:35:51,149 --> 00:35:55,111 It can take in a $1 contribution. 687 00:35:55,153 --> 00:35:58,406 It can take in a $10 million contribution. 688 00:35:58,447 --> 00:35:59,907 Right? 689 00:35:59,949 --> 00:36:05,079 Then, the ways that money can be spent are very liberal. 690 00:36:05,163 --> 00:36:08,207 Voter contact, television ads, 691 00:36:08,249 --> 00:36:11,419 Facebook ads, direct mail, billboards, 692 00:36:11,419 --> 00:36:13,212 airplanes with "Vote Joe Biden" thing 693 00:36:13,254 --> 00:36:15,840 coming out the back-- you name it. 694 00:36:18,342 --> 00:36:20,720 That is not reported anywhere, 695 00:36:20,761 --> 00:36:23,139 because nobody wants that reported 696 00:36:23,181 --> 00:36:24,891 because the system is set up to be 697 00:36:24,932 --> 00:36:26,976 as opaque as it possibly can be. 698 00:36:27,018 --> 00:36:30,438 And it's--you know, look, uh, the Trump campaign-- 699 00:36:30,438 --> 00:36:33,482 you know, there was, like, two companies owned by Jared, 700 00:36:33,524 --> 00:36:38,321 or controlled by Jared, that sucked a total of $700 million 701 00:36:38,362 --> 00:36:40,198 out of the Trump campaign. 702 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:41,908 Nobody knows where that money went 703 00:36:41,949 --> 00:36:43,409 once they invoiced for it. 704 00:36:43,409 --> 00:36:45,745 Everybody knows that the campaign finance system 705 00:36:45,745 --> 00:36:47,079 is really fucked up. 706 00:36:47,163 --> 00:36:49,749 Everybody knows that the FEC is a toothless organization, 707 00:36:49,749 --> 00:36:52,543 and it's that way by design, because neither Republicans 708 00:36:52,627 --> 00:36:54,420 nor Democrats want it to have any teeth. 709 00:36:54,462 --> 00:36:56,088 The Democrats could change this if they wanted to. 710 00:36:56,172 --> 00:36:57,632 They're in control of both Houses right now. 711 00:36:57,673 --> 00:36:59,258 If they wanted to change the composition of the FEC, 712 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:01,636 they can do it. They haven't done it. Why? 713 00:37:01,636 --> 00:37:03,179 Because it serves them, too. 714 00:37:03,221 --> 00:37:04,972 So there used to be this thing in American politics 715 00:37:05,014 --> 00:37:06,599 called "general consultant"-- 716 00:37:06,641 --> 00:37:09,810 the James Carvilles, 717 00:37:09,894 --> 00:37:12,146 the Lee Atwaters. 718 00:37:12,188 --> 00:37:14,607 But in many ways, they've kind of gone away, 719 00:37:14,649 --> 00:37:16,567 because, see, there's a limit to how much 720 00:37:16,609 --> 00:37:18,778 you can charge a campaign just as a fee 721 00:37:18,778 --> 00:37:20,363 without it looking weird. 722 00:37:20,404 --> 00:37:22,823 And there's a limit to how many campaigns you can work on. 723 00:37:22,865 --> 00:37:24,575 So where the real money was-- 724 00:37:24,659 --> 00:37:27,245 every year, more money's spent on media. 725 00:37:27,703 --> 00:37:31,374 If you were in media, you could charge a percentage 726 00:37:31,415 --> 00:37:34,377 of the dollars spent on television as your fee. 727 00:37:34,418 --> 00:37:38,631 So a lot of people who would have been general consultants 728 00:37:38,631 --> 00:37:41,050 at another era have called themselves 729 00:37:41,050 --> 00:37:42,802 media consultants, just so they can 730 00:37:42,843 --> 00:37:45,346 get into buying television. 731 00:37:45,346 --> 00:37:48,140 There is an industrial-political complex 732 00:37:48,182 --> 00:37:53,479 in America, and that is about consultants. 733 00:37:53,521 --> 00:37:55,982 It's not about ideology. It's about money. 734 00:37:55,982 --> 00:37:57,525 It's about power. 735 00:37:57,525 --> 00:38:00,945 Should we regulate political consultants? 736 00:38:00,987 --> 00:38:02,196 Uh, I think we ought to regulate money. 