1 00:00:07,674 --> 00:00:11,386 [birds chirping] 2 00:00:11,386 --> 00:00:14,222 [background chatter] 3 00:00:16,516 --> 00:00:19,519 [indistinct chatter] 4 00:00:21,021 --> 00:00:23,064 [McConnell] The last time the Senate convened, 5 00:00:23,148 --> 00:00:26,568 we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals 6 00:00:26,609 --> 00:00:31,573 who tried to stop Congress from doing our duty. 7 00:00:31,573 --> 00:00:34,325 The mob was fed lies. 8 00:00:34,409 --> 00:00:36,703 They were provoked by the president 9 00:00:36,703 --> 00:00:39,330 and other powerful people. 10 00:00:39,414 --> 00:00:41,583 And they tried to use fear and violence 11 00:00:41,583 --> 00:00:43,168 to stop a specific proceeding 12 00:00:43,209 --> 00:00:45,754 of the first branch of the federal government, 13 00:00:45,795 --> 00:00:48,465 which they did not like. 14 00:00:48,465 --> 00:00:51,092 But we pressed on. 15 00:00:51,176 --> 00:00:53,678 We stood together and said an angry mob 16 00:00:53,762 --> 00:00:58,933 would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation, 17 00:00:59,017 --> 00:01:01,352 not even for one night. 18 00:01:01,436 --> 00:01:03,563 We certified the people's choice 19 00:01:03,563 --> 00:01:05,815 for their 46th president. 20 00:01:05,857 --> 00:01:07,817 Tomorrow, President-elect Biden 21 00:01:07,901 --> 00:01:10,987 and Vice President-elect Harris will be sworn in. 22 00:01:11,029 --> 00:01:14,240 We'll have a safe and successful inaugural 23 00:01:14,324 --> 00:01:17,702 right here on the West Front of the Capitol, 24 00:01:17,786 --> 00:01:20,789 the space that President Bush 41 called 25 00:01:20,789 --> 00:01:24,084 "democracy's front porch." 26 00:01:25,585 --> 00:01:27,796 [door clanks open] 27 00:01:30,298 --> 00:01:32,926 [Sarah] There's a nervousness, I think, right now, 28 00:01:32,926 --> 00:01:35,929 between the events of January 6th, 29 00:01:35,970 --> 00:01:37,639 some internal things that are going on 30 00:01:37,639 --> 00:01:38,765 with The Lincoln Project, 31 00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:41,059 and just life in general right now. 32 00:01:41,059 --> 00:01:44,020 Reed asked me to start making calls 33 00:01:44,104 --> 00:01:48,274 and let go of the entire political team. 34 00:01:52,362 --> 00:01:55,156 Several of them did ask me, "Is this because of Mike?" 35 00:01:55,198 --> 00:01:57,826 and I was told not to answer that this was because of Mike. 36 00:01:57,826 --> 00:02:00,370 And I tried to talk around it. 37 00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:03,248 I probably didn't do it well. 38 00:02:03,289 --> 00:02:05,250 - [cell phone pings] - [door opens] 39 00:02:05,291 --> 00:02:08,586 - How are you, gang? - [Sarah] We're great. 40 00:02:08,670 --> 00:02:10,755 We should have movers soon. 41 00:02:11,131 --> 00:02:13,758 I think we want to try and do some, you know, 42 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,969 maybe do a podcast thing over here-- 43 00:02:15,969 --> 00:02:19,806 - [Sarah] Yeah. - And a LPTV thing and... 44 00:02:20,348 --> 00:02:22,225 [Sarah] It was always the plan that we were going to 45 00:02:22,267 --> 00:02:25,103 downsize significantly after the election. 46 00:02:25,145 --> 00:02:27,564 But it wasn't that we were going to fire all political. 47 00:02:27,564 --> 00:02:29,732 It was like political was going to be smaller, 48 00:02:29,774 --> 00:02:31,025 creative would grow, 49 00:02:31,067 --> 00:02:33,486 there'd be a pro-democracy arm. 50 00:02:33,528 --> 00:02:36,739 Like Reed would always say, "Campaigns end." 51 00:02:36,781 --> 00:02:39,826 You go, you get other jobs. 52 00:02:39,868 --> 00:02:41,452 Like... that's... 53 00:02:41,494 --> 00:02:43,621 you know, it was never supposed to be this 54 00:02:43,663 --> 00:02:47,208 self-sustaining organization that was making millions 55 00:02:47,250 --> 00:02:49,711 and millions and millions and millions of dollars. 56 00:02:51,713 --> 00:02:53,798 It probably could have been. 57 00:02:57,302 --> 00:03:00,263 I don't know. I don't know. 58 00:03:01,389 --> 00:03:04,642 quiet music plays 59 00:03:14,194 --> 00:03:15,987 [Lucas] This wasn't working out for us, 60 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:19,532 bringing up these fricking... 61 00:03:21,701 --> 00:03:23,661 Whew, it's hot. 62 00:03:23,745 --> 00:03:26,831 [roommate] Do you want to see the rest of your home? 63 00:03:26,915 --> 00:03:30,627 Lucas and I were a little bit concerned moving out here 64 00:03:30,668 --> 00:03:33,213 because it was like, okay, 65 00:03:33,213 --> 00:03:38,009 what happens if we move out here and we're not kept on? 66 00:03:38,051 --> 00:03:42,347 And we were like, oh, come on, that's crazy talk. 67 00:03:43,264 --> 00:03:45,183 But when we both got the phone calls, 68 00:03:45,225 --> 00:03:47,977 we, like, called each other, we were like, "Fuck." 69 00:03:48,019 --> 00:03:49,604 [laughs] 70 00:03:53,274 --> 00:03:54,692 [Mike] Hey, buddy, how are you? 71 00:03:54,776 --> 00:03:58,446 Struggling at the moment, but I did get a cappuccino. 72 00:03:58,488 --> 00:03:59,322 So I'm-- 73 00:03:59,364 --> 00:04:01,491 - Oh, halfway there. - Doing okay. 74 00:04:01,532 --> 00:04:04,285 You know, all good things come to an end, buddy. 75 00:04:04,369 --> 00:04:06,287 And they're not-they're not an end, they're-- 76 00:04:06,371 --> 00:04:08,206 in many ways, it's a new beginning. 77 00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:09,457 - And, uh... - Yeah. 78 00:04:09,499 --> 00:04:11,542 Seeing you guys and how hopeful you were 79 00:04:11,626 --> 00:04:15,922 and how passionate you were reminded me of... 80 00:04:15,964 --> 00:04:18,216 of when I was in my early 20s and out of college 81 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:19,550 and doing campaign work, 82 00:04:19,592 --> 00:04:22,929 because you're fighting to make the country better 83 00:04:22,929 --> 00:04:25,932 and fighting for a worldview that's inclusive. 84 00:04:25,932 --> 00:04:27,350 It was really my honor. 85 00:04:27,392 --> 00:04:29,727 And I want to thank you for that. 86 00:04:29,811 --> 00:04:32,230 If this was in person, I might have, like, teared up, 87 00:04:32,272 --> 00:04:36,651 but because it's not, I'm, like, keeping it together. 88 00:04:36,651 --> 00:04:38,695 But I appreciate it. 89 00:04:38,695 --> 00:04:39,988 Love you, man. 90 00:04:40,029 --> 00:04:42,365 [Mike] Thanks, man, love you too. 91 00:04:44,284 --> 00:04:46,327 [Melber] President Trump will not attend 92 00:04:46,411 --> 00:04:49,539 Joe Biden's inauguration as presidents have done 93 00:04:49,539 --> 00:04:53,334 to acknowledge a peaceful transfer of power. 94 00:04:53,418 --> 00:04:54,961 [reporter] There are plenty in Washington 95 00:04:55,003 --> 00:04:58,965 who'd rather Trump not make it to inauguration day at all. 96 00:04:59,007 --> 00:05:00,508 [reporter] House Democrats introduced 97 00:05:00,508 --> 00:05:03,136 one article of impeachment on Monday, 98 00:05:03,177 --> 00:05:05,054 charging U.S. President Donald Trump 99 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:06,806 with incitement of insurrection 100 00:05:06,848 --> 00:05:10,685 in their second push to remove him from office. 101 00:05:10,685 --> 00:05:13,104 [Trump] We just got 75 million votes, 102 00:05:13,104 --> 00:05:17,942 and that's a record in the history of sitting presidents. 103 00:05:17,984 --> 00:05:19,652 [crowd cheering] 104 00:05:19,694 --> 00:05:22,030 [indistinct chanting] 105 00:05:22,030 --> 00:05:25,241 A goodbye, we love you, 106 00:05:25,283 --> 00:05:28,244 we will be back in some form. 107 00:05:28,286 --> 00:05:31,289 So have a good life. We will see you... 108 00:05:31,289 --> 00:05:33,624 [Sarah, laughing] "Have a good life." 109 00:05:33,708 --> 00:05:35,293 "Have a good life." 110 00:05:35,293 --> 00:05:37,086 [laughs] Who fucking says that? 111 00:05:37,170 --> 00:05:39,756 - [Rick] "Have a good life." - [Sarah laughing] 112 00:05:39,756 --> 00:05:41,507 [Rick] I mean, come on. 113 00:05:42,467 --> 00:05:46,429 Amazing 114 00:05:46,471 --> 00:05:48,514 Grace 115 00:05:48,556 --> 00:05:51,100 How sweet 116 00:05:51,142 --> 00:05:55,021 The sound 117 00:05:55,063 --> 00:05:58,066 That saved 118 00:05:58,066 --> 00:06:00,777 A wretch 119 00:06:00,777 --> 00:06:03,821 Like me 120 00:06:05,406 --> 00:06:10,036 I once was lost 121 00:06:10,078 --> 00:06:16,042 But now I'm found 122 00:06:16,084 --> 00:06:18,836 Was blind 123 00:06:18,878 --> 00:06:25,301 But now I see 124 00:06:25,802 --> 00:06:28,596 [Biden] Our history has been a constant struggle 125 00:06:28,638 --> 00:06:31,766 between the American ideal that we're all created equal 126 00:06:31,766 --> 00:06:36,187 and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, 127 00:06:36,229 --> 00:06:39,524 nativism, fear, demonization 128 00:06:39,524 --> 00:06:41,692 have long torn us apart. 129 00:06:41,776 --> 00:06:44,987 Through Civil War, the Great Depression, 130 00:06:45,071 --> 00:06:46,864 World War, 9/11, 131 00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:48,866 through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, 132 00:06:48,950 --> 00:06:53,079 our better angels have always prevailed. 133 00:06:53,538 --> 00:06:56,416 In each of these moments, enough of us-- 134 00:06:56,457 --> 00:06:59,293 enough of us have come together 135 00:06:59,335 --> 00:07:02,255 to carry all of us forward. 136 00:07:02,255 --> 00:07:04,382 This is a great nation. 137 00:07:04,424 --> 00:07:06,426 We're a good people. 138 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:09,679 And over the centuries, through storm and strife, 139 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,891 in peace and in war, we've come so far, 140 00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:16,269 but we still have far to go. 141 00:07:16,310 --> 00:07:20,106 soft, stirring music 142 00:07:25,153 --> 00:07:28,781 [background chatter] 143 00:07:30,825 --> 00:07:33,202 [bird chirping] 144 00:07:33,244 --> 00:07:36,831 [ambient background noise] 145 00:07:44,964 --> 00:07:48,134 [phone rings] 146 00:07:50,428 --> 00:07:53,055 [ringing] 147 00:07:55,183 --> 00:07:56,100 [ringing] 148 00:07:56,142 --> 00:07:57,268 [Lily] Hello? 