Stuart Stevens | The Conspiracy to End America

Join former chief Republican strategist Stuart Stevens as he raises a provocative question: Will 2024 be America's last free and fair election? Stevens, whose clients included President George W. Bush and several senators and governors, warns that the GOP is veering towards autocracy, posing a threat to American democracy.
In his new book, "The Conspiracy to End America," Stevens explores the forces driving the Republican party towards autocracy and examines the elements necessary for democracies to slide into authoritarianism. As an advisor to the Lincoln Project, Stevens offers a stark warning and a call to action to preserve democratic governance in the face of growing threats.
Don't miss this important discussion as Stevens sounds a blinking red distress alert and offers insights on how to counter this existential threat to American democracy.
Photo courtesy the speaker.
October 26, 2023
SPEAKERS
Stuart Stevens
Senior Advisor, The Lincoln Project; Author, The Conspiracy to End America: Five Ways My Old Party Is Driving Our Democracy to Autocracy; Twitter @stuartpstevens
In Conversation with Brian Watt
News Anchor, KQED; Twitter@RadioBWatt
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Discover the rich history of The Commonwealth Club of California, the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. Founded in 1903 in San Francisco, the Club has hosted a diverse range of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. With over 20,000 members, the Club organizes more than 400 annual events covering politics, culture, society, and the economy. Join us as we explore the legacy and impact of this esteemed institution on public discourse and civic engagement.

[@ArtiodactylaSlayer]

As a journalist if one side states it's raining and the other side states it's sunny it's NOT your job to be fair and balanced and quote them both, it's your job to go outside and see what the weather is doing.

[@jfrmfrjm]

From a European POV, that seems to be the problem with American journalism - the infamous CNN interview with Trump was a complete antithesis of journalism! There's a very telling video on KZbin from the early days of Trump presidency where Dutch journalists confront Trump's new ambassador to the Netherlands - they simply wouldn't have any of his nonsense, none of it. I haven't seen anything alike among American journalists to this day - the only one as principled as the Dutch is Mehdi Hasan, and he's British! Journalists should take advice from the Democrats smacking down Republican bullshitters head on in congressional hearings like Jared Moskowitz, Jasmin Crockett, AOC and Katie Porter.

[@stevenhanson6057]

Sweet.

[@jcbjcb2]

@@jfrmfrjm The CNN interviewer wasn't so bad - she repeated questions. However, Orangeman persisted in rambling and whining.

[@junanougues]

Good one!

[@Notfunnysam]

​@@jfrmfrjm be careful which Democrats you promote. Republicans are outright crooks. Democrats are good at tricking people into believing that they are different. I'm talking about Washington. State level is different. Before you tout them as good take a look at them

[@designchik]

As a liberal, the reverence for Reagan has always puzzled me. The way he handled the AIDS crisis - or didn’t handle it - and that trickle-down-economics nonsense that led to the destruction of the middle class are what I remember. 🤷‍♀️

[@shellyscholz1256]

Reagan listened to Anthony Fauci. He’s not the only one who fell for this horrid man. Hopefully that era has truly ended.

[@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate]

republicans tend to focus on the emotions they felt about these people rather than the practical effects of what they did. Everytime I meet someone with weird beliefs whos willing to talk to me (a republican that is, im an independent whos single issue i vote on is which party will make sure that there is another election next time around), its always an emotional story that has led them to their weird and sometimes radical and unbelievable beliefs. When you hear people say "i like trumps policies" , i wish someone would follow up and ask them to name 5 that they like. Id be surprised if they could name 3

[@shellyscholz1256]

@@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate I’m not a republican not a democrat but here are some things I can appreciate about Trump: He didn’t declare war on other nations He understood the border crisis, but Mexicans…obviously not so much. He has stood up to every lie reported by the media, although he did it in a degrading manner. Things I would have liked to see him do: Understand Mexicans Actually know something about that Bible he posed with Tell the media that their express job is to keep the government in check, even him Fired Anthony Fauci Speak to the working class more than the nearly extinct middle class Explain constitutionally why there should have been a ten day hold on certifying the election Explain most anything about the constitution I’ll stop here on what he should have done or I’d be here all night.

[@kathycarraher5014]

Also Regan started the downsizing of state psych. hospitals in the name of smaller government. Now, we reap the results ,a lack of mental health practioners and healthcare. mentally ill are housed in jails instead of hospitals and an increase of homeless ..A lack of public care for drug addiction that was previously done by State Psych. hospitals.

[@louannkyle602]

I agree his policies that continue today gutted the middle class it created our huge deficit with the huge tax cuts I do not understand why they look at him as a good president he even raised the retirement age for SS that just recently kicked in people that work backbreaking work can’t work that long and I’m sick of suits in the government who can sit around and work to 90 plus think we could do the same it’s just baffling

[@reasonandseason6720]

I’m 51 and the GOP has always been what it is today. Today they just say the quiet part louder.

