The Social Contract with Joe Walsh

Quick hits this Friday: thank you Israel for once again doing the work of the free world; Kristi Noem said our military is going to overthrow the governments of Los Angeles and California; and, please ignore Trump’s Kim Jong Un parade tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

The economy was doing really well when Trump was sworn in. And there were no trade wars when Trump was sworn in. And border crossings had been dropping precipitously for over a year when Trump was sworn in. There was no immigrant “invasion.” So if you think things are in crisis right now, then there’s only one person to blame - Trump. Am I right? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2025

A conversation today with Ezra Levin, co founder of Indivisible (indivisible.org) one of the organizations behind the more than 1,800 No Kings rallies this Saturday, June 14th. Hear why it’s so damn important that millions and millions of us peacefully take to the streets this weekend to oppose the authoritarian in the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

Trump immigration henchman Steven Miller last week demanded that ICE cops go to Home Depot and 7-Eleven parking lots to grab immigrants. And so they are. And this is what started the whole thing in Los Angeles last week. Is this really the kind of country we want to be? I don’t think so. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 June 2025

What’s happening in Los Angeles right now, and what’s been happening for the past few days has made it crystal clear again that Trump is just itching to put the Marines on American streets against the American people. That’s his game plan. And that will be his game plan when he tries to cancel the 2026 midterms. Also, my conversations with the American people continue. This week, college students at the University of Delaware. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2025

I formally joined the Democratic Party this week. My friend and fellow political traveler Sophia Nelson thinks that was a mistake. Sophia is an author, speaker, and professor. So bcuz we disagree, we decided to have a conversation about it. I also ask her about “Redefining Freedom Center Of Virginia,” an exciting new organization she founded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

I gotta be honest, as a new Democrat, I don’t care that much right now about where we disagree on healthcare policy or border policy. We can figure all of that out down the road once we preserve our democracy, once we secure the rule of law. That makes sense, right? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2025

Yesterday, I uttered 3 words I never ever thought I would utter - “I’m A Democrat.” Why? Easy. Only one of our two political parties embraces freedom, democracy and the rule of law. And it’s not my former political party. So to best defeat my former political party, I became a Democrat. And btw…my former party is fighting with themselves again over that “big, beautiful” bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

Once again, a violent act of antisemitism in America. Once again, Jews in America were targeted in an attempted terror attack. This is so wrong. No matter where you are on the situation in Gaza, every America must condemn what happened yesterday in Boulder, CO. And every American should stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2025

After 4 months, Elon is gone. Sort of. And what did DOGE accomplish? A lot of lives destroyed and a lot of starving and dead children around the world. But DOGE has had ZERO impact on the debt. ZERO impact. Also, a final look at my face to face conversation with Maze Jackson, black activist on Chicago’s South Side. Today…what about the black people? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

Continuing my “face to face conversations across America” tour: South Side of Chicago with black activist Maze Jackson. His thoughts on our divide, he blames the tea party for a lot of it. And what do we do about the divide, the hate? Hint…it has to do with conversations. Having conversations. And giving grace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2025

Rahm Emmanuel says the Democratic Brand is toxic. He’s right. But his answer is Dems must only talk about economic issues. He’s wrong. Also, yes, Trump lies all the time, but Democrats could also learn from him when it comes to accessibility. And…every day, we are disappearing people off of our streets. Without due process. That’s really wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

My face to face conversations with the American people took me to the south side of Chicago and a conversation with a long time political activist and advocate for black people, Maze Jackson. A fascinating conversation, today regarding black men. Also, speaking of men, Trump is the antithesis of a real man. That and more, today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2025

Memorial Day, 2025. Today is a sad day, a day of remembering lives cut short, cut ridiculously short. Today is about lives not fully lived, love not fully realized, careers not fully pursued, promise not fully fulfilled. Think of those lives cut short today. Take a moment today, during the family celebrations & barbecues, take just a moment and give a thought to and a prayer for those lives cut short. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2025

More content today from our conversation around a kitchen table with 7 politically diverse folks in suburban Chicago. Today’s topic: Will America stay together or will we break up? And what to do we need to do to stay together? And…why don’t we get along anymore? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2025

There are two big resistance protest opportunities coming up, and I sat down today with folks from two of the organizations helping to organize these days of protest. June 6th - huge rally on the Mall in DC to stand up for our Veterans. And June 14th will be a “No Kings” protest day, with protests taking place in every state in the country. Resist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2025