149 00:07:57,310 --> 00:08:00,605 [Conor] Did you see the article this morning? 150 00:08:00,605 --> 00:08:05,359 [Lily] Yeah, it's really upsetting. 151 00:08:05,401 --> 00:08:07,195 [Conor] Um... [exhales] 152 00:08:07,195 --> 00:08:10,072 it's just unbelievable. 153 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:13,367 edgy music plays 154 00:08:13,409 --> 00:08:16,496 [reporter] The Lincoln Project is in the hot seat. 155 00:08:16,537 --> 00:08:20,291 21 men have accused co-founder John Weaver 156 00:08:20,291 --> 00:08:22,001 of sexual harassment. 157 00:08:22,043 --> 00:08:24,504 [anchor] Allegations that Weaver sent them 158 00:08:24,504 --> 00:08:26,339 sexually provocative messages, 159 00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:28,382 often suggesting that he could help them 160 00:08:28,466 --> 00:08:30,343 get work in politics. 161 00:08:32,512 --> 00:08:34,764 [anchor] He told one man that he would, quote, 162 00:08:34,764 --> 00:08:37,350 "Spoil you when we see each other, 163 00:08:37,350 --> 00:08:39,644 "give advice, help with bills. 164 00:08:39,644 --> 00:08:42,355 You help me sensually." 165 00:08:46,651 --> 00:08:48,402 [reporter] According to The New York Times, 166 00:08:48,486 --> 00:08:51,197 one of the boys was just 14 years old 167 00:08:51,197 --> 00:08:53,199 when Weaver first contacted him. 168 00:08:53,199 --> 00:08:54,742 [anchor] Weaver has been on medical leave 169 00:08:54,742 --> 00:08:56,577 from The Lincoln Project since last summer 170 00:08:56,661 --> 00:09:00,623 and hasn't responded to NBC News' requests for comment. 171 00:09:01,207 --> 00:09:03,709 [reporter] The Lincoln Project said it was, quote, "shocked," 172 00:09:03,751 --> 00:09:06,837 calling Weaver "a predator, a liar, and an abuser," 173 00:09:06,921 --> 00:09:08,839 adding, "The totality of his deceptions 174 00:09:08,923 --> 00:09:11,425 "are beyond anything any of us could have imagined, 175 00:09:11,467 --> 00:09:15,179 and we are absolutely shocked and sickened by it." 176 00:09:23,896 --> 00:09:26,899 Hey, folks, I want to talk to you tonight about John Weaver. 177 00:09:27,441 --> 00:09:29,819 And it's not an easy story to tell. 178 00:09:30,736 --> 00:09:33,656 Over the weekend, on Sunday, the New York Times 179 00:09:33,656 --> 00:09:35,157 published a story about John Weaver, 180 00:09:35,199 --> 00:09:38,202 one of the seven co-founders of The Lincoln Project. 181 00:09:39,328 --> 00:09:41,706 That story was about... 182 00:09:41,747 --> 00:09:44,417 contacts with John that began in 2014, 183 00:09:44,458 --> 00:09:46,627 while he was working for John Kasich, 184 00:09:46,711 --> 00:09:51,132 with a young man, a young man of 14 years. 185 00:09:51,632 --> 00:09:53,884 This is the first time we'd heard this story, 186 00:09:53,968 --> 00:09:55,803 first time we'd had any information 187 00:09:55,803 --> 00:09:58,764 about John contacting a child. 188 00:09:58,806 --> 00:10:03,019 And I have to tell you, it shocked us, disgusted us. 189 00:10:03,019 --> 00:10:06,856 It left us in a state of absolute just dread 190 00:10:06,897 --> 00:10:09,609 over the fact that that a child could have been 191 00:10:09,609 --> 00:10:12,153 victimized by John Weaver. 192 00:10:12,153 --> 00:10:18,659 You know, for four years now, my kids have been victimized. 193 00:10:18,743 --> 00:10:21,245 They've been stalked, they've been harassed, 194 00:10:21,329 --> 00:10:23,789 they've had rape threats and death threats, 195 00:10:23,831 --> 00:10:25,666 because I oppose Donald Trump. 196 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:27,418 And that's a burden they had to bear. 197 00:10:27,418 --> 00:10:31,047 And they've been great kids, and they're amazing kids. 198 00:10:31,797 --> 00:10:33,215 But the thought of this guy doing this 199 00:10:33,299 --> 00:10:34,800 to other people's kids, 200 00:10:34,884 --> 00:10:38,721 it sickens me to the core, and all of us. 201 00:10:38,763 --> 00:10:40,681 I hope that you will continue to repose 202 00:10:40,723 --> 00:10:43,267 the confidence you've shown in us for the last year. 203 00:10:43,351 --> 00:10:45,686 We will earn it from you every day. 204 00:10:45,728 --> 00:10:47,521 We will keep this mission going. 205 00:10:47,605 --> 00:10:50,191 And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 206 00:10:50,232 --> 00:10:53,778 somber music plays 207 00:10:53,778 --> 00:10:55,196 [Rick] Here's a fun fact. 208 00:10:55,237 --> 00:10:58,157 I've been in the same room with John Weaver in my life 209 00:10:58,157 --> 00:10:59,659 one time. 210 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:01,577 I met John... 211 00:11:01,619 --> 00:11:04,830 virtually, of course, through LP. 212 00:11:07,541 --> 00:11:10,628 The deepest feeling I have right now 213 00:11:10,670 --> 00:11:15,466 is a regret I did not know what I should have known. 214 00:11:15,466 --> 00:11:17,885 Let me tell you, if that had come to me, 215 00:11:17,885 --> 00:11:21,180 th-that John was-was saying to interns 216 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:23,057 or staff members or anybody, 217 00:11:23,057 --> 00:11:24,642 "I will give you a job at The Lincoln Project 218 00:11:24,642 --> 00:11:26,894 for sexual whatever..." 219 00:11:26,894 --> 00:11:29,730 he'd be out the next day, be out that minute. 220 00:11:37,530 --> 00:11:38,989 [doorbell rings] 221 00:11:39,073 --> 00:11:40,032 [Conor] Your door's open. 222 00:11:40,116 --> 00:11:42,410 - [laughing] - [Lily] I just left it open 223 00:11:42,410 --> 00:11:44,954 - for you. - [laughing] I know. 224 00:11:44,954 --> 00:11:46,914 [Lily sighs] So... how you feeling? 225 00:11:46,914 --> 00:11:48,708 [Conor] You know, just sort of permanently like 226 00:11:48,749 --> 00:11:50,584 -"What the fuck?" - Yeah. 227 00:11:50,626 --> 00:11:53,379 [Conor] I haven't been able to relax in... 228 00:11:53,379 --> 00:11:55,840 you know, a week and a half. 229 00:11:57,842 --> 00:12:00,511 This is dystopian as fuck. 230 00:12:00,553 --> 00:12:01,929 [Lily] I know. 231 00:12:01,929 --> 00:12:06,350 I have a lot of thoughts and a lot of feelings, I guess. 232 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:07,935 [Conor] Which are? 233 00:12:07,977 --> 00:12:10,521 [Lily] I would love to be released from my NDA. 234 00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:12,189 - [Conor] Yes. - That's all I want. 235 00:12:12,273 --> 00:12:13,482 [Conor] Yep. 236 00:12:13,524 --> 00:12:15,526 I don't even think I'm allowed to call the interns 237 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:17,528 and be like, "Are you okay? Did this happen to you?" 238 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:20,531 - Like, how are you doing? - Yeah. 239 00:12:20,573 --> 00:12:24,326 [interviewer] So people feel, yes, 240 00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:25,786 it's a bad thing that happened. 241 00:12:25,870 --> 00:12:28,122 But I don't think anybody's imagining that, 242 00:12:28,122 --> 00:12:32,710 at least from the people that I know, who are donors-- 243 00:12:32,752 --> 00:12:34,587 Let me just say a sentence to you. 244 00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:35,838 The Lincoln Project 245 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,467 knew that John Weaver was doing this in June 2020. 246 00:12:39,467 --> 00:12:41,093 They continued to put him in contact 247 00:12:41,135 --> 00:12:44,305 and hire his interns into October 2020. 248 00:12:44,346 --> 00:12:46,724 uneasy music plays 249 00:12:46,724 --> 00:12:49,685 I warned them about this in a three-page email, 250 00:12:49,727 --> 00:12:54,064 detailing 15 instances of sexual harassment 251 00:12:54,148 --> 00:12:55,775 by John Weaver. 252 00:12:56,275 --> 00:12:58,277 I was told that there was an investigation, 253 00:12:58,277 --> 00:13:04,325 that he was sidelined, and I believed the assurances 254 00:13:04,366 --> 00:13:05,868 that I got from the organization 255 00:13:05,868 --> 00:13:07,703 that John had been cut out. 256 00:13:07,745 --> 00:13:12,124 I did not realize the degree of the deception and the cover-up 257 00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:15,044 until October, when he got back involved, 258 00:13:15,044 --> 00:13:16,879 and I was like, "What the fuck?" 259 00:13:16,879 --> 00:13:19,465 And at that point, it was five days to the election 260 00:13:19,507 --> 00:13:20,883 and I was like, "What am I gonna do 261 00:13:20,925 --> 00:13:23,219 with this information right now?" 262 00:13:23,260 --> 00:13:26,013 Then it's in the fucking New York Times, 263 00:13:26,013 --> 00:13:29,558 and their comment is, "We didn't know." 264 00:13:30,768 --> 00:13:32,645 [interviewer] I'm just playing devil's advocate, 265 00:13:32,686 --> 00:13:34,897 but in terms of like, it was all consensual-- 266 00:13:34,939 --> 00:13:38,734 No, and I don't think you wanna have this fight with me. 267 00:13:39,276 --> 00:13:43,656 John has been doing this to people for 30 years. 268 00:13:43,697 --> 00:13:47,493 He did a version of it to me. 269 00:13:48,452 --> 00:13:50,538 You know, it's just, um... 270 00:13:51,914 --> 00:13:55,751 It was like 2011, and I was 19, 271 00:13:55,835 --> 00:13:57,920 and I just got a message from out of the blue. 272 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,089 I knew who he was. 273 00:14:00,714 --> 00:14:02,633 And he was telling me that there was a governor 274 00:14:02,633 --> 00:14:04,385 that was going to run for president in 2012 275 00:14:04,385 --> 00:14:05,761 on the Republican side 276 00:14:05,803 --> 00:14:08,013 and he was looking for smart, young, digital talent 277 00:14:08,055 --> 00:14:12,726 and kept trying to get me to come to New York a few times. 278 00:14:12,810 --> 00:14:15,437 And then I sort of rebuffed him. 279 00:14:17,231 --> 00:14:19,149 He started, like, play a victim a little bit, 280 00:14:19,191 --> 00:14:21,735 like he was like, "I'm stuck in such a terrible situation. 281 00:14:21,819 --> 00:14:23,070 Do you have any advice for me?" 282 00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:26,031 And I was like, "No." Like, I'm 20, 283 00:14:26,115 --> 00:14:28,117 and you're married with children and gay. 284 00:14:28,158 --> 00:14:30,202 I don't know how to help you here. 285 00:14:31,328 --> 00:14:33,372 And then as soon as I re-engaged, 286 00:14:33,372 --> 00:14:34,915 'cause I felt bad for him, 287 00:14:34,957 --> 00:14:38,544 he slipped it right back to the predatory-style behavior. 