[@Darbimac]

That's pretty much what Stuart's entire first book was about. That the GOP is, and has been, totally full of crap and believes only in power and money.

[@susanmercurio1060]

I'm 77 and it wasn't that way in Eisenhower's time. Sadly, you grew up in the post-Reagan years and haven't seen anything else.

[@nextworld9176]

I'm 68 and a military retiree. The GOP of my youth had a liberal wing. It was always the Democrats who were racist conservatives. Nixon did good things, but screwed up. Then, there was Reagan. Worse, there was Gingrich. Bush II dumbed the party down and Trump took it flying into insanity.

[@judithmcdonald9001]

@@susanmercurio1060 Yes. i could go for "I Like Ike" but from Reagan on, forget it!!

[@joem6352]

@@susanmercurio1060 Eisenhower was a Progressive Republican, a rare breed.

[@janeenlewis6238]

Just wanted to say, as a liberal woman,these discussions are bringing me some peace. I was traumatized during the Trump years from the mental abuse by friends trying to "own the libs." To the good people of the Common Wealth Club, Thank You.

[@dabrack9350]

It was not declaration of war against democracy but rather against elite control of Americans (and anyone else who sees the same facts and wants to join)

[@mirandashuwera3389]

When that happens in society, it should lead the "libs" to question whether they're playing into the MAGA's hands, by constantly trying to police and enforce "political correctness." Imo 🥴

[@RobBCactive]

​@@dabrack9350you show you don't understand how fascist movements operate and exploit disaffected people. Rejecting fact and rational argument is part of it, just as much as exploiting fear and prejudice. You have been programmed, strawman enemies is part of the recipe to subvert and control you.

[@lindamullins1446]

​@@dabrack9350 The right is the elite with a lot of money any way they can get it. They are for corporations not we the people having better wages. It was Regan who started busting the unions that we needed for better wages and insurance retirement etc. Republicans was against all that Democrats are more often been for we the people equal rights. Republican pretend less government then try to control everything even our bodies schools etc. Vote Blue For Truth & Democracy 💙😎💙

[@Silverhawk100]

@@dabrack9350 And the chief way to wrest control from the elites was to let people like Peter Thiel, Donald Trump, and other rich business-class-type people control policy? Are you kidding me?

[@EmmettHenderson-hf1zm]

Its inconceivable, incomprehensible, unconscionable how any loyal patriotic American could in any wY support trump.

[@josephlandry8787]

Your lack of cognitive empathy is frightening.

[@camhamster3891]

@@josephlandry8787 After eight years, and everything we have all witnessed, it's perfectly natural for empathy of both varieties to fail.

[@carmennurse8641]

But at least 180M of the citizens do, alas, at their own peril!!!!!!

[@rogerforsman5064]

@@josephlandry8787 So please dear Sir enlighten us!

[@marcusaurelius9123]

@@josephlandry8787 cognitive empathy? Seriously?

[@nostradamus9441]

Stuart Steven's analysis of the Republican party is excellent! Loved every minute of the interview. Thank you! Vote Biden, Convict Trump!

[@debradelarue9717]

Democrats are even more corrupt!! Woke policies, shallow policies, no thanks.

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

💙 👍🏻Riden With Biden/Harris 2024 🌊🇺🇲🗳💙🌊

[@identifying.as.asovereignhuman]

Biden hasn't given America anything to look forward to. What's his plan? What's he working on? How is he managing our problems? How is he framing our future? Americans aren't impressed with Biden and Harris, frankly, and they haven't given us much to go on.

[@alwaysovercomingbear4809]

😅😂🤣

[@LilyGazou]

Yes. Biden is doing wonders with the economy. Highest employment ever.

[@maryannwaddell3359]

I am a Democrat, but I can relate to what Stuart Stevens is saying. And it is so refreshing to hear from a reasonable Republican.

[@dancoffey8412]

Don't be a Charlie Brown. Don't try to kick the football again when it comes to Republicans. This guy is like nice paper on a excrement-filled bag. Republicans gained power on dirty tricks and its baked into their DNA. They are the masters of Madison Avenue and rebranding when a brand fails or gets tainted. Recall the results of Citizens United and a vast sea of dark money supporting anti-American behaviors.

[@georgeroberts613]

He's not a republican anymore, may not even be a conservative. At least not until we pull democracy out of the fire...if we do. This is what Faux news finished doing; made anger and emotional nonsense profitable...and produced a cancer on democracy. And we all let Murdoch do it without calling him out. All in the name of "capitalism" at any cost.