737 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,073 And by regulating money, you would regulate 738 00:38:04,115 --> 00:38:06,284 political consultants. 739 00:38:09,161 --> 00:38:11,539 You guys raised about $90 million, right? 740 00:38:11,580 --> 00:38:12,498 Right. 741 00:38:12,498 --> 00:38:14,959 You guys were billed $27 million. 742 00:38:15,001 --> 00:38:16,419 - Mm-hmm. - People are like, well, 743 00:38:16,419 --> 00:38:20,089 if you billed 27, where did the money go? 744 00:38:20,131 --> 00:38:22,049 80% of every dollar we spent went straight 745 00:38:22,091 --> 00:38:24,218 to trying to contact a voter. 746 00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:26,178 Um... 747 00:38:26,262 --> 00:38:29,265 But you know, it's interesting, because you guys mentioned, 748 00:38:29,265 --> 00:38:34,228 like, how much money my company billed, right? 749 00:38:34,312 --> 00:38:36,897 You don't mention how much Ron's company billed, 750 00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:39,066 which was a similar number. 751 00:38:40,276 --> 00:38:43,362 $21 million, right? 752 00:38:43,404 --> 00:38:44,780 Ron bought a bunch of media. 753 00:38:44,864 --> 00:38:48,284 But again, once that money goes into an account, 754 00:38:48,284 --> 00:38:50,661 you take it on faith. 755 00:38:52,371 --> 00:38:56,667 Would we have been better off if we had communicated more? 756 00:38:57,835 --> 00:38:59,128 I think so. 757 00:38:59,170 --> 00:39:02,256 I think more communication is better than less. 758 00:39:02,340 --> 00:39:07,219 But I don't know that, even with greater communication, 759 00:39:07,261 --> 00:39:09,388 there would have been an accompanying 760 00:39:09,430 --> 00:39:12,099 sort of satisfaction. 761 00:39:23,986 --> 00:39:26,655 I love leading people, 762 00:39:26,739 --> 00:39:29,950 but that's different than managing an organization. 763 00:39:31,952 --> 00:39:33,871 But somebody's gotta do it. 764 00:39:36,415 --> 00:39:38,376 Seeing the stuff that we see on social with our followers 765 00:39:38,417 --> 00:39:39,668 and members and everything-- 766 00:39:39,752 --> 00:39:42,296 most of them are sort of like, okay, you clearly 767 00:39:42,338 --> 00:39:44,340 got a bunch of dirty laundry you didn't take care of. 768 00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:45,549 We're reading about it. 769 00:39:45,591 --> 00:39:47,259 We don't wanna read about it anymore. 770 00:39:47,343 --> 00:39:48,636 Oh, my... 771 00:39:48,636 --> 00:39:51,263 Basically, like get your shit together and get back to work. 772 00:39:51,305 --> 00:39:53,474 You're not done yet. 773 00:39:56,227 --> 00:39:59,397 Right now, I'm trying to figure out, you know, 774 00:39:59,438 --> 00:40:02,566 how to transition from a truly fighting organization 775 00:40:02,608 --> 00:40:06,695 into something that represents millions of people. 776 00:40:06,737 --> 00:40:09,031 All right. 777 00:40:09,115 --> 00:40:12,868 We found the bridge. We turned around. 778 00:40:15,746 --> 00:40:19,583 There's a metaphor here, too, but I'm not sure what it is. 779 00:40:22,294 --> 00:40:25,840 We've been really good at fighting against stuff. 780 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:31,429 Now we have to get to fighting for something. 781 00:40:35,015 --> 00:40:38,269 I know at times you must feel very alone 782 00:40:38,310 --> 00:40:42,273 with your problems and with your difficulties. 783 00:40:42,273 --> 00:40:45,985 But I want to say how impressed I am 784 00:40:45,985 --> 00:40:47,820 with what you stand for 785 00:40:47,862 --> 00:40:51,240 and for the effort that you are making. 786 00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:54,410 My hero is Bobby Kennedy. 