288 00:14:42,089 --> 00:14:46,594 My dad asked me a really kinda tough question. 289 00:14:46,594 --> 00:14:48,512 You know, "How did you get so close to people 290 00:14:48,554 --> 00:14:51,015 who are apparently this bad?" 291 00:14:51,015 --> 00:14:53,309 - [Lily] Yeah. - And I didn't have an answer. 292 00:14:53,350 --> 00:14:54,935 And I still don't. 293 00:14:54,977 --> 00:14:58,814 [Lily] Well, I think we all saw the good in this organization. 294 00:14:58,898 --> 00:15:00,858 - It sucks, dude. - [Conor] Yeah. 295 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:03,235 [Lily] It sucks. 296 00:15:03,319 --> 00:15:06,238 "Dear Sarah, Reed, Rick, Steve, and Stuart, 297 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,949 "I wanted to first express my gratitude 298 00:15:08,991 --> 00:15:11,660 "for the opportunity that The Lincoln Project 299 00:15:11,744 --> 00:15:13,203 "has provided to me. 300 00:15:13,287 --> 00:15:15,748 "I believe The Lincoln Project was on the right side 301 00:15:15,748 --> 00:15:17,708 "in putting country over party. 302 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:20,127 "It is with a heavy heart that I express my belief 303 00:15:20,169 --> 00:15:22,379 "that The Lincoln Project is an organization 304 00:15:22,463 --> 00:15:23,797 "that preaches morality 305 00:15:23,881 --> 00:15:26,717 "but in practice, cannot stand up to that belief. 306 00:15:26,717 --> 00:15:28,594 "I'm formally issuing my resignation 307 00:15:28,594 --> 00:15:30,846 "to The Lincoln Project, effective immediately, 308 00:15:30,930 --> 00:15:32,514 [sniffles] "due in part to the events 309 00:15:32,598 --> 00:15:34,016 "surrounding co-founder John Weaver 310 00:15:34,016 --> 00:15:37,102 and the allegations that have come to light." 311 00:15:37,811 --> 00:15:40,022 That's that. 312 00:15:46,111 --> 00:15:48,155 [Lucas] To learn of everything that's come out 313 00:15:48,197 --> 00:15:51,033 has been incredibly gut-wrenching. 314 00:15:51,033 --> 00:15:53,953 I just want to read out something 315 00:15:53,953 --> 00:15:56,956 that they have, you know, publicly put out there. 316 00:15:57,915 --> 00:16:01,418 It's one of them that interned with the, uh, with our team, 317 00:16:01,502 --> 00:16:03,212 the political team. 318 00:16:15,224 --> 00:16:17,935 "At the time, I was a senior in college, studying government, 319 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:19,645 "and I thought connecting with him 320 00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:21,230 "could really open some doors for me. 321 00:16:21,230 --> 00:16:22,982 "But in exchange for open doors, 322 00:16:22,982 --> 00:16:24,775 "Weaver always wanted sex. 323 00:16:24,775 --> 00:16:27,778 "This went on for more than three years. 324 00:16:27,778 --> 00:16:29,905 "I never knew the extent of his actions, 325 00:16:29,989 --> 00:16:32,282 "and I hope others he targeted for grooming 326 00:16:32,324 --> 00:16:34,910 "will feel comfortable with telling their stories. 327 00:16:34,994 --> 00:16:38,372 I just wish I had said something soomer--sooner." 328 00:16:41,250 --> 00:16:44,003 There is almo--I-- there is no way. 329 00:16:44,003 --> 00:16:46,130 Learning what happened now, there is no way 330 00:16:46,130 --> 00:16:48,716 that the principals and people on the principals' calls 331 00:16:48,716 --> 00:16:53,137 and the founders did not know that this was happening. 332 00:16:53,137 --> 00:16:57,474 edgy music plays 333 00:16:57,516 --> 00:16:59,893 [anchor] When the allegations went public last month, 334 00:16:59,935 --> 00:17:02,688 The Lincoln Project said it was, quote, "Shocked." 335 00:17:02,688 --> 00:17:04,898 But a new report says top leaders at the group 336 00:17:04,982 --> 00:17:08,444 knew about at least ten allegations against Weaver. 337 00:17:09,403 --> 00:17:11,155 [reporter] Here, you have, in June-- 338 00:17:11,155 --> 00:17:13,198 the group was told about Weaver, 339 00:17:13,282 --> 00:17:17,369 about these horrible text messages to young boys, 340 00:17:17,453 --> 00:17:18,996 promising sex for jobs, 341 00:17:18,996 --> 00:17:21,373 and they did nothing. 342 00:17:33,969 --> 00:17:37,473 [child laughing] 343 00:17:37,973 --> 00:17:41,351 [Sarah] It wasn't complete news to me. 344 00:17:41,393 --> 00:17:45,147 There had been rumblings of John for decades. 345 00:17:45,189 --> 00:17:48,942 He had a reputation around this stuff. 346 00:17:48,984 --> 00:17:50,861 And I'm going to just be really straight. 347 00:17:50,861 --> 00:17:53,280 I had interns coming out of my ears. 348 00:17:53,322 --> 00:17:57,159 John would send them to me. I'd get resumes. 349 00:17:57,201 --> 00:17:59,203 And I found out, after the fact, 350 00:17:59,203 --> 00:18:01,789 that the interns that John at the time was sending me 351 00:18:01,830 --> 00:18:04,792 were people that he was DMing. 352 00:18:05,334 --> 00:18:09,296 When we first received this email, right? 353 00:18:09,296 --> 00:18:12,633 First thing I do-- send it to the attorney. 354 00:18:12,633 --> 00:18:13,926 Take a look at this. 355 00:18:13,967 --> 00:18:16,512 Do the necessary investigations. 356 00:18:17,012 --> 00:18:20,641 It turns out that the people who were named in the email-- 357 00:18:20,682 --> 00:18:21,809 they didn't want to-- 358 00:18:21,809 --> 00:18:23,644 they didn't want to pursue a formal complaint 359 00:18:23,685 --> 00:18:24,937 within the organization. 360 00:18:24,978 --> 00:18:28,023 A board member comes to me subsequent to that and says, 361 00:18:28,107 --> 00:18:29,441 "I'm not happy with the outcome." 362 00:18:29,525 --> 00:18:32,694 And I said, "What do you want me to do about it?" 363 00:18:33,237 --> 00:18:37,324 The board was made up of me, Ron, and Mike. 364 00:18:37,366 --> 00:18:40,702 It only took two people to make a decision. 365 00:18:45,207 --> 00:18:47,668 I think it was, at least from my perspective, 366 00:18:47,668 --> 00:18:49,878 as much as I know, it was 367 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,715 a bunch of right-wing, 368 00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:55,425 you know, sort of Trump-aligned trolls 369 00:18:55,467 --> 00:18:58,637 who had been working on this for many, many months. 370 00:18:58,679 --> 00:19:00,180 They were out to get us. 371 00:19:00,264 --> 00:19:01,348 [Sarah] We woke up this morning. 372 00:19:01,348 --> 00:19:04,852 Veracity, our new digital vendor, pulled. 373 00:19:04,852 --> 00:19:07,729 Anedot, who runs our money, pulled out. 374 00:19:07,771 --> 00:19:09,731 Um, m-more people have resigned. 375 00:19:09,815 --> 00:19:11,942 It's just-it's-it's like... 376 00:19:11,942 --> 00:19:15,154 it's falling apart. 377 00:19:20,367 --> 00:19:23,370 [Jennifer] There is a destructive nature to secrets 378 00:19:23,412 --> 00:19:26,915 and how they eat at you internally. 379 00:19:29,418 --> 00:19:30,794 The day the story came out, 380 00:19:30,878 --> 00:19:34,840 I got my first phone call from an intern at the Project. 381 00:19:34,882 --> 00:19:37,301 He said the cornerstone of Trumpism 382 00:19:37,342 --> 00:19:39,303 is about an abuse of power. 383 00:19:39,303 --> 00:19:41,471 This is one of the reasons why I joined. 384 00:19:41,513 --> 00:19:44,224 But, he said, I feel like I've become a victim 385 00:19:44,308 --> 00:19:46,643 of what I was fighting against. 386 00:19:48,187 --> 00:19:51,398 I said, this is it. I'm done, this--I'm done. 387 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,693 moody music plays 388 00:19:59,156 --> 00:20:01,992 Late afternoon, after I had resigned, 389 00:20:01,992 --> 00:20:06,288 my attorney texted me and said, 390 00:20:06,288 --> 00:20:08,874 "Oh my God, Steve's statement." 391 00:20:12,211 --> 00:20:15,631 Steve suggested that I was seeking hush money. 392 00:20:15,672 --> 00:20:19,134 Not only was I not-- I would never. 393 00:20:19,218 --> 00:20:21,678 It is so... 394 00:20:21,762 --> 00:20:23,388 arrogant and hypocritical 395 00:20:23,472 --> 00:20:27,017 and antithetical to what we said we were all about. 396 00:20:33,273 --> 00:20:35,984 [Steve] Let's lay it all out. 397 00:20:37,110 --> 00:20:39,947 Jennifer Horn sent a letter 398 00:20:39,947 --> 00:20:41,949 asking for lifetime compensation 399 00:20:41,949 --> 00:20:43,700 on Christmas Eve. 400 00:20:43,784 --> 00:20:45,702 Lifetime financial security, 401 00:20:45,744 --> 00:20:49,331 on the backs of the donors of The Lincoln Project. 402 00:20:49,373 --> 00:20:51,541 And my answer was no. 403 00:20:51,625 --> 00:20:53,335 Outrageous. 404 00:20:54,127 --> 00:20:55,587 About five weeks later, 405 00:20:55,671 --> 00:20:57,673 the first story came out 406 00:20:57,673 --> 00:20:59,383 about John Weaver, 407 00:20:59,424 --> 00:21:02,928 and she started using that 408 00:21:02,928 --> 00:21:04,805 to lever the organization, 409 00:21:04,805 --> 00:21:09,059 demanding compensation, 410 00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:11,812 and then, after she resigned, 411 00:21:11,812 --> 00:21:14,273 leaked to the press 412 00:21:14,273 --> 00:21:17,150 that The Lincoln Project's leadership 413 00:21:17,192 --> 00:21:19,945 had covered up 414 00:21:19,987 --> 00:21:22,990 serious allegations... 415 00:21:22,990 --> 00:21:26,243 of sexual misconduct 416 00:21:26,243 --> 00:21:28,203 against a founder of the organization 417 00:21:28,287 --> 00:21:30,289 so we can all keep making money. 418 00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:33,375 It was disgusting. 419 00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,585 [Jennifer] You are publicly attacking a woman 420 00:21:35,669 --> 00:21:38,714 going through an aggressive contract negotiation 421 00:21:38,714 --> 00:21:42,217 for fair compensation for what she was contributing. 422 00:21:42,301 --> 00:21:45,971 It was such a sexist thing for them to do. 423 00:21:45,971 --> 00:21:47,597 When they make an attack 424 00:21:47,681 --> 00:21:50,267 suggesting that I would do such a thing, 425 00:21:50,267 --> 00:21:52,102 they attack the integrity 426 00:21:52,144 --> 00:21:54,187 of everything I've ever accomplished. 