[@Darbimac]

There aren't really any of those. He left the party years ago, but his analysis is still valuable.

[@jfrmfrjm]

@@DarbimacUnfortunately you find only reasonable FORMER republicans - since there's absolutely NOTHING reasonable in the party today.

[@intimacycafe]

I cannot trust anybody who still considers themself a Republican after all that has happened and continues to happen.

[@kathleenm3443]

“Straight up racism, and we should call it as such.” So true.

[@carolbridge7768]

They just USE racism to get power. Its the fuel, not the actual goal of the wizards behind all of this.

[@JR-pr8jb]

Election denial has nothing to do with "belief." It's knowing the truth and refusing to accept it.

[@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate]

its a wilflfulblindness, and its also code for that if you subtract all those black and hispanic votes, trump won, because the "others" aren't real americans in there eyes. These are their beliefs, not mine for the record.

[@beefandbarley]

That's right. Well said. Very simple.

[@jfrmfrjm]

Exactly - and quite a few of those "believers" have said so.

[@git-er-dun_LBK_]

Yes, and election denial is but one of the tools Republicans have that will lead us to Autocracy. I am so tired of preaching to my family that they are turning their grandchildren into serfs. I'm happy that my life is 7/8th spent and will not have lack.

[@LilyGazou]

No one was interested in what I saw on election night.

[@oldionus]

I have never been a Republican and disagree with people like Stuart Stevens on many issues. But we share a common belief in the democratic principles of our foundation and Constitution, and that transcends the corruption of politics in general and the fascism of the modern Trumpist GOP in particular.

[@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp]

I can feel it in his voice. This weighs heavy on him - having been a part of the group who helped usher in “the cult”. Not that he did it on purpose or allowed it, but that he didn’t spot the warning signs earlier. I saw this coming around the time of the Bush v Gore toss-up & the dirty tricks republicans used to get Bush into office. Then immediately more tax cuts for the rich, while middle & lower income people were struggling (since Reagan). Back to Stewart. I bet this guy had privately shed some tears. His pain comes through in his words, his concern for our future as a country. I wish these republicans would have just looked around in the 1990’s. The writing was all over the walls. The christo-fascists were clawing their way into the republican party & they were blatantly lying about everything. Glad Stewart & the people at the Lincoln Project woke up, but now they’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

[@tsuritsa3105]

@@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp Whenever he speaks you can really sense the guilt he's carrying, but at least he's attempting to speak out.

[@linmal2242]

@@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp Great term.....the 'Christo-Fascists' ! Does this relate to the pro-Putin element in the Republican Party. I thought Ron DeSantis would be better but that fight with Disney is nutz !

[@nashshah7]

Clueless..Mis guided..Burden on DEMOCRACY…CONSTITUTION & FREEDOM.. No conscious .. INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST..Totally disqualified.. have him DEBATE VIVEK for the TRUTH and HOPE..!!

[@jcbjcb2]

@@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp Gingrich

[@susancarpenter9038]

An outstanding conversation. I'm deeply grateful to Stuart Stevens for his leadership on all of our behalf.

[@ClaudetteMapp-Reed-qt8dx]

This is an awesome interview!!! Thank you for giving us hope!!

[@piratessalyx7871]

Thank you Lincoln project and associates this was educational and brilliant!

[@sonnysmith2991]

My biggest problem with Stuart is he was always part of the problem! He was fine with his party appointing anti-VRA/anti-gay/anti-choice judges, and now he’s shocked that the leopards are eating his face! He opened the doors to today’s Republican Party. Give me a break!

[@susanfrancis5471]

I don’t know enough about Stevens to comment, but I like him today.

[@honuman39]

I agree completely but he's also the ONLY conservative/Republican operative that owns up to his past, apologizes for his role in it and is attempting to make up for it. There's literally no other former right winger that does. At best you get never trumpers that admit the Republican party is toxic and that Trump broke it but will never admit their complicity in it.

[@sonnysmith2991]

@@honuman39 Good points you make here. I’ll give you that!

[@Rays_Bad_Decisions]

​@@honuman39did it ever occur to you the fascist media monopoly lies and censors to trick you against your own interests????

[@onomatopoeia162003]

did you mean ERA?

[@direwolf6234]

the most amazing thing is how quickly everything fell apart and still remains unglued ...

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

More amazing is that though damaged and needing repair, the U.S. Republic, our democracy, our constitutions, our institutions, our courts have withstood the onslsught from the haters of freedom and democracy. Together, It's up to us now, to win the 2024 Elections. We must Vote to save democracy! 💙🇺🇲

[@jfrmfrjm]

That's what puzzles the world - cheers from the other side of the pond. The only explanation must be that the tinder was there, it only needed the spark.