787 00:40:54,410 --> 00:40:56,537 And whenever I feel kind of down, 788 00:40:56,537 --> 00:40:58,789 I'll listen to a speech of his. 789 00:40:58,873 --> 00:41:01,000 That would just remind me of what 790 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:05,296 actual decent leadership is and what courage looks like. 791 00:41:05,337 --> 00:41:11,010 But I-I would be lying if, like, my faith wasn't, like, shaken, 792 00:41:11,010 --> 00:41:12,553 you know? 793 00:41:13,095 --> 00:41:15,639 President Kennedy was speaking to the young people 794 00:41:15,723 --> 00:41:20,561 of America when he said, "The energy, the faith, 795 00:41:20,561 --> 00:41:24,106 "the devotion, which we bring to this endeavor, 796 00:41:24,190 --> 00:41:25,691 "will light our country, 797 00:41:25,691 --> 00:41:30,154 and the glow from that fire can truly light the world." 798 00:41:30,154 --> 00:41:31,614 I can tell you one thing. 799 00:41:31,655 --> 00:41:33,491 People-young people like myself that are coming up 800 00:41:33,491 --> 00:41:36,911 and seeing this shit and, um... 801 00:41:36,952 --> 00:41:39,580 pfft. 802 00:41:39,622 --> 00:41:43,584 Gotta stay hopeful that there can be a better- 803 00:41:43,626 --> 00:41:47,421 better future, but... 804 00:41:47,505 --> 00:41:49,882 With history, the final judge of our deeds, 805 00:41:49,882 --> 00:41:53,260 let us go forth to lead the land we love, 806 00:41:53,302 --> 00:41:55,346 knowing that here on Earth, 807 00:41:55,346 --> 00:41:58,641 God's work must truly be our own. 808 00:41:58,682 --> 00:42:03,312 soft, stirring music 809 00:42:03,354 --> 00:42:07,316 To some generations, much is given. 810 00:42:07,358 --> 00:42:10,402 Of other generations, much is expected. 811 00:42:10,444 --> 00:42:17,660 This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. 812 00:42:18,661 --> 00:42:21,413 I knew the real McCain. 813 00:42:21,455 --> 00:42:23,958 He was an imperfect man. 814 00:42:23,999 --> 00:42:25,876 Okay, let him through, let him through. 815 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:28,546 - Let him through. - Complicated man. 816 00:42:28,587 --> 00:42:33,509 But he was a full-on fucking American hero 817 00:42:33,509 --> 00:42:36,303 of the highest order. 818 00:42:37,555 --> 00:42:41,559 The idea, though, that we look for perfection 819 00:42:41,559 --> 00:42:46,313 and we look for saints in our political leaders 820 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:49,692 is, in part, a childish delusion 821 00:42:49,692 --> 00:42:53,779 that has brought us to this disaster. 822 00:42:53,821 --> 00:42:58,409 quiet music plays 823 00:42:58,409 --> 00:43:00,536 The story of America... 824 00:43:00,578 --> 00:43:03,872 - One day... - Is one that 825 00:43:03,956 --> 00:43:09,169 you can find all the optimism you need for hope. 826 00:43:10,254 --> 00:43:14,008 You can find all the pessimism you need for despair. 827 00:43:14,008 --> 00:43:16,760 Six, eight, we don't want to integrate! 828 00:43:16,844 --> 00:43:21,599 America has never been a ship, 829 00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:27,062 uh, that has sailed on smooth seas, ever. 830 00:43:27,521 --> 00:43:30,649 I pledge allegiance to the flag... 831 00:43:30,691 --> 00:43:33,527 Every generation of American 832 00:43:33,611 --> 00:43:38,657 has been born into an imperfect and unjust country. 833 00:43:38,741 --> 00:43:40,784 And every American born into that country, 834 00:43:40,868 --> 00:43:44,830 whether they died a day later or 100 years later, 835 00:43:44,872 --> 00:43:46,582 died in a more just country 836 00:43:46,582 --> 00:43:49,209 than the one they were born into. 837 00:43:50,628 --> 00:43:57,384 And the question is, will that trajectory continue? 