427 00:21:54,271 --> 00:21:56,690 And one of the more offensive moments 428 00:21:56,732 --> 00:21:59,735 of the entire, uh, saga, 429 00:21:59,776 --> 00:22:04,406 was Jennifer Horn playing the victim card, um... 430 00:22:05,824 --> 00:22:08,452 As... 431 00:22:08,452 --> 00:22:12,164 "I'm a woman who's been treated badly here." 432 00:22:12,205 --> 00:22:15,125 Please. Jennifer Horn, 433 00:22:15,125 --> 00:22:17,294 a contract employee 434 00:22:17,294 --> 00:22:21,590 who was given an honorific co-founder title, 435 00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:25,469 uh, spent most of The Lincoln Project on leave-- 436 00:22:25,469 --> 00:22:28,305 paid leave-- because her mom was sick, 437 00:22:28,305 --> 00:22:30,682 then ran a couple of Facebook groups. 438 00:22:30,766 --> 00:22:32,934 She says, "I want lifetime compensation." 439 00:22:33,018 --> 00:22:34,186 No. 440 00:22:34,186 --> 00:22:36,938 And the response is, "You're anti-woman." 441 00:22:38,315 --> 00:22:40,734 Okay. Guess so. 442 00:22:41,985 --> 00:22:43,904 Answer's still no. 443 00:22:44,404 --> 00:22:46,782 [Ron] I didn't learn anything new about them 444 00:22:46,823 --> 00:22:47,949 from that episode. 445 00:22:47,991 --> 00:22:51,244 I knew exactly who they were and exactly what their MO was. 446 00:22:51,286 --> 00:22:56,291 Anybody who gets in your way is disposable. 447 00:22:56,375 --> 00:22:59,669 Anybody who stands up and says, 448 00:22:59,753 --> 00:23:02,422 "This is not why we got in this fight," 449 00:23:02,464 --> 00:23:04,049 is disposable. 450 00:23:04,091 --> 00:23:06,343 I mean, that's just the tip of the iceberg 451 00:23:06,343 --> 00:23:07,803 of what they're capable of. 452 00:23:07,803 --> 00:23:09,721 I mean, look at what we did at The Lincoln Project. 453 00:23:09,805 --> 00:23:12,349 Imagine the firepower that we aimed at Donald Trump 454 00:23:12,349 --> 00:23:15,143 being aimed at you. 455 00:23:15,185 --> 00:23:19,022 moody music 456 00:23:23,735 --> 00:23:26,446 [Jennifer] I think I just, like had gotten out of the shower 457 00:23:26,488 --> 00:23:29,074 and just was, like, flipping open Twitter. 458 00:23:29,908 --> 00:23:31,159 For the first second I was like, 459 00:23:31,243 --> 00:23:32,536 this can't be what I think this is. 460 00:23:32,536 --> 00:23:36,540 Steve tweeted out screenshots of my conversation 461 00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:39,668 with the reporter, Amanda Becker. 462 00:23:40,627 --> 00:23:42,671 It felt like an assault, 463 00:23:42,712 --> 00:23:44,881 and I went into, like, a full-blown panic. 464 00:23:44,923 --> 00:23:47,717 My heart was racing. My head was pounding. 465 00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:50,137 Pacing back and forth in the room. 466 00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:52,264 And that's when George called. 467 00:23:52,264 --> 00:23:53,849 I was like, "George, call them. 468 00:23:53,849 --> 00:23:55,517 "You have to make them take it down. 469 00:23:55,517 --> 00:23:57,394 "Call Reed. Call Reed right now. 470 00:23:57,436 --> 00:23:59,312 They have to take it down." 471 00:23:59,354 --> 00:24:01,273 But it was too late. 472 00:24:01,314 --> 00:24:03,900 I mean, it was everywhere by then. 473 00:24:05,485 --> 00:24:10,907 I am shocked at how dirty it was. 474 00:24:10,991 --> 00:24:14,286 But I shouldn't be shocked, 475 00:24:14,286 --> 00:24:18,790 because that is absolutely who they are. 476 00:24:39,227 --> 00:24:42,689 I do have a regret, uh, with regard to that. 477 00:24:42,689 --> 00:24:46,359 I regret the apology. Um... 478 00:24:46,401 --> 00:24:48,528 [both chuckle] 479 00:24:48,570 --> 00:24:52,240 She went and hired a Lincoln Project staffer 480 00:24:52,282 --> 00:24:55,494 to be her personal publicist. 481 00:24:55,535 --> 00:25:00,582 Um... she gave that person access to her Twitter account. 482 00:25:00,582 --> 00:25:03,084 When that person had access 483 00:25:03,168 --> 00:25:05,587 to Jennifer Horn's Twitter account, 484 00:25:05,629 --> 00:25:10,509 he saw Jennifer Horn's direct messages with a reporter 485 00:25:10,509 --> 00:25:14,429 where she was threatening to destroy The Lincoln Project. 486 00:25:14,471 --> 00:25:18,517 And this person was aware that while that was going on, 487 00:25:18,517 --> 00:25:21,853 Jennifer was also in a financial dispute. 488 00:25:21,937 --> 00:25:27,108 Her conduct was as absolutely inappropriate, 489 00:25:27,150 --> 00:25:29,778 unprofessional, and unethical 490 00:25:29,819 --> 00:25:32,781 as Ron Steslow's and Mike Madrid's 491 00:25:32,822 --> 00:25:37,661 and is another person who claimed herself to be a victim 492 00:25:37,661 --> 00:25:39,412 and played a leading role 493 00:25:39,454 --> 00:25:42,165 in really functionally destroying the organization 494 00:25:42,207 --> 00:25:43,542 over nonsense. 495 00:25:43,542 --> 00:25:46,378 So yeah, I do regret apologizing to her. 496 00:25:46,419 --> 00:25:49,297 She's not owed an apology. 497 00:25:52,926 --> 00:25:55,554 [reporter] The Democrats are facing an uphill battle 498 00:25:55,554 --> 00:25:59,474 in Mr. Trump's historic second impeachment trial, 499 00:25:59,558 --> 00:26:03,144 this time for his role in the January 6 attack 500 00:26:03,186 --> 00:26:05,522 on the U.S. Capitol. 501 00:26:05,522 --> 00:26:06,898 [anchor] Two weeks ago, 502 00:26:06,940 --> 00:26:09,025 Republicans were condemning Donald Trump. 503 00:26:09,067 --> 00:26:13,363 Now, some already appear to be softening their stance. 504 00:26:13,363 --> 00:26:15,657 [Graham] Most of the evidence is hearsay. 505 00:26:15,699 --> 00:26:16,783 This is not evidence. 506 00:26:16,783 --> 00:26:18,910 This is a liberal Democratic novel. 507 00:26:18,994 --> 00:26:22,038 The process of impeachment and conviction 508 00:26:22,122 --> 00:26:25,375 is a narrow tool... 509 00:26:25,375 --> 00:26:30,505 a narrow tool for a narrow purpose. 510 00:26:30,547 --> 00:26:32,465 If we impeached every politician 511 00:26:32,507 --> 00:26:35,677 who gave a fiery speech to a crowd of partisans, 512 00:26:35,677 --> 00:26:38,263 this Capitol would be deserted. 513 00:26:38,305 --> 00:26:41,808 Impeachment is for removal from office. 514 00:26:41,850 --> 00:26:45,061 And the accused here has already left office. 515 00:26:45,103 --> 00:26:47,314 Hyper-partisan Democrats 516 00:26:47,314 --> 00:26:49,816 are about to drag our great country 517 00:26:49,858 --> 00:26:53,445 down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol, 518 00:26:53,486 --> 00:26:55,405 the likes of which has never been seen 519 00:26:55,447 --> 00:26:56,740 in our nation's history. 520 00:26:56,781 --> 00:26:58,867 Instead of stopping the Trump train, 521 00:26:58,867 --> 00:27:00,577 his movement will grow stronger, 522 00:27:00,619 --> 00:27:02,912 for you will have made him a martyr. 523 00:27:04,748 --> 00:27:06,458 [reporter] On this President's Day, 524 00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:07,792 Donald Trump supporters 525 00:27:07,834 --> 00:27:09,961 gathering to celebrate a former President, 526 00:27:10,003 --> 00:27:11,838 fresh off his second acquittal. 527 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,799 And tonight, he is plotting out his next steps. 528 00:27:14,883 --> 00:27:17,218 [anchor] You have all these Republicans 529 00:27:17,302 --> 00:27:19,137 kissing the ring still. 530 00:27:19,137 --> 00:27:23,099 Given that Trump is still wielding so much power, 531 00:27:23,183 --> 00:27:24,601 I think it does reflect 532 00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:28,647 we are still very much in the midst of this crisis. 533 00:27:29,397 --> 00:27:31,316 It's not behind us. 534 00:27:33,693 --> 00:27:36,780 [Sarah breathing heavily] 535 00:27:46,581 --> 00:27:49,793 [phone line rings] 536 00:27:50,627 --> 00:27:53,004 [Sarah] Hey, Stuart. How are you? 537 00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:56,132 Not great. 538 00:27:56,174 --> 00:27:59,260 It's been a horrible week. 539 00:27:59,344 --> 00:28:03,348 I-I mean, Stuart, I hired people, 540 00:28:03,348 --> 00:28:06,768 knowing the beginning started with John. 541 00:28:06,810 --> 00:28:09,187 And Reed knew as well. 542 00:28:13,608 --> 00:28:15,652 That-- 543 00:28:15,652 --> 00:28:17,445 T-that's not the issue. 544 00:28:17,487 --> 00:28:19,406 That is not the issue. 545 00:28:19,447 --> 00:28:21,866 somber music plays 546 00:28:21,908 --> 00:28:24,828 Ron had made Reed and Steve aware, back in March, 547 00:28:24,828 --> 00:28:28,206 of Conor and all these other guys. I-- 548 00:28:28,248 --> 00:28:29,457 I mean-- 549 00:28:32,585 --> 00:28:35,004 Well, then why were we trying to cover it up 550 00:28:35,088 --> 00:28:37,382 if it didn't matter? 551 00:28:37,424 --> 00:28:39,926 dark, moody music 552 00:28:39,968 --> 00:28:42,929 Look, I'm not going to pretend like I didn't know, 553 00:28:42,929 --> 00:28:45,974 if asked, is the bottom line. 554 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,354 I sent a letter to you and Reed, and nobody responded. 555 00:28:52,814 --> 00:28:56,317 I sent you and Reed my letter of resignation. 556 00:28:57,694 --> 00:28:59,320 Okay. 557 00:29:03,825 --> 00:29:07,495 I want to be honest about mistakes. 558 00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:09,205 If we were all about the mission 559 00:29:09,289 --> 00:29:12,917 and being anti-Trump and acting differently from Trump, 560 00:29:13,001 --> 00:29:16,087 things should have been handled differently at the start. 561 00:29:16,171 --> 00:29:18,339 I threw out all my Lincoln Project gear. 562 00:29:18,381 --> 00:29:19,549 The only I kept is that thing. 563 00:29:19,549 --> 00:29:23,636 I-I'm embarrassed to have been a part. 564 00:29:23,678 --> 00:29:25,054 [anchor] The Lincoln Project 565 00:29:25,138 --> 00:29:27,932 has been coming apart at the seams in recent weeks. 566 00:29:27,974 --> 00:29:29,601 [anchor] Reporting on the anti-Trump group, 567 00:29:29,601 --> 00:29:31,144 a new New York Times article claims 568 00:29:31,144 --> 00:29:33,980 there is a civil war inside The Lincoln Project 569 00:29:33,980 --> 00:29:36,566 over financial mismanagement. 