[@direwolf6234]

good insight & analogy ...@@jfrmfrjm

[@catherinebirch8263]

Seriously? Anyone who thinks that hasn't been watching. President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned about the military-industrial-congressional complex waaaaay back in 1961 and even he left out the "congressional" part. The gap between what the US does, why it does what it does, and what is says about it has been widening steadily since at least WWII. All that's happened is that the level of propaganda absorption is approaching critical mass.

[@LilyGazou]

@@jfrmfrjmhow are things in the uK these days? More hopeful?

[@Jay-xw9ll]

Anyone still trying to pretend the GOP are looking at 24, with anything other than bad intentions, needs to listen to this guy.

[@jfrmfrjm]

A peek into Project 2025 should sober even the most adamant denier.

[@jcbjcb2]

@@jfrmfrjm Alito, Thomas, and other kochtivist seditionists, #LewisPowellManifesto, #AilesMemo, roger ratf**ker stone, et al

[@roughhabit9085]

Why? He freely admits he despises half the population simply because they have differing political points of view. Such people should be shunned.

[@stillherenow500]

The five parts that work together synergistically: 1. Support of a major party, 2. Financiers, 3. Propagandists, 4. Shock troops, 5. Legal structure to justify what you are doing.

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

Excellent analysis!🎉

[@tracyallen247]

1. Joe Biden supported by Democrat party 2. Tides foundation & network of foreign sponsored organizations. 3. CNN, ABC, NBC 4. BLM, defund police riots. 5. DOJ & FBI manufacturing evidence to prosecute political candidates. These are not conclusive measures. The argument can be made just as strongly from the other side. These arguments do not discover the truth, but they do reinforce a previously held belief for whichever side you are on. There is better evidence to consider than what is being presented here.

[@jim0311]

Look up the business plot of 1934... Trump is it's continuation

[@denisefelton5207]

Nailed it!!!👍 🔨

[@markg.7865]

Fox fake news has certainly done its part as a propaganda network!

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Seems Germany learned a crucial lesson. They don't put up with lying from fascists anymore . God bless them💕

[@cranegantry868]

They put up with lying from socialists (communists).

[@user-fq4yz5ek3r]

❤🇩🇪

[@doniphanblair5217]

Love the guy, even though he’s way more conservative than I. Brilliant analysis, thanks so much. “Autocracies are based on fear, democracy on hope. ‘

[@susanhoffman6165]

Putin’s cronies massed astronomical amounts of money after his take over, the same has happened in Turkey and Hungry for the cronies of their demigods. That is a reason for the financial support of corporate America. Greed begets greed begets greed.

[@thesjkexperience]

It's also why certain people are still supporting the unsupportable. They want power in the dictatorship. Do not forget who the enablers are after the election.

[@wendwllhickey6426]

The rich will pay also

[@245194LAC]

A voice of knowledge and common sense in a sea of madness. Thank you for your perspective and your analysis of the morass in which we now find ourselves. May your book be the success it deserves to be and may this video be seen by the masses and understood by most of them. Vote for continued growth and may common sense prevail. Vote Biden!💙💙💙💙

[@alwaysovercomingbear4809]

I don't think Biden knows what day it is....🥴

[@lindavinesett8983]

Dems under Biden/Obama created this sea of madness

[@LilyGazou]

@@alwaysovercomingbear4809well, he has people for that.

[@imacmill]

​@@alwaysovercomingbear4809Brought to you by the propaganda arm of the Depublican party.

[@adiliareis3631]

​@@imacmill Vote RED !

[@shermanefouche4162]

I am so glad to have been able to hear Stewart Stevens for this amount of time rather than just a clip on a talk show!

[@working_example]

Thank you Stuart Stevens. Real patriot with a sense of history. Donated to LP.

[@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp]

The best part about the Lincoln Project - their videos that get right into the psyche of TFG. Those videos are helping throw him off. They’re getting under his skin. He’s a very insecure person, as he should be since prison is likely inevitable.

[@richardkashfi6251]

@@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp

[@alibobo2009]

Great reflections with an element of hope. Vote, vote, vote. Seriously.

[@MJ-xi1mk]

Exactly vote RED

[@LRCW1]

Not just vote. Vote blue 💙💙💙💙💙 straight up & down the ballet.

[@LRCW1]

​@@MJ-xi1mkYou done lost your mind.

[@adiliareis3631]

@@LRCW1 Vote RED !

[@phd_sound]

TRUMP 2024

[@billwalsh388]

"If we nominate Donald Trump, the Republican party will be destroyed, and we will deserve it" Senator Lindsey Graham.

[@dancoffey8412]

Oh, you still think Republicans are a party and not a cult of personality. Look again.