My conversation with a politically diverse group of folks around a kitchen table in the western suburbs of Chicago continues. We try to answer two questions: Do most Americans still believe in certain common American principles? And do you believe your kids and your grandkids will have it better than you’ve had it? Some surprising answers. Also, we’re disappearing people into countries that aren’t their countries of origin. Evil. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

A recent study out show that at least 50 of the Venezuelans who were grabbed, put on airplanes, and disappeared into an El Salvador jail were in this country LEGALLY. They were here legally. Also, Trump pays off the family of one of his insurrectionists, and the issue is transparency. Transparency is so damn important. And team Biden really failed at that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2025

Our “face to face conversations with Americans” continues this week with a group of folks sitting around a kitchen table in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. How divided are we? I asked Harris voters why people voted for Trump. I asked Trump voters why people voted for Harris. I asked them all to put the best reasons forward. They all struggled with it. We lack understanding these days. We really do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2025

Final look today at my conversation with former FBI/DHS intel expert Brian Murphy. How foreign adversaries influence our elections. Also, James Comey does something stupid, Trump world whines about it, way too many of us are way too easily offended, and Kristi Noem is pushing something utterly cruel & despicable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

My former political party, the Republican Party, is a cult. To stay in the party, you must pledge fealty to Trump. If you speak the truth about Trump or criticize Trump, you’re banished from the party. Democrats should be different. Voters would appreciate Democrats being different. Which is why Democrats should acknowledge the truth about Biden. Also today, my interview on small businesses with Vermont Senator Peter Welch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

Continuing my conversation in Northern Virginia with former FBI and Homeland Security analyst Brian Murphy. Today we talk about misinformation & disinformation. Who’s responsible for the spread of both? What’s the result of both? What does it mean to be radicalized? Fascinating conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

They fought alongside American troops for years. They risked their lives siding with and helping American troops in Afghanistan. And because of that, they were promised refuge here in America. Yesterday, Trump broke that promise and is sending them back to suffer under the Taliban. Shameful. Also, the plane from Qatar isn’t the Statue of Liberty, and, we continue to normalize Trump’s lying. All today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

This week, in my weekly face to face conversations with Americans, I sat down in Northern Virginia with regular guy/expert Brian Murphy, former Marine,FBI, and Homeland Security, to discuss the threats America faces at home and from abroad. Today, we dig into the threat of polarization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2025

A final clip today from my face to face conversation with folks from Lancaster, PA. Today they discuss whether a political party that ran on a “decency” platform could win. And this group of Republicans, former Republicans, and Democrats isn’t convinced it would win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

Nick Wilson at the Center for American Progress supports a ban on assault weapons. I don’t. We disagree. But we didn’t have a fight about the issue, we didn’t argue, we didn’t debate. We sat down and had a conversation. We listened to each other. We tried to gain understanding. We need to do more of this Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

Our conversation with Democrats, Republicans, & former Republicans in Lancaster, PA continues today, and the focus is on the best way forward for the opposition party, the Democratic Party. The good folks in Lancaster wrestle with the age old question of how big of a tent should the Democratic Party be. And they’re not quite sure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

I spent way too much of my day yesterday explaining to Trump voters that that image of Trump as the next pope wasn’t “fake news.” Time well spent. Stephen Miller thinks the American people are cruel. He’s wrong. Republicans are growing “antsy” with Trump and his tariffs. Cowards. And, American support for Ukraine and for free trade is growing. Good news. All on today’s show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

I sat down with a group of twenty Republicans, former Republicans, and Democrats in Lancaster, PA. We talked about the political divide in America. Why all the hate politically these days? Why won’t Republicans stand up against Trump? Why are people afraid to engage with those they disagree with politically. Fascinating conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

Final clip from my conversation with a group of Los Angeles progressives. Today, their party. Should they go left, go center, embrace them all, do they want to big a big tent? Do they want to win? Is the party big enough for AOC and Joe Walsh? A conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

For the second time in a month, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, found herself palling around with Donald Trump. I think this is wrong for her to do, writer/producer Andy Ostroy applauds her for doing what’s right by the people of her state. We disagree with each other. So we sat down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Continuing our conversation with a group of Los Angeles progressives. They know the whole fight over pronouns hurt Democrats in the election. But they’re all over the map as to why. The left still doesn’t seem to know how to navigate the culture war battles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Tariffs. Tax increases on Americans, plain and simple. And Trump’s tariffs are going to devastate the lives of working class Americans. And when people bring up these facts, what do Trump and his people do? They whine, and they’re cry, and they play the victim. Pathetic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Every week, I’m siting down with and having conversations with Americans. Of ALL political stripes. Recently, I sat down with a group of Los Angeles progressives. We talked about understanding the other side. They weighed in on why they think people are drawn to Trump. Interesting stuff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