570 00:29:36,566 --> 00:29:38,026 [anchor] The Associated Press reports 571 00:29:38,067 --> 00:29:41,404 more than half of the money raised by the project in 2020 572 00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:43,114 was paid to consulting firms 573 00:29:43,156 --> 00:29:45,700 tied to the group's founders and staff. 574 00:29:45,784 --> 00:29:48,453 [Lachlan] They used a loophole 575 00:29:48,495 --> 00:29:50,705 in the disclosure of campaign finances, 576 00:29:50,747 --> 00:29:52,248 and incidentally, it is a loophole 577 00:29:52,290 --> 00:29:54,667 that the Trump campaign used to great effect as well. 578 00:29:54,751 --> 00:29:56,920 So exactly where that money ended up 579 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,422 simply is not knowable. 580 00:29:59,464 --> 00:30:00,632 They've got all the money. 581 00:30:00,673 --> 00:30:02,509 They drained-- they took all the money 582 00:30:02,509 --> 00:30:04,594 from the nice, mean-- well-meaning liberals. 583 00:30:04,636 --> 00:30:06,554 Meghan McCain also got in on this. 584 00:30:06,596 --> 00:30:08,932 She tweeted that "John Weaver and Steve Schmidt 585 00:30:08,932 --> 00:30:10,892 "were so despised by my dad, 586 00:30:10,892 --> 00:30:13,269 "he made it a point to ban them from his funeral. 587 00:30:13,311 --> 00:30:16,356 "Since 2008, no McCain would have spit on them 588 00:30:16,397 --> 00:30:18,942 if they were on fire." 589 00:30:27,116 --> 00:30:28,660 [Reed] So first and foremost, 590 00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:30,787 I just wanna apologize to everybody. 591 00:30:30,829 --> 00:30:35,375 One of the base tenets of our... 592 00:30:35,416 --> 00:30:36,751 of our-our movement-- 593 00:30:36,793 --> 00:30:39,295 which, it is a movement, I really believe that-- 594 00:30:39,337 --> 00:30:41,631 has been honesty and transparency. 595 00:30:42,173 --> 00:30:46,886 And on that front, in too many ways, we failed. 596 00:30:46,928 --> 00:30:49,514 We have brought in a law firm 597 00:30:49,556 --> 00:30:51,724 called Paul Hastings, out of Los Angeles, 598 00:30:51,766 --> 00:30:53,017 who is going to come in. 599 00:30:53,059 --> 00:30:54,686 They've already actually started, uh, 600 00:30:54,686 --> 00:30:57,605 their inquiry, uh, into the... the situation 601 00:30:57,647 --> 00:30:59,023 regarding John Weaver. 602 00:30:59,065 --> 00:31:01,734 Specific questions about John, um, 603 00:31:01,818 --> 00:31:04,737 are being answered as we speak, and we'll have a report out. 604 00:31:04,821 --> 00:31:07,031 I think also there's been a lot of questions 605 00:31:07,073 --> 00:31:09,033 about the finances of the organization, 606 00:31:09,075 --> 00:31:10,618 which I'm happy to answer questions about. 607 00:31:10,660 --> 00:31:12,078 Let me just say this-- 608 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,539 is that no one created generational wealth. 609 00:31:14,581 --> 00:31:16,916 I know that expression's been thrown around a lot. 610 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:20,920 I believe that every dollar we spent last year, uh, 611 00:31:20,962 --> 00:31:22,171 was an effective dollar. 612 00:31:22,255 --> 00:31:25,300 And I'm happy to answer any questions. 613 00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:29,137 [Stuart] Hey, Reed, you guys have really screwed up here, 614 00:31:29,137 --> 00:31:31,723 and I still think you're on your back foot. 615 00:31:31,723 --> 00:31:33,016 - Yeah. - I want to hear, 616 00:31:33,057 --> 00:31:35,935 "We are accountable, personally and forever." 617 00:31:36,019 --> 00:31:38,021 [Steve] I am not convinced that you can't talk about 618 00:31:38,021 --> 00:31:41,608 why you had so many people from your organization leave. 619 00:31:41,649 --> 00:31:42,859 On some of those people that left, 620 00:31:42,901 --> 00:31:44,569 I literally cannot talk about it. 621 00:31:44,611 --> 00:31:45,945 I can't. 622 00:31:45,987 --> 00:31:47,989 And I can't even tell you why I can't talk about it. 623 00:31:47,989 --> 00:31:49,240 [Steve] You can't talk like that. 624 00:31:49,282 --> 00:31:50,617 [Reed] So let me- let me just say this. 625 00:31:50,617 --> 00:31:52,619 [Stuart] You're behind on transparency. 626 00:31:52,619 --> 00:31:54,537 You're behind on trust. 627 00:31:54,579 --> 00:31:58,291 We want to be able to be huge supporters of yours, 628 00:31:58,291 --> 00:32:00,251 but we have a hard time raising money 629 00:32:00,335 --> 00:32:03,713 for you folks right now, because you look so bad. 630 00:32:03,713 --> 00:32:05,715 I think you should consider the possibility 631 00:32:05,757 --> 00:32:09,135 that the brand is so damaged at this point, 632 00:32:09,135 --> 00:32:11,095 you might need to step aside. 633 00:32:11,137 --> 00:32:13,598 [Reed] I'm committed to as much accountability 634 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:15,058 as there needs to be. 635 00:32:15,058 --> 00:32:16,267 So, like please understand, 636 00:32:16,351 --> 00:32:18,603 like, the easy path is to fold up the tent. 637 00:32:18,645 --> 00:32:21,272 [Stuart] And that would be disastrous. 638 00:32:21,314 --> 00:32:24,859 That would be a victory for the dark forces, truly. 639 00:32:24,901 --> 00:32:26,277 [person] Look, all I'm saying is 640 00:32:26,361 --> 00:32:28,071 you gotta find some other way, right? 641 00:32:28,071 --> 00:32:29,614 I mean, part of what is 642 00:32:29,614 --> 00:32:32,158 giving me a little hesitation here 643 00:32:32,158 --> 00:32:34,953 is I am not convinced that you can't talk about the money 644 00:32:34,953 --> 00:32:37,246 and where it went. 645 00:32:38,623 --> 00:32:40,375 [sighs, whispering] Fuck. 646 00:32:41,834 --> 00:32:44,045 [groans] Uhh. 647 00:32:46,297 --> 00:32:50,927 Last time I saw you guys was on inauguration day. 648 00:32:50,969 --> 00:32:53,721 It's different world, I mean, for us, since then. 649 00:32:56,265 --> 00:32:58,559 We stepped on a landmine, and then said, 650 00:32:58,601 --> 00:32:59,894 "You know what? That was fun. 651 00:32:59,978 --> 00:33:01,813 Let's do that three or four more times." 652 00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:04,440 So now we're up to sort of our mid-femur. 653 00:33:08,486 --> 00:33:10,154 We made mistakes last year. 654 00:33:10,238 --> 00:33:12,991 And what disappoints me most in myself, 655 00:33:12,991 --> 00:33:16,452 and us generally, um, is that, like, we knew better. 656 00:33:19,789 --> 00:33:22,417 And so we are now in a place where, 657 00:33:22,458 --> 00:33:24,043 three weeks ago, 658 00:33:24,085 --> 00:33:29,841 this was a story about one man's behavior, 659 00:33:29,882 --> 00:33:32,677 and it is now about a, you know, 660 00:33:32,719 --> 00:33:33,845 "What is The Lincoln Project? 661 00:33:33,886 --> 00:33:35,304 What's wrong with us?" 662 00:33:35,346 --> 00:33:37,348 We didn't hold ourselves up to the standards 663 00:33:37,432 --> 00:33:40,935 that we claimed to hold up everybody else to. 664 00:33:41,019 --> 00:33:44,188 Um... a-and that's fair. That's totally fair. 665 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:47,025 You know, I've been on the phone 666 00:33:47,066 --> 00:33:50,319 with donors for the last ten days. 667 00:33:50,403 --> 00:33:51,529 Um... 668 00:33:53,322 --> 00:33:56,117 I mean-I mean, it's Icarus, or hubris. 669 00:33:56,159 --> 00:33:58,995 Use whatever Greek tragedy you want to. 670 00:33:58,995 --> 00:34:01,664 Like, this is not a new story. 671 00:34:05,043 --> 00:34:07,920 We built this thing. We caught fire. 672 00:34:08,004 --> 00:34:10,840 You know, by September, people are saying, 673 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:13,301 well, what are you gonna do next? 674 00:34:13,301 --> 00:34:15,261 And we hadn't won the campaign yet, 675 00:34:15,303 --> 00:34:17,513 and they're already asking us that. 676 00:34:17,597 --> 00:34:20,016 So this sort of, like, 677 00:34:20,016 --> 00:34:22,143 th-these heady, you know, 678 00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:25,229 sugarplums dancing in your head... 679 00:34:26,689 --> 00:34:29,984 It's really, really easy to, like, have everybody love you. 680 00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:33,404 I-I've never been in that position before, right? 681 00:34:33,488 --> 00:34:34,447 You know? 682 00:34:34,447 --> 00:34:37,909 You know, your friends calling, you know, and saying, 683 00:34:37,950 --> 00:34:39,285 "You guys are heroes," 684 00:34:39,327 --> 00:34:40,995 and I'm like, that is ridiculous. 685 00:34:41,037 --> 00:34:42,205 Right? 686 00:34:42,246 --> 00:34:44,707 Um... they don't do that anymore. 687 00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:46,084 [laughs] 688 00:34:47,502 --> 00:34:50,254 We're back to being Republicans. 689 00:35:04,644 --> 00:35:07,396 [Stuart] What's different about the American political system, 690 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:09,982 more than anything else, is money. 691 00:35:10,066 --> 00:35:13,152 The amount of money in American politics 692 00:35:13,236 --> 00:35:14,946 is pretty unique for a democracy. 693 00:35:14,946 --> 00:35:16,447 It is unique for democracy. 694 00:35:16,531 --> 00:35:20,076 Take The Lincoln Project. We raised $100 million. 695 00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:22,286 80% of that was from small donors. 696 00:35:22,328 --> 00:35:25,706 I mean, we had billionaires who gave us money. 697 00:35:25,748 --> 00:35:27,125 Um, and under our legal structure, 698 00:35:27,166 --> 00:35:29,210 you could give unlimited money, because Citizens United. 699 00:35:29,210 --> 00:35:33,047 The story here, really, is the rise of soft money 700 00:35:33,089 --> 00:35:36,134 after the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United. 701 00:35:36,175 --> 00:35:39,345 Super PACs, unlike regular political action committees, 702 00:35:39,387 --> 00:35:41,264 can raise an unlimited sum of money 703 00:35:41,264 --> 00:35:44,100 with very few restrictions. 704 00:35:44,142 --> 00:35:47,145 The way a super PAC works, a federal super PAC, 705 00:35:47,145 --> 00:35:51,149 is it can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. 706 00:35:51,149 --> 00:35:55,111 It can take in a $1 contribution. 