[@tsuritsa3105]

This is such a representation of the broken clock theory. Graham rarely says anything worth hearing, but it should never be forgotten that he said that. It was dead on then and it's dead on now.

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

Then Lindsey drank the Koolaid!👀 It's way worse for Lindsey because deep down inside Lindsey knows the truth!

[@phylis3917]

He knew.

[@anton1949]

That was before Linsey fell in love.

[@tdupre9502]

Thank you! Great conversation. I am so tired of walking on egg shells, even in my own family. We need to speak up with truth.

[@asifnihal]

Stay strong bro, we need let other know that Trump is a danger to our democracy

[@NathanielHarari]

I don’t think he misspoke when he said Jan 7th. He was referring to the day after Jan 6th when everyone said that Trump had gone too far and there was talk at that point from some Republicans that they had to stop Trumpism. That’s what he was referring to, I think.

[@pohkeee]

Yes, and that was the day they began to cave …it takes some time to decide how to handle a crisis…they chose badly!

[@NathanielHarari]

@@pohkeee Yup.

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

Correct!😊

[@ResurgentVoice]

I would say that’s true for some of the times he said Jan 7th, but he also talked about the “shock troops as we saw on Jan 7th”. That time at least seems like he’s misspeaking.

[@MarkEmmett]

He has done this in several videos I've seen/heard, though@@ResurgentVoice

[@jodysheridan604]

Stuart sounds very tired during this conversation, his book tour must ne taking a toll on his energy. We're lucky to have him on democracy's side.

[@MichaelHallerandAssociates]

Dying democracy is taking it's toll

[@roughhabit9085]

What if 51% of the population voted to exterminate the rest? An expedient system? Yes , but don’t make any overtures to morality.

[@margarettaft2944]

Agree he’s rambling winging it not organized and prepared

[@bozidarsicel3884]

Brilliant pre-mortem of US Democracy.

[@SigneKristineHermind]

Thank You! Watching from Denmark and cheering on your democracy 🇩🇰🇺🇸

[@zizimatanda3685]

Powerful informative interview Thanks!

[@albwilso9]

We will not be out of this crises, unless we get the “oligarchy” under control, like Roosevelt did!!!

[@dougjones4538]

That was an extraordinary conversation, and both enervating and a sobering warning. Which way will we go?

[@mnlw1363]

Have read Stevens- it is not easy to do what he did, thinking of friends and family who twist themselves into pretzels and adopt random delusions to rationalize supporting trump. Deepest thanks to Stevens for his moral clarity

[@thomasd2444]

07:48 - How do you tell both sides when one side is a lie ?

[@giuseppinamastropaolo7004]

Finally someone that doesn't beat around the bush and goes straight to the point.

[@imacmill]

The first 'right' person to do this.

[@yvonneplant9434]

He and the other Lincoln Project guys helped bring this mess about. So F him no matter what.

[@carmennurse8641]

The problem with people getting information is the fact that everything has a paywall and many of the citizens you want to reach don’t have/make enough money to pay for a daily newspaper

[@Rnankn]

Well when public goods become commodities, access to essential services is limited. Free markets have consequences, many of them anti-social or anti-democratic

[@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate]

@@Rnankn we dont even have free markets, we have markets that benefit from corporate welfare and loose regulations. Theyre not completely free markets, they are markets that are set up in a way that benefits the top, under the guise of that being "free markets"

[@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp]

@@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate 🎯🎯🎯

[@alistairmackintosh9412]

​@@Pro-DemocraticAdvocateThey are mature free markets.

[@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate]

@@alistairmackintosh9412 yeah sure and time shares are just variable rate investment vehicles. get that bs double speak jargon outta here, ive been around nearly 40 years and Ive got at least a basic knowledge of most important things in the world. Advertising and Political Campaign coded language only work when I'm distracted, otherwise my intuition for bullshit phrasing meant to hide the truth has been honed for years. George Carlin explained this to me as a teenager and I didnt take it to heart until a few years ago, but theres not much I can say he was wrong about if anything. Mature free markets ignores the fact that the game was specifically rigged in order to benefit corporations dating back to when Lewis Powell wrote the infamous memo to the chamber of commerce, look it up. I don't wanna hear any euphemistic bs out of anyone unless they can explain to me what the implications of hte Powell memo were, because that memo essentially lays out the plan that was executed to indoctrinate Americans into believing the myths we do. Republicans are now claiming that the left is indoctrinating people, even though the "left" is just telling it how it is for the most part. Obviously not everyone but there are no more right wing public intellectuals because the term is an oxymoron. They'll call themselves intellectuals but they're really anti intellectuals meant to sanitize the implications and the executions of the things in the Powell memo

[@TheJo201]

This is An amazing interview Stuart Stevens is Speaking The Truth on Many Level

[@umbomb]

45 minutes in: There's nothing mysterious about people who've benefited from a system wanting to do away with that system after they've used it to amass personal fortunes.

