Trolling the Troll

The Lincoln Project

Society & Culture, News Commentary, Government, Daily News, News, Politics

4.7 • 8.4K Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, Rick's Elephant in the Room is fighting the fight where it's at. And, not to go too hard on Dems, but they *could* stop hating the game and instead take a page out of Gavin Newsom's playbook. When Newsom logs on, Donald Trump takes the L. This past week has been one nonstop stream of viral trolls, clapbacks, and dunks, with Newsom torching Trump across social media. We’re breaking down how the Governor of California has become Trump’s worst online nightmare—and why the internet can’t get enough of it. • • • • • Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, this is Ava from Vanta.
0:02.0	In today's digital world, compliance regulations are changing constantly,
0:07.0	and earning customer trust has never mattered more.
0:10.0	Vanta helps companies get compliant fast and stay secure,
0:13.0	with the most advanced AI automation and continuous monitoring out there.
0:17.0	So whether you're a startup going for your first stock two or ISO-27,001,
0:21.5	or a growing enterprise managing vendor risk, Banta makes it quick, easy, and scalable,
0:26.4	and I'm not to say that because I work here. Get started today at banta.com.
0:30.7	Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped in battle-hardt.
0:36.9	There is not a liberal America and a conservative America.
0:40.5	There is the United States of America.
0:45.2	Good night and good luck.
0:47.6	Hey, everybody, it's Rick.
0:48.5	Welcome to another episode of The Elephant in the Room.
0:50.9	The Elephant in the Room today is fighting where the fight is.
0:58.1	Okay. elephant in the room. The elephant in the room today is fighting where the fight is. Our friends of Democrats have had a long history of trying to win over Americans with policy,
1:03.8	of trying to explain why their ideas will make people's lives better. In a rational
1:08.5	world, that could work. You may have noticed we do not live
1:11.8	in a rational world. We do not live in a world where consistency and recent and logic and argument
1:17.6	when the day. We live in a world that's driven by powerful emotions. We live in a world where
1:22.9	the hate machine on the Maga right has learned how to manipulate the anxieties, the grievances,
1:29.2	the fears, real and imagined of a big chunk of America. They want you to fight on policy.
	...

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