707 00:35:55,153 --> 00:35:58,406 It can take in a $10 million contribution. 708 00:35:58,447 --> 00:35:59,907 Right? 709 00:35:59,949 --> 00:36:05,079 Then, the ways that money can be spent are very liberal. 710 00:36:05,163 --> 00:36:08,207 Voter contact, television ads, 711 00:36:08,249 --> 00:36:11,419 Facebook ads, direct mail, billboards, 712 00:36:11,419 --> 00:36:13,212 airplanes with "Vote Joe Biden" thing 713 00:36:13,254 --> 00:36:15,840 coming out the back-- you name it. 714 00:36:18,342 --> 00:36:20,720 That is not reported anywhere, 715 00:36:20,761 --> 00:36:23,139 because nobody wants that reported 716 00:36:23,181 --> 00:36:24,891 because the system is set up to be 717 00:36:24,932 --> 00:36:26,976 as opaque as it possibly can be. 718 00:36:27,018 --> 00:36:30,438 And it's--you know, look, uh, the Trump campaign-- 719 00:36:30,438 --> 00:36:33,482 you know, there was, like, two companies owned by Jared, 720 00:36:33,524 --> 00:36:38,321 or controlled by Jared, that sucked a total of $700 million 721 00:36:38,362 --> 00:36:40,198 out of the Trump campaign. 722 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:41,908 Nobody knows where that money went 723 00:36:41,949 --> 00:36:43,409 once they invoiced for it. 724 00:36:43,409 --> 00:36:45,745 Everybody knows that the campaign finance system 725 00:36:45,745 --> 00:36:47,079 is really fucked up. 726 00:36:47,163 --> 00:36:49,749 Everybody knows that the FEC is a toothless organization, 727 00:36:49,749 --> 00:36:52,543 and it's that way by design, because neither Republicans 728 00:36:52,627 --> 00:36:54,420 nor Democrats want it to have any teeth. 729 00:36:54,462 --> 00:36:56,088 The Democrats could change this if they wanted to. 730 00:36:56,172 --> 00:36:57,632 They're in control of both Houses right now. 731 00:36:57,673 --> 00:36:59,258 If they wanted to change the composition of the FEC, 732 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:01,636 they can do it. They haven't done it. Why? 733 00:37:01,636 --> 00:37:03,179 Because it serves them, too. 734 00:37:03,221 --> 00:37:04,972 So there used to be this thing in American politics 735 00:37:05,014 --> 00:37:06,599 called "general consultant"-- 736 00:37:06,641 --> 00:37:09,810 the James Carvilles, 737 00:37:09,894 --> 00:37:12,146 the Lee Atwaters. 738 00:37:12,188 --> 00:37:14,607 But in many ways, they've kind of gone away, 739 00:37:14,649 --> 00:37:16,567 because, see, there's a limit to how much 740 00:37:16,609 --> 00:37:18,778 you can charge a campaign just as a fee 741 00:37:18,778 --> 00:37:20,363 without it looking weird. 742 00:37:20,404 --> 00:37:22,823 And there's a limit to how many campaigns you can work on. 743 00:37:22,865 --> 00:37:24,575 So where the real money was-- 744 00:37:24,659 --> 00:37:27,245 every year, more money's spent on media. 745 00:37:27,703 --> 00:37:31,374 If you were in media, you could charge a percentage 746 00:37:31,415 --> 00:37:34,377 of the dollars spent on television as your fee. 747 00:37:34,418 --> 00:37:38,631 So a lot of people who would have been general consultants 748 00:37:38,631 --> 00:37:41,050 at another era have called themselves 749 00:37:41,050 --> 00:37:42,802 media consultants, just so they can 750 00:37:42,843 --> 00:37:45,346 get into buying television. 751 00:37:45,346 --> 00:37:48,140 There is an industrial-political complex 752 00:37:48,182 --> 00:37:53,479 in America, and that is about consultants. 753 00:37:53,521 --> 00:37:55,982 It's not about ideology. It's about money. 754 00:37:55,982 --> 00:37:57,525 It's about power. 755 00:37:57,525 --> 00:38:00,945 [interviewer] Should we regulate political consultants? 756 00:38:00,987 --> 00:38:02,196 Uh, I think we ought to regulate money. 757 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,073 And by regulating money, you would regulate 758 00:38:04,115 --> 00:38:06,284 political consultants. 759 00:38:09,161 --> 00:38:11,539 [interviewer] You guys raised about $90 million, right? 760 00:38:11,580 --> 00:38:12,498 Right. 761 00:38:12,498 --> 00:38:14,959 [interviewer] You guys were billed $27 million. 762 00:38:15,001 --> 00:38:16,419 - Mm-hmm. - People are like, well, 763 00:38:16,419 --> 00:38:20,089 if you billed 27, where did the money go? 764 00:38:20,131 --> 00:38:22,049 80% of every dollar we spent went straight 765 00:38:22,091 --> 00:38:24,218 to trying to contact a voter. 766 00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:26,178 Um... 767 00:38:26,262 --> 00:38:29,265 But you know, it's interesting, because you guys mentioned, 768 00:38:29,265 --> 00:38:34,228 like, how much money my company billed, right? 769 00:38:34,312 --> 00:38:36,897 You don't mention how much Ron's company billed, 770 00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:39,066 which was a similar number. 771 00:38:40,276 --> 00:38:43,362 $21 million, right? 772 00:38:43,404 --> 00:38:44,780 Ron bought a bunch of media. 773 00:38:44,864 --> 00:38:48,284 But again, once that money goes into an account, 774 00:38:48,284 --> 00:38:50,661 you take it on faith. 775 00:38:52,371 --> 00:38:56,667 Would we have been better off if we had communicated more? 776 00:38:57,835 --> 00:38:59,128 I think so. 777 00:38:59,170 --> 00:39:02,256 I think more communication is better than less. 778 00:39:02,340 --> 00:39:07,219 But I don't know that, even with greater communication, 779 00:39:07,261 --> 00:39:09,388 there would have been an accompanying 780 00:39:09,430 --> 00:39:12,099 sort of satisfaction. 781 00:39:15,936 --> 00:39:18,356 [footsteps] 782 00:39:23,986 --> 00:39:26,655 I love leading people, 783 00:39:26,739 --> 00:39:29,950 but that's different than managing an organization. 784 00:39:31,952 --> 00:39:33,871 But somebody's gotta do it. 785 00:39:36,415 --> 00:39:38,376 Seeing the stuff that we see on social with our followers 786 00:39:38,417 --> 00:39:39,668 and members and everything-- 787 00:39:39,752 --> 00:39:42,296 most of them are sort of like, okay, you clearly 788 00:39:42,338 --> 00:39:44,340 got a bunch of dirty laundry you didn't take care of. 789 00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:45,549 We're reading about it. 790 00:39:45,591 --> 00:39:47,259 We don't wanna read about it anymore. 791 00:39:47,343 --> 00:39:48,636 Oh, my... 792 00:39:48,636 --> 00:39:51,263 Basically, like get your shit together and get back to work. 793 00:39:51,305 --> 00:39:53,474 You're not done yet. 794 00:39:56,227 --> 00:39:59,397 Right now, I'm trying to figure out, you know, 795 00:39:59,438 --> 00:40:02,566 how to transition from a truly fighting organization 796 00:40:02,608 --> 00:40:06,695 into something that represents millions of people. 797 00:40:06,737 --> 00:40:09,031 All right. 798 00:40:09,115 --> 00:40:12,868 We found the bridge. We turned around. 799 00:40:15,746 --> 00:40:19,583 There's a metaphor here, too, but I'm not sure what it is. 800 00:40:22,294 --> 00:40:25,840 We've been really good at fighting against stuff. 801 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:31,429 Now we have to get to fighting for something. 802 00:40:35,015 --> 00:40:38,269 [Bobby Kennedy] I know at times you must feel very alone 803 00:40:38,310 --> 00:40:42,273 with your problems and with your difficulties. 804 00:40:42,273 --> 00:40:45,985 But I want to say how impressed I am 805 00:40:45,985 --> 00:40:47,820 with what you stand for 806 00:40:47,862 --> 00:40:51,240 and for the effort that you are making. 807 00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:54,410 [Lucas] My hero is Bobby Kennedy. 808 00:40:54,410 --> 00:40:56,537 And whenever I feel kind of down, 809 00:40:56,537 --> 00:40:58,789 I'll listen to a speech of his. 810 00:40:58,873 --> 00:41:01,000 That would just remind me of what 811 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:05,296 actual decent leadership is and what courage looks like. 812 00:41:05,337 --> 00:41:11,010 But I-I would be lying if, like, my faith wasn't, like, shaken, 813 00:41:11,010 --> 00:41:12,553 you know? 814 00:41:13,095 --> 00:41:15,639 [Bobby] President Kennedy was speaking to the young people 815 00:41:15,723 --> 00:41:20,561 of America when he said, "The energy, the faith, 816 00:41:20,561 --> 00:41:24,106 "the devotion, which we bring to this endeavor, 817 00:41:24,190 --> 00:41:25,691 "will light our country, 818 00:41:25,691 --> 00:41:30,154 and the glow from that fire can truly light the world." 819 00:41:30,154 --> 00:41:31,614 [Lucas] I can tell you one thing. 820 00:41:31,655 --> 00:41:33,491 People-young people like myself that are coming up 821 00:41:33,491 --> 00:41:36,911 and seeing this shit and, um... 822 00:41:36,952 --> 00:41:39,580 pfft. 823 00:41:39,622 --> 00:41:43,584 Gotta stay hopeful that there can be a better- 824 00:41:43,626 --> 00:41:47,421 better future, but... 825 00:41:47,505 --> 00:41:49,882 [Bobby] With history, the final judge of our deeds, 826 00:41:49,882 --> 00:41:53,260 let us go forth to lead the land we love, 827 00:41:53,302 --> 00:41:55,346 knowing that here on Earth, 828 00:41:55,346 --> 00:41:58,641 God's work must truly be our own. 829 00:41:58,682 --> 00:42:03,312 soft, stirring music 830 00:42:03,354 --> 00:42:07,316 To some generations, much is given. 831 00:42:07,358 --> 00:42:10,402 Of other generations, much is expected. 832 00:42:10,444 --> 00:42:17,660 This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. 833 00:42:18,661 --> 00:42:21,413 [Steve] I knew the real McCain. 834 00:42:21,455 --> 00:42:23,958 He was an imperfect man. 835 00:42:23,999 --> 00:42:25,876 [person] Okay, let him through, let him through. 836 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:28,546 - Let him through. - [Steve] Complicated man. 837 00:42:28,587 --> 00:42:33,509 But he was a full-on fucking American hero 838 00:42:33,509 --> 00:42:36,303 of the highest order. 839 00:42:37,555 --> 00:42:41,559 The idea, though, that we look for perfection 840 00:42:41,559 --> 00:42:46,313 and we look for saints in our political leaders 841 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:49,692 is, in part, a childish delusion 842 00:42:49,692 --> 00:42:53,779 that has brought us to this disaster. 843 00:42:53,821 --> 00:42:58,409 quiet music plays 844 00:42:58,409 --> 00:43:00,536 The story of America... 