[@katherinekennedy6674]

VERRRY interesting interview. Thank you for airing it. I will consider Lincoln Project for my annual donation this year.

[@drdr1957]

Joe Biden 2024

[@thefarmersdaughter8235]

What? So you love inflation, two wars going, and open undefended border? Biden is not running the country anyway Obama is.

[@richardkashfi6251]

🤡💩🤡

[@LilyGazou]

Let’s be sure to stay boosted and safe for that better future and economy.

[@richardkashfi6251]

@@LilyGazou Quack Quack 🦆🦆🦆

[@adiliareis3631]

@doctordoctor1957 NO !

[@patriciaadams4171]

5 minutes of continuous applause from Milwaukee 👏👏👏👏👏. WHAD, the VENERABLE public radio station of Madison WI, used to carry a speech of the day, which I've been missing for years. But now I've found a NEW source of greatness and I just SUBSCRIBED to this channel. MY LUCKY DAY.

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

Hurrah for PBS !

[@garybowler5946]

The idea of fair and balanced media is obviously not the way to go. The media should have a high fidelity to the facts and let the chips land where they may.

[@Pro-DemocraticAdvocate]

until the profit motive is taken out of the media model, we will continue to get the same both sidesish garbage from most of the major stations, sans a few.

[@roughhabit9085]

In a very short space you managed to contradict yourself.

[@garybowler5946]

@@roughhabit9085 An accusation without support, hm... Your an algorithm.

[@robinantonio8870]

Media is always on the side of the richest .

[@RhoArtMagic]

“Oligarchs in America don’t have to worry about what window to walk by.” 😂

[@doshiepowers7716]

To ensure our democratic future, funding public education is essential. An informed population, hopefully, will make wiser voters

[@lllllFuckyourmomlllll]

That’s why republicans are trying to ruin our public school system.

[@t.a.landry6410]

Unfortunately, @doshie, that's not the direction that some states (e.g. FL, TX) are headed in terms of public education... in fact they're moving in the opposite direction!!!

[@helveticaification]

Well, 'public education' obviously hasn't been good enough yet - or MAGAs must all have been drop-outs.

[@hg2.]

This is such a load...

[@felang9257]

​@@hg2. How so?

[@michaelRay2576]

GREAT session on an essential topic of the time. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏾

[@WeThePeople76]

He says it: a conservative “value” is to end welfare. Not “as we know it,” or “reform it,” but END it. An unguarded, uninhibited statement.

[@earthmama5659]

The Republicans have not had a platform in 8 years! What are you for?

[@Adogslife54]

There is a Republican platform published online. If you read it, it’s more frightening than no platform at all. It is divisive and clearly outlines that their way is the ONLY way. The Republican version of Mein Kampf.

[@matt3024]

Try FORTY.

[@SandyAZ1776]

What is right wing about "make America great again"?

[@victorialeif9266]

Vengeance lies at the heart of fascism. The permanent lie is the mechanism. The fuel to light the fires of resentment.

[@chaschan60]

2016 was the end. We are now simply spiraling down the drain. We can not overcome this. The fact that we are still talking about this and nothing is being done is evidence that nothing will ever be done. Very sad

[@richardlawson6787]

Wake up...hes currently charged with 91 felonies...been convicted of rape...kicked off the Colorado ballot...so we trying to stop him

[@user-fq4yz5ek3r]

At least we can go down fighting,and there is a chance that you're wrong. Biden did win in 2020.

[@PKellyTeacher]

I appreciate anyone who admits they were wrong.

[@bluegreenOD]

Stuart’s journey is mine - and his articulation of what the GOP has become is difficult to refute.

[@pohkeee]

Thank you for this comment…it gives my hope.

[@roughhabit9085]

Democrats praise deficit spending and practice it while Republicans condemn deficit spending and practice it. I agree with when he confesses that a right wing party no longer exists.

[@lewisjohnson8297]

I was born in '48. As such, I can remember most of the history he cites. However, I date the beginning of the slide, to the day Eisenhower acquiesced, in 1955, to changing the national motto from, "i pluribus unum" to "In God We Trust". He knew almost immediately that that had been a mistake. He simply didn't know how grave.

[@lindavinesett8983]

It's E not I pluribus unum and it means basically the same. I was born in 49 and raised a Christian.

[@impossiblejuan]

@@lindavinesett8983 E pluribus unum = out of many, one.

[@dsddala467]

@@impossiblejuan is right. It's zero reference to god.