838 00:43:58,385 --> 00:44:00,179 Is it preordained? 839 00:44:00,179 --> 00:44:02,097 Is it providential? 840 00:44:02,181 --> 00:44:03,057 It's not. 841 00:44:03,098 --> 00:44:06,727 And we are at a hinge of history. 842 00:44:06,727 --> 00:44:09,521 Can I get a Trump 2024? 843 00:44:09,605 --> 00:44:11,398 Trump 2024! 844 00:44:11,482 --> 00:44:13,400 Trump 2024! 845 00:44:13,442 --> 00:44:15,944 Trump '24, Trump '24! 846 00:44:16,028 --> 00:44:18,822 Over 20-mile-an-hour winds didn't stop 847 00:44:18,906 --> 00:44:21,575 droves of Trump supporters 848 00:44:21,659 --> 00:44:24,745 from getting here days in advance. 849 00:44:24,745 --> 00:44:30,668 There's a horrible, venomous, poisonous argument 850 00:44:30,709 --> 00:44:34,838 that's bubbled up from beneath the surface 851 00:44:34,922 --> 00:44:38,467 that's disoriented a lot of the country. 852 00:44:40,928 --> 00:44:43,472 We're not going to take it anymore. 853 00:44:43,472 --> 00:44:46,058 I see a civil war coming. 854 00:44:46,058 --> 00:44:47,059 I do. 855 00:44:47,101 --> 00:44:50,771 At this moment in time, we're on the edge. 856 00:44:50,771 --> 00:44:54,817 Touch me again! Touch me again! 857 00:44:54,858 --> 00:44:57,444 And what we're on the edge of 858 00:44:57,528 --> 00:45:00,364 is what we've always been on the edge of. 859 00:45:00,406 --> 00:45:03,659 Will this radical concept, 860 00:45:03,659 --> 00:45:06,161 this American experiment... 861 00:45:06,245 --> 00:45:08,455 will it continue? 862 00:45:08,497 --> 00:45:10,749 Can we expand freedom? 863 00:45:10,833 --> 00:45:12,960 Or will we lose it? 864 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:17,089 USA, USA, USA, USA! 865 00:45:17,089 --> 00:45:20,092 Back in the state where presidential campaigns 866 00:45:20,092 --> 00:45:23,887 are born, former President Trump rallying supporters 867 00:45:23,971 --> 00:45:26,807 and hinting at a 2024 bid. 868 00:45:26,807 --> 00:45:29,685 Back to make America great again, 869 00:45:29,727 --> 00:45:33,689 dash, slash, comma, again. 870 00:45:33,689 --> 00:45:35,065 Former President Donald Trump 871 00:45:35,149 --> 00:45:36,942 held a huge election-style rally 872 00:45:36,942 --> 00:45:38,902 in Florence, Arizona on Saturday, 873 00:45:38,986 --> 00:45:40,946 where he repeated his election lies 874 00:45:40,988 --> 00:45:43,782 and embraced some of the most radical Republicans. 875 00:45:43,824 --> 00:45:46,702 Last year, we had a rigged election, 876 00:45:46,744 --> 00:45:48,954 and the proof is all over the place. 877 00:45:48,954 --> 00:45:52,374 We have a lot of proof, and they know it's proof. 878 00:45:52,416 --> 00:45:54,334 They always talk about the big lie. 879 00:45:54,418 --> 00:45:56,253 The big lie is a lot of bullshit. 880 00:45:56,295 --> 00:45:57,546 That's what it is. 881 00:45:58,839 --> 00:46:01,216 Did anybody in here vote for Joe Biden? 882 00:46:01,300 --> 00:46:04,678 No! 883 00:46:04,762 --> 00:46:07,181 Do you guys really think he won? 884 00:46:07,181 --> 00:46:08,766 No! 885 00:46:08,807 --> 00:46:10,309 You're not going to convince, 886 00:46:10,350 --> 00:46:12,352 at least most normal and sane people, 887 00:46:12,394 --> 00:46:14,271 that our government last year 888 00:46:14,313 --> 00:46:15,522 was almost overthrown by a guy 889 00:46:15,606 --> 00:46:17,524 wearing a Viking hat and Speedos. 890 00:46:17,566 --> 00:46:20,819 January 6th allows them to create 891 00:46:20,861 --> 00:46:23,697 narratives that are negative about people 892 00:46:23,781 --> 00:46:25,073 that supported Donald Trump. 893 00:46:25,157 --> 00:46:28,619 Why do we not know some of the people who we know 894 00:46:28,660 --> 00:46:32,164 were really involved in orchestrating this? 895 00:46:32,206 --> 00:46:33,248 You know why. 896 00:46:33,290 --> 00:46:36,376 They were almost certainly working for the FBI. 897 00:46:36,460 --> 00:46:38,837 So FBI operatives 898 00:46:38,879 --> 00:46:41,882 were organizing the attack on the Capitol. 