845 00:43:00,578 --> 00:43:03,872 - One day... - [Steve] Is one that 846 00:43:03,956 --> 00:43:09,169 you can find all the optimism you need for hope. 847 00:43:10,254 --> 00:43:14,008 You can find all the pessimism you need for despair. 848 00:43:14,008 --> 00:43:16,760 [crowd] Six, eight, we don't want to integrate! 849 00:43:16,844 --> 00:43:21,599 [Steve] America has never been a ship, 850 00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:27,062 uh, that has sailed on smooth seas, ever. 851 00:43:27,521 --> 00:43:30,649 I pledge allegiance to the flag... 852 00:43:30,691 --> 00:43:33,527 [Steve] Every generation of American 853 00:43:33,611 --> 00:43:38,657 has been born into an imperfect and unjust country. 854 00:43:38,741 --> 00:43:40,784 And every American born into that country, 855 00:43:40,868 --> 00:43:44,830 whether they died a day later or 100 years later, 856 00:43:44,872 --> 00:43:46,582 died in a more just country 857 00:43:46,582 --> 00:43:49,209 than the one they were born into. 858 00:43:50,628 --> 00:43:57,384 And the question is, will that trajectory continue? 859 00:43:58,385 --> 00:44:00,179 Is it preordained? 860 00:44:00,179 --> 00:44:02,097 Is it providential? 861 00:44:02,181 --> 00:44:03,057 It's not. 862 00:44:03,098 --> 00:44:06,727 And we are at a hinge of history. 863 00:44:06,727 --> 00:44:09,521 Can I get a Trump 2024? 864 00:44:09,605 --> 00:44:11,398 [crowd] Trump 2024! 865 00:44:11,482 --> 00:44:13,400 Trump 2024! 866 00:44:13,442 --> 00:44:15,944 [crowd] Trump '24, Trump '24! 867 00:44:16,028 --> 00:44:18,822 [reporter] Over 20-mile-an-hour winds didn't stop 868 00:44:18,906 --> 00:44:21,575 droves of Trump supporters 869 00:44:21,659 --> 00:44:24,745 from getting here days in advance. 870 00:44:24,745 --> 00:44:30,668 There's a horrible, venomous, poisonous argument 871 00:44:30,709 --> 00:44:34,838 that's bubbled up from beneath the surface 872 00:44:34,922 --> 00:44:38,467 that's disoriented a lot of the country. 873 00:44:38,509 --> 00:44:40,928 [indistinct chanting] 874 00:44:40,928 --> 00:44:43,472 We're not going to take it anymore. 875 00:44:43,472 --> 00:44:46,058 I see a civil war coming. 876 00:44:46,058 --> 00:44:47,059 I do. 877 00:44:47,101 --> 00:44:50,771 [Steve] At this moment in time, we're on the edge. 878 00:44:50,771 --> 00:44:54,817 Touch me again! Touch me again! 879 00:44:54,858 --> 00:44:57,444 [Steve] And what we're on the edge of 880 00:44:57,528 --> 00:45:00,364 is what we've always been on the edge of. 881 00:45:00,406 --> 00:45:03,659 Will this radical concept, 882 00:45:03,659 --> 00:45:06,161 this American experiment... 883 00:45:06,245 --> 00:45:08,455 will it continue? 884 00:45:08,497 --> 00:45:10,749 Can we expand freedom? 885 00:45:10,833 --> 00:45:12,960 Or will we lose it? 886 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:17,089 - [crowd cheering] - USA, USA, USA, USA! 887 00:45:17,089 --> 00:45:20,092 [reporter] Back in the state where presidential campaigns 888 00:45:20,092 --> 00:45:23,887 are born, former President Trump rallying supporters 889 00:45:23,971 --> 00:45:26,807 and hinting at a 2024 bid. 890 00:45:26,807 --> 00:45:29,685 Back to make America great again, 891 00:45:29,727 --> 00:45:33,689 dash, slash, comma, again. 892 00:45:33,689 --> 00:45:35,065 [Ali Velshi] Former President Donald Trump 893 00:45:35,149 --> 00:45:36,942 held a huge election-style rally 894 00:45:36,942 --> 00:45:38,902 in Florence, Arizona on Saturday, 895 00:45:38,986 --> 00:45:40,946 where he repeated his election lies 896 00:45:40,988 --> 00:45:43,782 and embraced some of the most radical Republicans. 897 00:45:43,824 --> 00:45:46,702 Last year, we had a rigged election, 898 00:45:46,744 --> 00:45:48,954 and the proof is all over the place. 899 00:45:48,954 --> 00:45:52,374 We have a lot of proof, and they know it's proof. 900 00:45:52,416 --> 00:45:54,334 They always talk about the big lie. 901 00:45:54,418 --> 00:45:56,253 The big lie is a lot of bullshit. 902 00:45:56,295 --> 00:45:57,546 That's what it is. 903 00:45:57,588 --> 00:45:58,839 [crowd cheering] 904 00:45:58,839 --> 00:46:01,216 Did anybody in here vote for Joe Biden? 905 00:46:01,300 --> 00:46:04,678 [crowd] No! 906 00:46:04,762 --> 00:46:07,181 Do you guys really think he won? 907 00:46:07,181 --> 00:46:08,766 [crowd] No! 908 00:46:08,807 --> 00:46:10,309 [Rubio] You're not going to convince, 909 00:46:10,350 --> 00:46:12,352 at least most normal and sane people, 910 00:46:12,394 --> 00:46:14,271 that our government last year 911 00:46:14,313 --> 00:46:15,522 was almost overthrown by a guy 912 00:46:15,606 --> 00:46:17,524 wearing a Viking hat and Speedos. 913 00:46:17,566 --> 00:46:20,819 January 6th allows them to create 914 00:46:20,861 --> 00:46:23,697 narratives that are negative about people 915 00:46:23,781 --> 00:46:25,073 that supported Donald Trump. 916 00:46:25,157 --> 00:46:28,619 Why do we not know some of the people who we know 917 00:46:28,660 --> 00:46:32,164 were really involved in orchestrating this? 918 00:46:32,206 --> 00:46:33,248 You know why. 919 00:46:33,290 --> 00:46:36,376 They were almost certainly working for the FBI. 920 00:46:36,460 --> 00:46:38,837 So FBI operatives 921 00:46:38,879 --> 00:46:41,882 were organizing the attack on the Capitol. 922 00:46:41,882 --> 00:46:45,135 [anchor] If the President was the party's nominee, 923 00:46:45,177 --> 00:46:46,845 would you support him? 924 00:46:46,929 --> 00:46:48,972 The nominee of the party? Absolutely. 925 00:46:49,014 --> 00:46:51,975 We will take this fight to them in the courts, 926 00:46:52,017 --> 00:46:55,312 in the halls of Congress, and, if necessary, 927 00:46:55,312 --> 00:46:57,272 in the streets! 928 00:46:57,314 --> 00:46:59,191 [crowd cheering] 929 00:46:59,191 --> 00:47:06,031 Trumpism is the beginning of a dangerous extremism. 930 00:47:06,073 --> 00:47:09,827 And we're going to have some big choices as a society 931 00:47:09,827 --> 00:47:12,246 and a culture ahead. 932 00:47:12,287 --> 00:47:13,580 Make no mistake. 933 00:47:13,664 --> 00:47:16,291 The conspiracy could have worked, 934 00:47:16,333 --> 00:47:20,003 and it might work next time. 935 00:47:20,045 --> 00:47:23,465 somber string music 936 00:47:36,061 --> 00:47:39,022 [Ron] Hello, from Politicology. 937 00:47:39,106 --> 00:47:42,442 I'm Ron Steslow, and I'm really excited 938 00:47:42,526 --> 00:47:45,153 for today's conversation. 939 00:47:47,281 --> 00:47:49,616 I have three of my fellow co-founders 940 00:47:49,700 --> 00:47:53,495 of The Lincoln Project with me today. 941 00:47:54,413 --> 00:47:57,749 Kinda cool to see, uh, where all the magic gets done. 942 00:47:57,791 --> 00:48:00,711 [Ron] Each of us had taken our own unique path 943 00:48:00,711 --> 00:48:02,087 to The Lincoln Project... 944 00:48:02,087 --> 00:48:05,340 I get to sit with George. I'm very excited. 945 00:48:05,424 --> 00:48:08,927 [Ron] With full awareness that those paths might diverge 946 00:48:08,969 --> 00:48:10,387 after the election was over. 947 00:48:10,429 --> 00:48:16,059 George, Jennifer, Mike, thank you all for being here. 948 00:48:16,101 --> 00:48:18,437 Let me just ask a big question for the table. 949 00:48:18,478 --> 00:48:19,938 [Ron] Please, please. 950 00:48:20,022 --> 00:48:23,859 Would you have done anything different last year, 951 00:48:23,901 --> 00:48:27,905 knowing the way things stand today? 952 00:48:27,946 --> 00:48:29,823 And answer that at any level that you want. 953 00:48:29,907 --> 00:48:31,325 [Jennifer] That's really loaded. 954 00:48:31,366 --> 00:48:34,578 [laughs] 955 00:48:37,915 --> 00:48:40,334 - As far as the election goes-- - Any level you want. 956 00:48:40,334 --> 00:48:42,294 [Jennifer] As far as the election goes and the role 957 00:48:42,336 --> 00:48:43,211 that we all played 958 00:48:43,295 --> 00:48:44,630 and the commitment that we gave to it 959 00:48:44,630 --> 00:48:47,883 and the sacrifices that we all made 960 00:48:47,883 --> 00:48:50,427 and the, you know, kinda the pain and the difficulty 961 00:48:50,469 --> 00:48:55,599 that came along with it in a lot of personal ways, no. 962 00:48:55,599 --> 00:48:57,100 Those of us at this table engaged 963 00:48:57,184 --> 00:49:01,939 in what we did last year for a very principled, 964 00:49:01,939 --> 00:49:04,024 sincere commitment to preserve democracy 965 00:49:04,024 --> 00:49:05,943 in the United States of America. 966 00:49:05,943 --> 00:49:07,569 It had to happen. 967 00:49:07,611 --> 00:49:09,029 Without what The Lincoln Project did, 968 00:49:09,071 --> 00:49:10,948 we would not have been successful. 969 00:49:10,989 --> 00:49:14,451 soft, dramatic music 970 00:49:24,169 --> 00:49:26,630 Now you have the gay guy, the Latino and the woman, 971 00:49:26,672 --> 00:49:28,966 all of them just decide... 972 00:49:29,758 --> 00:49:30,968 They all left. [Reed]-They left. 973 00:49:30,968 --> 00:49:32,594 They weren't pushed aside. They left. 974 00:49:32,636 --> 00:49:34,888 Each one of them left. 975 00:49:34,930 --> 00:49:36,640 Jennifer Horn quit to The New York Times. 976 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:38,642 - [interviewer] Right. - Ron and Mike left 977 00:49:38,642 --> 00:49:40,227 - of their own accord. - [Steve] Yep. 978 00:49:48,235 --> 00:49:51,822 Uh, well, we didn't turn them on-we kept 979 00:49:51,863 --> 00:49:53,115 turning them on the bad guys. 980 00:49:53,156 --> 00:49:55,325 - Yeah. - [Reed] Just, you know, um, 981 00:49:55,409 --> 00:49:57,285 who's that guy that shot Billy the Kid? 982 00:49:57,369 --> 00:49:59,037 Pat Garrett. We didn't know there were 983 00:49:59,121 --> 00:50:02,457 going to be a whole bunch of fucking Pat Garretts out there. 984 00:50:10,340 --> 00:50:11,258 We did. 985 00:50:11,258 --> 00:50:13,677 We've talked to hundreds of major donors. 986 00:50:13,719 --> 00:50:15,470 You know what they care about? 987 00:50:15,512 --> 00:50:16,972 The big thing. 988 00:50:16,972 --> 00:50:18,265 They care about the mission. 989 00:50:18,306 --> 00:50:20,434 They care about what we did in '20 990 00:50:20,434 --> 00:50:24,354 and what we're going to do in '22 and '24 and beyond. 991 00:50:25,647 --> 00:50:30,777 [Reed] The first non-peaceful transfer of power in 244 years 992 00:50:30,861 --> 00:50:33,071 of the republic took place. 