[@imacmill]

​@@lindavinesett8983_I was born in 49 and raised a Christian._ Which perfectly explains why you don't know what E Pluribus Unum means. Kok-n-blu-balz to you, my christo-fascist friend: 🙏

[@lewisjohnson8297]

@lindavinesett8983 thank you. It's been a while, since I last read it.

[@celiagraham5920]

A lie is a lie! There is no “fair and balanced” in that. We should have just called a lie a lie, but we didn’t. And here we are now.

[@PKellyTeacher]

Thanks Stuart for exposing the danger represented by Thiel, Koch brothers, DeVos.

[@trinelange1784]

I’m so glad I found this program, I have enjoyed it so much ❤ Thank you ❤

[@commonwealthclubworldaffairs]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@tomjmdalton8855]

the ability to not recognize insanity and being loyal to insanity - what aristos enable

[@paulwooton4390]

Listening to Mr. Stevens helps me understand why Romney lost.

[@onomatopoeia162003]

put it this way. Republicans need the old south to win. Just like the dems needed it a LONG time ago.

[@urkiddingme6254]

My brain hurts from trying to keep up with Stuart's depth of knowledge of political systems. It's giving me a new vocabulary -- one that meets the moment. Dear Commonwealth Club - please interview a constitutional lawyer who can speak on separation of church and state, and also on whether we are a democratic republic vs a republic. 🙏

[@impossiblejuan]

I'd like to hear a discussion about the fine points between republic and democratic republic

[@suzanneengland8978]

My understanding from what I’ve heard discussed by Tribe & Luttig is that this is a republic based on democratic principles. Not too complicated. Constitutional attorney Michael Luttig is quoted as saying “trump is a threat to American democracy”. Paraphrasing.

[@netskatz3613]

I really like the way he thinks the insurrection was January 7th.

[@arlethapappas3325]

When you as public media repeat lies, you know are lies, you are complicit and guilty of lying to your public and should never be allowed to continue in any media narrative.

[@BigJ11617]

How about putting in "... accepting the outcome of the election and peaceful transfer of power" into the presidential oath and tying it sharply to the 14th amendment section 3?

[@creoleviking8433]

At 33 min is when he really caught my attention. He points out what it means to truly be an American 🇺🇸

[@dabrack9350]

I listened to them both talk of those lying all the time, conspiring to end America and thought YES - RIGHT ON. Then he said he meant Trump supporters but I said WAIT A MINUTE - THAT IS THE DEMS AND RINOS

[@PKellyTeacher]

Yes, "the reluctance to criticize these people"

[@kricketlangendoerfer8387]

I learned about TLP when it 1st appeared on Twitter in 2019. I heard when we were under quarantine ppl flew to one dwelling to continue sending the msg. I love your podcast on KZbin's Meidastouch. Keep up your great work! 💙💙😻😻💙💙

[@linmal2242]

Why is voting voluntary? Why does America not have compulsory voting like Australia? You MUST vote in AUS ! Is it the 'free choice ' thing in USA or is it just set up by the parties to reinforce their positions and cohorts? In AUS it is considered a duty to turn up at the voting booth, whether or not you like the candidates is irrelevent, you must get your name ticked off. Whether you actually vote or not, most people do, is not so much in question as it is considered a civil obligation.

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

We need that approach in the U.S.

[@impossiblejuan]

I'd like to see it here too.

[@LilyGazou]

If someone can’t be bothered to vote, are they actually trying to learn about issues? Or are they going to vote on what they saw in a tv ad because they were compelled to show up?

[@subcitizen2012]

They're pretty big on not changing things for the better. Voters would turn out to vote against mandatory voting lol

[@marianhunt8899]

People are afraid of increasing homelessness, food insecurity, unaffordable healthcare etc. Why can't or won't the politicians see this? They need to tame the corporate and banking Oligarchs who are destroying the citizens and are now coming for the politicians. Wake up politicians on both sides.

[@eftsoulpath333]

I like this guy, Stuart. He makes a lot of sense.

[@earthmama5659]

I can tell you what Samatha Powers said. Putin is everywhere! Money money money.

[@justsittingherethinking2530]

You're right that the reason for the voter's Trump vote just doesn't matter. We may never really "get it" and the way forward is to keep pushing for a better future. "It'll happen anyway." Thanks.

[@mrwilson7617]

Vote like your right to vote counts on it. Because it does.

[@imacmill]

A curious 'tell' from this man: throughout the interview he was very relaxed, and then, at the 54-minute mark, when an audience member asked him how we can be sure he and The Lincoln Project won't turn on Biden and the Democrats if a reasonable Republican candidate turns up, his demeanor turns 180 degrees into a defensive posture. And his answer to the question was B.S.

[@terrizittritsch745]

Worth watching the whole thing. Very insightful discussion and I think worth buying the book. He says what many of us have thought, and tried to communicate, and then get shouted down because people don’t want to believe they’re racist.