899 00:46:41,882 --> 00:46:45,135 If the President was the party's nominee, 900 00:46:45,177 --> 00:46:46,845 would you support him? 901 00:46:46,929 --> 00:46:48,972 The nominee of the party? Absolutely. 902 00:46:49,014 --> 00:46:51,975 We will take this fight to them in the courts, 903 00:46:52,017 --> 00:46:55,312 in the halls of Congress, and, if necessary, 904 00:46:55,312 --> 00:46:57,272 in the streets! 905 00:46:59,191 --> 00:47:06,031 Trumpism is the beginning of a dangerous extremism. 906 00:47:06,073 --> 00:47:09,827 And we're going to have some big choices as a society 907 00:47:09,827 --> 00:47:12,246 and a culture ahead. 908 00:47:12,287 --> 00:47:13,580 Make no mistake. 909 00:47:13,664 --> 00:47:16,291 The conspiracy could have worked, 910 00:47:16,333 --> 00:47:20,003 and it might work next time. 911 00:47:20,045 --> 00:47:23,465 somber string music 912 00:47:36,061 --> 00:47:39,022 Hello, from Politicology. 913 00:47:39,106 --> 00:47:42,442 I'm Ron Steslow, and I'm really excited 914 00:47:42,526 --> 00:47:45,153 for today's conversation. 915 00:47:47,281 --> 00:47:49,616 I have three of my fellow co-founders 916 00:47:49,700 --> 00:47:53,495 of The Lincoln Project with me today. 917 00:47:54,413 --> 00:47:57,749 Kinda cool to see, uh, where all the magic gets done. 918 00:47:57,791 --> 00:48:00,711 Each of us had taken our own unique path 919 00:48:00,711 --> 00:48:02,087 to The Lincoln Project... 920 00:48:02,087 --> 00:48:05,340 I get to sit with George. I'm very excited. 921 00:48:05,424 --> 00:48:08,927 With full awareness that those paths might diverge 922 00:48:08,969 --> 00:48:10,387 after the election was over. 923 00:48:10,429 --> 00:48:16,059 George, Jennifer, Mike, thank you all for being here. 924 00:48:16,101 --> 00:48:18,437 Let me just ask a big question for the table. 925 00:48:18,478 --> 00:48:19,938 Please, please. 926 00:48:20,022 --> 00:48:23,859 Would you have done anything different last year, 927 00:48:23,901 --> 00:48:27,905 knowing the way things stand today? 928 00:48:27,946 --> 00:48:29,823 And answer that at any level that you want. 929 00:48:29,907 --> 00:48:31,325 That's really loaded. 930 00:48:37,915 --> 00:48:40,334 - As far as the election goes-- - Any level you want. 931 00:48:40,334 --> 00:48:42,294 As far as the election goes and the role 932 00:48:42,336 --> 00:48:43,211 that we all played 933 00:48:43,295 --> 00:48:44,630 and the commitment that we gave to it 934 00:48:44,630 --> 00:48:47,883 and the sacrifices that we all made 935 00:48:47,883 --> 00:48:50,427 and the, you know, kinda the pain and the difficulty 936 00:48:50,469 --> 00:48:55,599 that came along with it in a lot of personal ways, no. 937 00:48:55,599 --> 00:48:57,100 Those of us at this table engaged 938 00:48:57,184 --> 00:49:01,939 in what we did last year for a very principled, 939 00:49:01,939 --> 00:49:04,024 sincere commitment to preserve democracy 940 00:49:04,024 --> 00:49:05,943 in the United States of America. 941 00:49:05,943 --> 00:49:07,569 It had to happen. 942 00:49:07,611 --> 00:49:09,029 Without what The Lincoln Project did, 943 00:49:09,071 --> 00:49:10,948 we would not have been successful. 944 00:49:10,989 --> 00:49:14,451 soft, dramatic music 945 00:49:24,169 --> 00:49:26,630 Now you have the gay guy, the Latino and the woman, 946 00:49:26,672 --> 00:49:28,966 all of them just decide... 947 00:49:29,758 --> 00:49:30,968 They all left. - They left. 948 00:49:30,968 --> 00:49:32,594 They weren't pushed aside. They left. 949 00:49:32,636 --> 00:49:34,888 Each one of them left. 950 00:49:34,930 --> 00:49:36,640 Jennifer Horn quit to The New York Times. 