America at 250: We Ran It Into a Ditch. Now We Dig Out
The Lincoln Project
The Lincoln Project
4.6 • 9.1K Ratings
🗓️ 4 July 2026
⏱️ 65 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
America is 250 years old, and the fix is in — the DOJ bent to serve whoever's holding the whip, the rule of law treated like a suggestion, the guardrails quietly sawed through while everyone's distracted by the fireworks. This week Rick Wilson sits down with two people who've seen the rot up close and refuse to shut up about it: Congressman Jamie Raskin, the constitutional scholar who's spent his career defending democracy on the House floor, and Liz Oyer, the DOJ pardon attorney who got fired for one unforgivable sin — saying no. What she saw inside the building should scare the hell out of you, and what Raskin knows about how this ends should light a fire under you.
Here's what they won't tell you at the birthday party: the republic doesn't save itself, and nobody's riding in to do it for us. Rick, Jamie, and Liz get into what's already broken, what we can do right now before the next crisis lands, and the longer fight to reclaim, rebuild, and reinforce a country worth keeping. At 250, the tools are still in our hands and the door's still open — but not for long. They stole it in broad daylight. This is the conversation about taking it back.
•
•
•
•
•
Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), constitutional scholar and author, is at @RepRaskin.
Liz Oyer, former U.S. Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice, is at @lawyeroyer.
Rick Wilson is on X @TheRickWilson and on Substack at therickwilson.substack.com or https://www.againstallenemies.net/.
More from LP at www.lincolnproject.us and @ProjectLincoln.
#America250 #JamieRaskin #LizOyer #RickWilson #LincolnProject #TakeItBack #RuleOfLaw #DOJ #Democracy #Politics #July4th #podcast
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | I start with Lincoln, our beloved Lincoln, who he likened the Constitution to a beautiful |
| 0:08.5 | silver frame, a silver platter, and he said, upon which rests the golden apple of liberty. |
| 0:14.2 | He said, so the Constitution is like the owner's manual, it's the operating design system, but it's the Declaration of Independence |
| 0:24.7 | which set forth the beautiful values of the country, the consent of the govern, the unalienable |
| 0:30.1 | rights of the people, the equality of all men, we would say of all people today, equality, |
| 0:37.1 | liberty, democracy, right there. |
| 0:39.5 | And then we've got an operating system, but that operating system doesn't work if we don't |
| 0:44.0 | have the rule of law. |
| 0:45.3 | Your task will not be an easy one. |
| 0:47.6 | Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battlehardt. |
| 0:51.5 | There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. |
| 0:55.2 | There is the United States of America. |
| 1:00.1 | Good night and good luck. |
| 1:02.2 | Hey folks, welcome back to the Lincoln Project podcast, 250th anniversary of America |
| 1:06.7 | celebration. |
| 1:08.2 | We are talking with folks that are making a big difference in trying to make sure |
| 1:12.1 | that we have another 250 years on the docket after this, where the rule of law is concerned, |
| 1:18.8 | we're fighting for our Constitution is concerned. Very few people can rival our friend of the show, |
| 1:23.6 | Jamie Raskin. We're delighted to have with us today. Congressman, thank you so much for coming on. Really appreciate it. I want to jump right in and ask you, given the corruption we face |
| 1:31.7 | right now as a country, given the unbelievable pressure that is putting on our system and our rule |
| 1:37.2 | of law, how do we get past this moment so we can continue as a republic once the Trump era comes to a grinding halt. |
| 1:45.7 | Well, I like the way you put it, Rick, and thanks for having me. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 21 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Lincoln Project, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Lincoln Project and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.