Trump is selling ball caps that read “Trump 2028,” and MAGA thinks it’s hilarious. No. It’s wrong, and it’s dangerous. Also, most of America isn’t MAGA and most of America isn’t the Bernie/AOC left. Most of America is in the big middle. So why do the extremes dominate? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2025

A conversation with Jonathan Allen, who wrote an amazing inside look at the craziness of the 2024 presidential campaign with Amie Parnes - “Fight: Inside The Wildest Battle For The White House.” What was really going on behind the scenes, most especially with Biden and Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Way too many Americans have lost faith in way too many of our institutions. And when that happens, it’s fertile ground for demagogues to come along and spread lies & conspiracies, dangerously furthering that distrust. Awhile back, I went to central PA and found out most folks I spoke with there believe it is possible to steal an election in America today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

California governor Gavin Newsom said the other day that talking about due process for Abrego Garcia is a “distraction.” A distraction that team Trump wants. No. Fighting to defend due process, to defend civil liberties is never a distraction. And Democrats, if you won’t fight to defend due process, then don’t bother fighting to defend anything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

Every week I’m out on the road having conversations with Americans, with regular folks, of all political viewpoints. Listening to their take on America. Today a clip from a conversation with 6 left of center Americans in Los Angeles. Their biggest worries and their biggest fears for this country they love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

we’re both very pro Israel. We both abhor antisemitism. Yet we differ strongly in what the government should or should not do to combat antisemitism. We differ strongly in what Trump is doing in the name of combating antisemitism. So we sat down to listen. And discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

One of Trump’s henchmen said yesterday that to advocate for due process for Abrego Garcia is to “aid & abet terrorism.” Screw that. And make no mistake what this is. It’s an attack on free speech. It’s the latest effort of the tyrant in the White House to silence private individuals, to chill & censor speech. We must not allow it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Every day it continues, Trump wreaks havoc on our institutions, ignores the Constitution, and attacks who and what America is, and every day Democrats hem and haw and hesitate and huddle to maybe figure out how to possibly respond. Huh? Dammit Dems, wake the hell up and fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

If what Trump said in the Oval Office yesterday doesn’t send a chill up your spine, then you’ve forgotten what America is. Or you’re way too dangerously partisan. And once you throw due process out the window for anyone, you throw it out the window for yourself. And one more problem…we’re not even speaking off the same basic fact sheets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

We’re snatching up innocent people because of what they believe. We’re sending innocent people to foreign prisons. This isn’t what America is. Right? Also, Trump only says what Putin allows him to say. Finally, why are we at each other’s throats? A different theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

The Trump administration admitted they made a mistake when they grabbed him, put him on a plane and sent him to a prison in El Salvador. They acknowledged he’s an innocent man. The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the Trump administration to bring him back here. Pronto. But will they? Also, an interview with the brother of an Israeli hostage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

He commits acts of corruption right out in the open, he goes after his political opponents right out in the open, and we just think oh this is no big deal. We are so lowering the bar with Trump. We will regret it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

These tariffs are different. Trump has been able to survive and thrive politically because he lies about everything - January 6th, Haitian migrants - but he can’t lie about the economy. People know if the economy is good or bad. Trump can’t lie his way out of layoffs and rising prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

He’s an American citizen, he’s a lawyer, his family came back to America from vacation. And they detained him. For no reason other than to intimidate him. And to be cruel. This is wrong. This is not America. Also, no single person should have the power Trump has. Shame on Republicans for giving it to him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

As markets here in the U.S. and around the world crater, and as the entire world economic order borders on crisis, it's easy to blame just that madman in the White House for all of this. Nope. He's not alone. Also...millions and millions took to the streets two days ago to say "hands off!" It was a sight to behold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

good week politically for Democrats, but I gotta be honest. I’m sad and angry because we put such a stupid person back in the White House. And that stupid person in the White House is going to hurt so many people. It’s going to get much worse. And sadly, way too many Americans are going to have to feel the pain before they wake up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025