951 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:38,642 - Right. - Ron and Mike left 952 00:49:38,642 --> 00:49:40,227 - of their own accord. - Yep. 953 00:49:48,235 --> 00:49:51,822 Uh, well, we didn't turn them on-we kept 954 00:49:51,863 --> 00:49:53,115 turning them on the bad guys. 955 00:49:53,156 --> 00:49:55,325 - Yeah. - Just, you know, um, 956 00:49:55,409 --> 00:49:57,285 who's that guy that shot Billy the Kid? 957 00:49:57,369 --> 00:49:59,037 Pat Garrett. We didn't know there were 958 00:49:59,121 --> 00:50:02,457 going to be a whole bunch of fucking Pat Garretts out there. 959 00:50:10,340 --> 00:50:11,258 We did. 960 00:50:11,258 --> 00:50:13,677 We've talked to hundreds of major donors. 961 00:50:13,719 --> 00:50:15,470 You know what they care about? 962 00:50:15,512 --> 00:50:16,972 The big thing. 963 00:50:16,972 --> 00:50:18,265 They care about the mission. 964 00:50:18,306 --> 00:50:20,434 They care about what we did in '20 965 00:50:20,434 --> 00:50:24,354 and what we're going to do in '22 and '24 and beyond. 966 00:50:25,647 --> 00:50:30,777 The first non-peaceful transfer of power in 244 years 967 00:50:30,861 --> 00:50:33,071 of the republic took place. 968 00:50:33,113 --> 00:50:35,115 Now, here we are. The fight is not over. 969 00:50:35,157 --> 00:50:38,035 This fight has just begun. 970 00:50:38,035 --> 00:50:41,621 You know, I've heard a lot of people say, are you the devil, 971 00:50:41,663 --> 00:50:43,832 are you guys bad, or are you good? 972 00:50:43,832 --> 00:50:47,961 I'm curious why people see it that way. 973 00:50:48,045 --> 00:50:50,005 The old philosophy was, just win. 974 00:50:50,005 --> 00:50:51,840 Just win, baby. 975 00:50:51,882 --> 00:50:55,385 And you could get there however you needed to. 976 00:50:55,469 --> 00:50:57,596 And we got there ugly a lot of the time. 977 00:50:57,637 --> 00:50:59,973 I freely admit it. Brutal. 978 00:51:00,057 --> 00:51:03,101 But we turned those skills in this election cycle 979 00:51:03,185 --> 00:51:07,939 against Trump and his enablers, but we didn't beat Trumpism. 980 00:51:08,023 --> 00:51:11,234 I have to say, I-- I find it a little bit-- 981 00:51:11,318 --> 00:51:14,112 I'm just going to be very honest here. 982 00:51:14,196 --> 00:51:18,158 I feel like you helped deliver us to this bad place. 983 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:22,913 I think it's a very fair and legitimate point to say 984 00:51:22,913 --> 00:51:24,998 you guys helped create this. 985 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:27,501 Um... 986 00:51:27,542 --> 00:51:28,835 but what do we do? 987 00:51:28,877 --> 00:51:30,462 I can't undo that. 988 00:51:30,462 --> 00:51:34,299 But what I can do and what the Lincoln Project has given us 989 00:51:34,299 --> 00:51:37,260 a vehicle to do is use the skills 990 00:51:37,302 --> 00:51:40,764 that we acquired to fight for what I think 991 00:51:40,764 --> 00:51:42,682 is really the central fight of our time, 992 00:51:42,766 --> 00:51:45,435 which is for democracy. 993 00:51:45,477 --> 00:51:47,896 You have eight U.S. senators. 994 00:51:47,938 --> 00:51:50,565 A lot of them are from the most elite institutions 995 00:51:50,607 --> 00:51:51,858 in the world-- 996 00:51:51,900 --> 00:51:56,822 Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton--these guys... 997 00:51:56,822 --> 00:52:00,367 when the rioters are outside the Capitol, 998 00:52:00,408 --> 00:52:02,828 they're in there, laughing it up 999 00:52:02,828 --> 00:52:04,871 about trying to disenfranchise tens of millions 1000 00:52:04,955 --> 00:52:06,998 of African-American voters to flip the election 1001 00:52:07,040 --> 00:52:08,166 of Donald Trump. 