[@emma1166]

''That is not a denial of an election: it is a coup! We have to call it what it is!' Thank you!

[@CrucialSpeaks]

If this doesn’t scare the pants off of the sane American people then there is no hope for the USA 😰

[@gp92510]

When Clinton submitted a balanced budget, he fid it without a single GOP vote..

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

Did what the GOP had demanded and PROMISED for decades. Republicans NEVER deliver on the goods and the Democrats DELIVER, sometimes, more in the past when they had more votes....

[@juliak6086]

Well, yes there is a plot lol Heritage Foundation's Project 2025

[@63terrence]

No goal except to be in control.

[@CrucialSpeaks]

IT'S IN OUR FACES.. WHAT WILL WE DO? ....IS THERE REALLY ENOUGH NUTS THAT IT HAPPENS?

[@Ryan-Fkrepublicnz]

"trumpism is a hate movement"- too damn true

[@johnbillings5260]

Let's not forget what lead us up to this point of late stage capitalism.

[@johnblake4523]

Thank you for all the great insights Stuart

[@debbiec2663]

Fantastic. Appreciate his perspective

[@slinkydragon11]

I've always thought of America as a Melting Pot of many people around the world...

[@amiensarabellis8391]

I've never been politically active, but this next year I will be.

[@SandyMaciazka-xp4yp]

Great. Now help young people get involved. My parents always took me along when they voted. I went twice. My dad worked early mornings & my mom worked evenings, so I went with each of them & I’ve never missed an election since my first in 1982. 💙

[@onomatopoeia162003]

So you were one of the little bigger than 1/3 that didn't vote in 2020. Which was around 80,863,000 and change that didn't.

[@amiensarabellis8391]

@@onomatopoeia162003 I voted. I meant work for the campaign.

[@roughhabit9085]

And the best at hate are those that preach love. That sums this dude up.

[@Marg205]

Im sharing this with the population so they can get a good laugh!

[@Ryan-Fkrepublicnz]

The fact that the FBI isn't surveiling the financiers and tracking their obvious sedition shows their worth

[@jbusky7699]

That's because the FBI were encouraging the "seditionists"

[@leannesheary-ru7ju]

God protect People that cannot Protect Themselves & We hope that they can succeed in doing Well and Survive Everything They have to endure!.

[@mikemailloux3771]

Please Jesus, protect me from your followers

[@victorjcano]

Hard times, create strong men, strong men, create good times, good times, create weak men, weak men, create hard times. That seems to sum up where we are today.

[@dalegribnitz-lo3tt]

It's greed that drives these PEOPLE,,,, They simply don't want the competition and don't want to share piriod full 🛑**!

[@temporarystranger95]

A very honest and introspective man, I have great respect for Stuart Stevens. Everyone should read both of his books and listen to what he says. He’s a very experienced and wise man. (Just an aside, Stuart resembles an older Charlton Heston). Thanks for the interview and thanks for posting.

[@roughhabit9085]

Lol that’s where the similarity ends .

[@impossiblejuan]

Thoughtfully and articulately put, well said, strong and original thoughts. I would take something of an issue with the idea that hate was never adopted by a major political party. It was the main policy of Southern Democrats for the full duration of Jim Crow, and was tolerated by the larger democratic party, though perhaps never codified. Somehow, the party held together.

[@jcbjcb2]

Maybe a historian has discerned _how_ the northern minority of Dems hijacked the Dem party as a whole.

[@ARichardP]

Stuart nails it at 30:51 when he says that Trumpism is exhausting. It takes a lot of energy to be angry all the time.

[@jarcata1]

Bravo...👏👏👏

[@louannkyle602]

Civics needs to be brought back social studies is not a good trade off people need to understand how government works and why we need it we need the constitution and the rule of law and a government based on them people can’t appreciate a system they know nothing about except for a whole party telling them they should fear and hate it

[@greggodwin2172]

Brilliant!

[@skippy9659]

Fascinating truth telling here, we all need to listen..he is an insider, he knows voters.

[@RSEFX]

I wish we'd stop using the term "America" when talking about things that are in reference to the United States. This is about the collapse of the US government order, not all of the American continent.

[@cornelisdebilde6850]

Prison for Trump is the healthiest way to democracy, thank you, Pepsee

[@suzanneengland8978]

Trumpism will continue even if/when tRump exits. It’s like an infection. However, the core of his cult might just fade back into obscurity.

[@bayrat320]

Very insightful discussion, glad this showed up on my recommended videos

[@TimEngbergSongs]

Isn’t it greed. America could created many oligarchs? The USA is an oligarch playground/opportunity

[@swanp1767]

Actively fighting the truth. That sums it up.