993 00:50:33,113 --> 00:50:35,115 Now, here we are. The fight is not over. 994 00:50:35,157 --> 00:50:38,035 This fight has just begun. 995 00:50:38,035 --> 00:50:41,621 You know, I've heard a lot of people say, are you the devil, 996 00:50:41,663 --> 00:50:43,832 are you guys bad, or are you good? 997 00:50:43,832 --> 00:50:47,961 I'm curious why people see it that way. 998 00:50:48,045 --> 00:50:50,005 The old philosophy was, just win. 999 00:50:50,005 --> 00:50:51,840 Just win, baby. 1000 00:50:51,882 --> 00:50:55,385 And you could get there however you needed to. 1001 00:50:55,469 --> 00:50:57,596 And we got there ugly a lot of the time. 1002 00:50:57,637 --> 00:50:59,973 I freely admit it. Brutal. 1003 00:51:00,057 --> 00:51:03,101 But we turned those skills in this election cycle 1004 00:51:03,185 --> 00:51:07,939 against Trump and his enablers, but we didn't beat Trumpism. 1005 00:51:08,023 --> 00:51:11,234 I have to say, I-- I find it a little bit-- 1006 00:51:11,318 --> 00:51:14,112 I'm just going to be very honest here. 1007 00:51:14,196 --> 00:51:18,158 I feel like you helped deliver us to this bad place. 1008 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:22,913 I think it's a very fair and legitimate point to say 1009 00:51:22,913 --> 00:51:24,998 you guys helped create this. 1010 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:27,501 Um... 1011 00:51:27,542 --> 00:51:28,835 but what do we do? 1012 00:51:28,877 --> 00:51:30,462 I can't undo that. 1013 00:51:30,462 --> 00:51:34,299 But what I can do and what the Lincoln Project has given us 1014 00:51:34,299 --> 00:51:37,260 a vehicle to do is use the skills 1015 00:51:37,302 --> 00:51:40,764 that we acquired to fight for what I think 1016 00:51:40,764 --> 00:51:42,682 is really the central fight of our time, 1017 00:51:42,766 --> 00:51:45,435 which is for democracy. 1018 00:51:45,477 --> 00:51:47,896 [Steve] You have eight U.S. senators. 1019 00:51:47,938 --> 00:51:50,565 A lot of them are from the most elite institutions 1020 00:51:50,607 --> 00:51:51,858 in the world-- 1021 00:51:51,900 --> 00:51:56,822 Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton--these guys... 1022 00:51:56,822 --> 00:52:00,367 when the rioters are outside the Capitol, 1023 00:52:00,408 --> 00:52:02,828 they're in there, laughing it up 1024 00:52:02,828 --> 00:52:04,871 about trying to disenfranchise tens of millions 1025 00:52:04,955 --> 00:52:06,998 of African-American voters to flip the election 1026 00:52:07,040 --> 00:52:08,166 of Donald Trump. 1027 00:52:08,250 --> 00:52:09,835 That's not a political party anymore. 1028 00:52:09,835 --> 00:52:12,587 That is an emergent authoritarian movement, 1029 00:52:12,629 --> 00:52:15,090 that, if we're going to preserve this country, 1030 00:52:15,090 --> 00:52:17,801 we're going to have to fight against, not tomorrow, 1031 00:52:17,843 --> 00:52:22,305 not the next day, but for the next 10 or 20 years. 1032 00:52:22,389 --> 00:52:27,853 [Ron] How should we be thinking about the long-term fight 1033 00:52:27,894 --> 00:52:29,271 for democracy? 1034 00:52:29,271 --> 00:52:32,732 Because we now know that Trump wasn't 1035 00:52:32,774 --> 00:52:34,109 actually the biggest obstacle. 1036 00:52:34,109 --> 00:52:36,069 He was a symptom of a deeper illness. 1037 00:52:36,111 --> 00:52:40,031 To really understand and internalize what that means, 1038 00:52:40,073 --> 00:52:42,200 we have to understand that this is 1039 00:52:42,284 --> 00:52:45,495 a reflection of these larger social changes. 1040 00:52:45,537 --> 00:52:46,413 It's not just that 1041 00:52:46,413 --> 00:52:47,497 the Republican Party's dysfunctional. 1042 00:52:47,581 --> 00:52:50,167 It is. There's no question about it. 1043 00:52:50,167 --> 00:52:52,252 But there's a bigger question about what 1044 00:52:52,294 --> 00:52:54,212 is happening in our society-- 1045 00:52:54,296 --> 00:52:56,381 and this is going to be a bit controversial. 1046 00:52:56,381 --> 00:53:01,720 Can democracy survive in this new digital era? 1047 00:53:04,097 --> 00:53:07,726 [Ron] Information warfare is political persuasion, 1048 00:53:07,726 --> 00:53:10,604 manipulating who's in charge. 1049 00:53:12,230 --> 00:53:15,859 How much freedom and how much equality, right? 1050 00:53:17,194 --> 00:53:18,320 [Mike] In that environment, 1051 00:53:18,361 --> 00:53:20,155 what you're really trying to do 1052 00:53:20,197 --> 00:53:25,035 is secure the attention span of the public. 1053 00:53:25,035 --> 00:53:28,788 What Donald Trump did in 2016 was manipulate the media 1054 00:53:28,830 --> 00:53:31,499 by being that commodity that everybody had to cover, 1055 00:53:31,541 --> 00:53:34,878 and sucked up all the oxygen from the other candidates. 1056 00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:36,880 What we did with The Lincoln Project 1057 00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:39,382 was we turned that on him. 1058 00:53:39,466 --> 00:53:43,720 That's how races are going to be run in the future. 1059 00:53:44,262 --> 00:53:45,472 [Stuart] The Lincoln Project was formed 1060 00:53:45,513 --> 00:53:47,182 by top political consultants who wanted 1061 00:53:47,182 --> 00:53:49,351 to fight Trump and Trumpism. 1062 00:53:49,351 --> 00:53:52,187 And the greatest danger of what we're in now 1063 00:53:52,229 --> 00:53:55,565 is not realizing the greatest danger. 1064 00:53:56,691 --> 00:53:57,692 Look. 1065 00:53:57,776 --> 00:53:59,027 Here's the key. 1066 00:53:59,069 --> 00:54:02,948 There's nothing noble about us, in the least. 1067 00:54:02,948 --> 00:54:04,407 The cause is noble. 1068 00:54:04,449 --> 00:54:06,826 You don't have to think we're good people. 1069 00:54:06,868 --> 00:54:09,371 You don't have to agree with us. 1070 00:54:09,412 --> 00:54:11,623 You don't have to like us. 1071 00:54:11,623 --> 00:54:13,250 But we're useful. 1072 00:54:13,291 --> 00:54:16,586 And if you really believe this is a fight for democracy, 1073 00:54:16,628 --> 00:54:20,215 and if you really believe it's an existential fight, 1074 00:54:20,215 --> 00:54:21,633 you need every useful son of a bitch 1075 00:54:21,633 --> 00:54:23,885 you can get on your side. 1076 00:54:29,933 --> 00:54:33,061 [crowd cheering, applause] 1077 00:54:33,061 --> 00:54:34,479 [commentator] There's something happening 1078 00:54:34,521 --> 00:54:36,106 within the Republican Party. 1079 00:54:36,147 --> 00:54:40,360 I-I think it's bigger than Trump. 1080 00:54:47,784 --> 00:54:49,703 [anchor] A majority of Republicans do not believe 1081 00:54:49,703 --> 00:54:52,497 Biden legitimately won the election. 1082 00:54:52,497 --> 00:54:55,041 Do you have faith in elections now? 1083 00:54:55,125 --> 00:54:56,501 No. 1084 00:54:56,501 --> 00:54:59,087 [anchor] Does this have the chance of happening again 1085 00:54:59,087 --> 00:55:00,672 in a different shape and form? 1086 00:55:00,714 --> 00:55:02,966 Because a lot of the people who were there on January 6-- 1087 00:55:02,966 --> 00:55:05,385 they're now running for office. 1088 00:55:10,682 --> 00:55:13,143 As expected, in Wyoming, Republican Liz Cheney 1089 00:55:13,143 --> 00:55:15,645 lost her bid in the Republican primary-- 1090 00:55:15,687 --> 00:55:17,480 the last of the ten House Republicans 1091 00:55:17,522 --> 00:55:19,607 who voted to impeach Trump. 1092 00:55:19,691 --> 00:55:22,319 Today, there are Republican candidates for governor 1093 00:55:22,319 --> 00:55:25,113 who deny the outcome of the 2020 election 1094 00:55:25,113 --> 00:55:27,991 and who may refuse to certify future elections 1095 00:55:27,991 --> 00:55:30,076 if they oppose the results. 1096 00:55:33,705 --> 00:55:36,541 I don't know what's legit, what isn't legit. 1097 00:55:36,541 --> 00:55:38,418 So you're just questioning democracy. 1098 00:55:38,460 --> 00:55:39,961 No. I'm questioning the integrity 1099 00:55:40,045 --> 00:55:42,172 of the election system. 1100 00:55:42,213 --> 00:55:45,508 I signed a letter with 120 other generals and admirals 1101 00:55:45,592 --> 00:55:47,552 saying that Trump won the election, and damn it, 1102 00:55:47,594 --> 00:55:50,055 - I stand by my word. - [cheers and applause] 1103 00:55:50,096 --> 00:55:51,389 I know for a fact, we will no longer 1104 00:55:51,431 --> 00:55:53,016 accept rigged elections. 1105 00:55:53,058 --> 00:55:55,018 Who's with me on that? 1106 00:55:57,395 --> 00:55:58,605 [anchor] Good evening. 1107 00:55:58,605 --> 00:56:00,607 Our big story tonight on News at 6-- 1108 00:56:00,607 --> 00:56:02,359 the push to change the way we vote-- 1109 00:56:02,400 --> 00:56:03,693 [anchor] 19 states have passed 1110 00:56:03,735 --> 00:56:07,238 34 voter restriction laws in 2021, more than any other year 1111 00:56:07,322 --> 00:56:09,616 in the last decade. 1112 00:56:12,202 --> 00:56:15,372 [Schumer] Every single Senate Republican 1113 00:56:15,372 --> 00:56:19,334 just voted against starting debate--starting debate-- 1114 00:56:19,334 --> 00:56:23,046 on legislation to protect Americans' voting rights. 1115 00:56:27,675 --> 00:56:30,220 Bill Barr sent a dossier concerning 1116 00:56:30,261 --> 00:56:33,765 The Lincoln Project, naming myself and Reed 1117 00:56:33,765 --> 00:56:35,392 and Stuart by name-- 1118 00:56:35,433 --> 00:56:37,435 [anchor] A new ad put out by The Lincoln Project... 1119 00:56:37,519 --> 00:56:38,686 [announcer] Fighting for the right to vote 1120 00:56:38,770 --> 00:56:40,605 has been a long American journey. 1121 00:56:40,647 --> 00:56:43,274 In 2022, democracy is on the ballot. 1122 00:56:43,358 --> 00:56:45,276 [anchor] How is The Lincoln Project still going? 1123 00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:47,112 It's honestly remarkable. 1124 00:56:47,112 --> 00:56:48,822 - The Lincoln Project. - The Lincoln Project-- 1125 00:56:48,863 --> 00:56:50,323 The Lincoln Project-- 1126 00:56:50,365 --> 00:56:52,450 Trump is threatening to sue The Lincoln Project. 1127 00:56:52,534 --> 00:56:54,077 [Rick] We're delighted by the thought 1128 00:56:54,077 --> 00:56:56,454 that you would try to sue us, Donald. 1129 00:56:56,538 --> 00:56:58,915 Do it. Do it. 1130 00:56:58,957 --> 00:57:00,917 I double-dog-dare you. 1131 00:57:00,959 --> 00:57:04,045 funky music plays