1002 00:52:08,250 --> 00:52:09,835 That's not a political party anymore. 1003 00:52:09,835 --> 00:52:12,587 That is an emergent authoritarian movement, 1004 00:52:12,629 --> 00:52:15,090 that, if we're going to preserve this country, 1005 00:52:15,090 --> 00:52:17,801 we're going to have to fight against, not tomorrow, 1006 00:52:17,843 --> 00:52:22,305 not the next day, but for the next 10 or 20 years. 1007 00:52:22,389 --> 00:52:27,853 How should we be thinking about the long-term fight 1008 00:52:27,894 --> 00:52:29,271 for democracy? 1009 00:52:29,271 --> 00:52:32,732 Because we now know that Trump wasn't 1010 00:52:32,774 --> 00:52:34,109 actually the biggest obstacle. 1011 00:52:34,109 --> 00:52:36,069 He was a symptom of a deeper illness. 1012 00:52:36,111 --> 00:52:40,031 To really understand and internalize what that means, 1013 00:52:40,073 --> 00:52:42,200 we have to understand that this is 1014 00:52:42,284 --> 00:52:45,495 a reflection of these larger social changes. 1015 00:52:45,537 --> 00:52:46,413 It's not just that 1016 00:52:46,413 --> 00:52:47,497 the Republican Party's dysfunctional. 1017 00:52:47,581 --> 00:52:50,167 It is. There's no question about it. 1018 00:52:50,167 --> 00:52:52,252 But there's a bigger question about what 1019 00:52:52,294 --> 00:52:54,212 is happening in our society-- 1020 00:52:54,296 --> 00:52:56,381 and this is going to be a bit controversial. 1021 00:52:56,381 --> 00:53:01,720 Can democracy survive in this new digital era? 1022 00:53:04,097 --> 00:53:07,726 Information warfare is political persuasion, 1023 00:53:07,726 --> 00:53:10,604 manipulating who's in charge. 1024 00:53:12,230 --> 00:53:15,859 How much freedom and how much equality, right? 1025 00:53:17,194 --> 00:53:18,320 In that environment, 1026 00:53:18,361 --> 00:53:20,155 what you're really trying to do 1027 00:53:20,197 --> 00:53:25,035 is secure the attention span of the public. 1028 00:53:25,035 --> 00:53:28,788 What Donald Trump did in 2016 was manipulate the media 1029 00:53:28,830 --> 00:53:31,499 by being that commodity that everybody had to cover, 1030 00:53:31,541 --> 00:53:34,878 and sucked up all the oxygen from the other candidates. 1031 00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:36,880 What we did with The Lincoln Project 1032 00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:39,382 was we turned that on him. 1033 00:53:39,466 --> 00:53:43,720 That's how races are going to be run in the future. 1034 00:53:44,262 --> 00:53:45,472 The Lincoln Project was formed 1035 00:53:45,513 --> 00:53:47,182 by top political consultants who wanted 1036 00:53:47,182 --> 00:53:49,351 to fight Trump and Trumpism. 1037 00:53:49,351 --> 00:53:52,187 And the greatest danger of what we're in now 1038 00:53:52,229 --> 00:53:55,565 is not realizing the greatest danger. 1039 00:53:56,691 --> 00:53:57,692 Look. 1040 00:53:57,776 --> 00:53:59,027 Here's the key. 1041 00:53:59,069 --> 00:54:02,948 There's nothing noble about us, in the least. 1042 00:54:02,948 --> 00:54:04,407 The cause is noble. 1043 00:54:04,449 --> 00:54:06,826 You don't have to think we're good people. 1044 00:54:06,868 --> 00:54:09,371 You don't have to agree with us. 1045 00:54:09,412 --> 00:54:11,623 You don't have to like us. 1046 00:54:11,623 --> 00:54:13,250 But we're useful. 1047 00:54:13,291 --> 00:54:16,586 And if you really believe this is a fight for democracy, 1048 00:54:16,628 --> 00:54:20,215 and if you really believe it's an existential fight, 1049 00:54:20,215 --> 00:54:21,633 you need every useful son of a bitch 1050 00:54:21,633 --> 00:54:23,885 you can get on your side. 1051 00:54:33,061 --> 00:54:34,479 There's something happening 1052 00:54:34,521 --> 00:54:36,106 within the Republican Party. 1053 00:54:36,147 --> 00:54:40,360 I-I think it's bigger than Trump. 1054 00:54:47,784 --> 00:54:49,703 A majority of Republicans do not believe 1055 00:54:49,703 --> 00:54:52,497 Biden legitimately won the election. 1056 00:54:52,497 --> 00:54:55,041 Do you have faith in elections now? 1057 00:54:55,125 --> 00:54:56,501 No. 1058 00:54:56,501 --> 00:54:59,087 Does this have the chance of happening again 1059 00:54:59,087 --> 00:55:00,672 in a different shape and form? 1060 00:55:00,714 --> 00:55:02,966 Because a lot of the people who were there on January 6-- 1061 00:55:02,966 --> 00:55:05,385 they're now running for office. 1062 00:55:10,682 --> 00:55:13,143 As expected, in Wyoming, Republican Liz Cheney 1063 00:55:13,143 --> 00:55:15,645 lost her bid in the Republican primary-- 1064 00:55:15,687 --> 00:55:17,480 the last of the ten House Republicans 1065 00:55:17,522 --> 00:55:19,607 who voted to impeach Trump. 1066 00:55:19,691 --> 00:55:22,319 Today, there are Republican candidates for governor 1067 00:55:22,319 --> 00:55:25,113 who deny the outcome of the 2020 election 1068 00:55:25,113 --> 00:55:27,991 and who may refuse to certify future elections 1069 00:55:27,991 --> 00:55:30,076 if they oppose the results. 1070 00:55:33,705 --> 00:55:36,541 I don't know what's legit, what isn't legit. 1071 00:55:36,541 --> 00:55:38,418 So you're just questioning democracy. 1072 00:55:38,460 --> 00:55:39,961 No. I'm questioning the integrity 1073 00:55:40,045 --> 00:55:42,172 of the election system. 1074 00:55:42,213 --> 00:55:45,508 I signed a letter with 120 other generals and admirals 1075 00:55:45,592 --> 00:55:47,552 saying that Trump won the election, and damn it, 1076 00:55:47,594 --> 00:55:50,055 I stand by my word. 1077 00:55:50,096 --> 00:55:51,389 I know for a fact, we will no longer 1078 00:55:51,431 --> 00:55:53,016 accept rigged elections. 1079 00:55:53,058 --> 00:55:55,018 Who's with me on that? 1080 00:55:57,395 --> 00:55:58,605 Good evening. 1081 00:55:58,605 --> 00:56:00,607 Our big story tonight on News at 6-- 1082 00:56:00,607 --> 00:56:02,359 the push to change the way we vote-- 1083 00:56:02,400 --> 00:56:03,693 19 states have passed 1084 00:56:03,735 --> 00:56:07,238 34 voter restriction laws in 2021, more than any other year 1085 00:56:07,322 --> 00:56:09,616 in the last decade. 1086 00:56:12,202 --> 00:56:15,372 Every single Senate Republican 1087 00:56:15,372 --> 00:56:19,334 just voted against starting debate--starting debate-- 1088 00:56:19,334 --> 00:56:23,046 on legislation to protect Americans' voting rights. 1089 00:56:27,675 --> 00:56:30,220 Bill Barr sent a dossier concerning 1090 00:56:30,261 --> 00:56:33,765 The Lincoln Project, naming myself and Reed 1091 00:56:33,765 --> 00:56:35,392 and Stuart by name-- 1092 00:56:35,433 --> 00:56:37,435 A new ad put out by The Lincoln Project... 1093 00:56:37,519 --> 00:56:38,686 Fighting for the right to vote 1094 00:56:38,770 --> 00:56:40,605 has been a long American journey. 1095 00:56:40,647 --> 00:56:43,274 In 2022, democracy is on the ballot. 1096 00:56:43,358 --> 00:56:45,276 How is The Lincoln Project still going? 1097 00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:47,112 It's honestly remarkable. 1098 00:56:47,112 --> 00:56:48,822 - The Lincoln Project. - The Lincoln Project-- 1099 00:56:48,863 --> 00:56:50,323 The Lincoln Project-- 1100 00:56:50,365 --> 00:56:52,450 Trump is threatening to sue The Lincoln Project. 1101 00:56:52,534 --> 00:56:54,077 We're delighted by the thought 1102 00:56:54,077 --> 00:56:56,454 that you would try to sue us, Donald. 1103 00:56:56,538 --> 00:56:58,915 Do it. Do it. 1104 00:56:58,957 --> 00:57:00,917 I double-dog-dare you. 1105 00:57:00,959 --> 00:57:04,045 funky music plays