Posting two videos by Rick Wilson from the Lincoln Project: one on the war, and the second on the state of Maga and what we need to do about it.
Yeah, some people here don’t like Rick Wilson.
But he’s a smart man with insight into reaching a large part of the electorate and especially into the GOP world, where he still has friends and sources who leak to him.
He’s been a never Trumper for 10 years, so it’s 10 years that he’s been using his abilities for good.
Too long to read? Short version: a distraction from Epstein, the felon doesn’t give a damn about the US, and is OK with setting the world on fire.
Before I get to Wilson, here’s reporting from the Meidas Touch about how Iran has rejected a cease fire:
x
Ben reports on Trump panicking as Iran has rejected Trump’s demand for a cease fire & as Iranian retaliatory strikes in the region continued & Meiselas reports on the tragic development that at least three United States service members have been killed in the war already.
youtu.be/V35r4gaB1VM?...
— JeffTrnka (@jefftrnka.bsky.social) 2026-03-01T19:12:01.709Z
Interesting. That means the felon wants one.
Now to Rick Wilson and Operation Epstein Fury. Here’s the video recorded Saturday morning.
*
Not everyone has the time or the patience to watch, so here are my takeaways (everything is paraphrased, even the quotes).
- Wilson recorded this Saturday morning (Feb 28), announcing, “We’re at war with Iran.” Emphasizes this is a war without a strategic objective.
- Question Wilson’s received from many: How do I respond to the Maga talking point of “if you don’t approve, you must be a pro-Iranian shill!” Points out this is the classic 101 structure of a Maga argument and we don’t have to honor it. No one (practically no one) is in favor of this terrible regime. That is a false argument.
- Reminds us that Trump and co ran in 2024 as the peace ticket (“America first!”). Lots of tweets and other evidence. Reminds us that everything the felon – and his enablers say – is a lie.
- The felon has made a tremendous gamble, air strikes don’t usually result in regime change, and although we may have killed Khameini, the huge police force and the theocratic institutions, after 50 years, are deeply entrenched. Note that during the protests a few months ago, Trump encouraged their protesters but the police state killed about 50,000 people. Unless regime change happens, that police state and theocratic institutions will crack down
- It is dividing Maga: Bannon and Tucker are apparently furious.
- Note that being against the war we will be accused of being against the troops. Fallacious argument, not true, get past it. (Can argue that this war is endangering the troops)
- Joint chiefs of staff were against it. This is a real war, may be hard to simply strike and move out. Later points out that this is a huge waste of not just humans, but material such as missiles.
- Most popular day of every war is the first day (I think we need to work to make it even more unpopular)
- Economic consequences – Iran gets a vote. Iran is attacking Kuwait, Bahrain, and more. Energy prices will go up.
Why did Trump do this? Anxiety and boredom
Boredom: negotiations take time and he doesn’t have the patience for it.
Regime change is an objective, not a strategy. No strategy here
Anxiety:
Would not be happening except for the Epstein scandal and the other failures of his presidency
Economic policy a disaster: Tariffs, Agriculture, Construction, Health care (more bad stuff coming)
My addition: the fact that the Clintons testified before Congress has to add to it
*
Now, let’s wallow in some of that anxiety, as Wilson analyzes the MAGA Hospice situation, given waht hee observed at the SOTU.
He also spends time urging us to do more and to keep fighting. When we get into power, we need to punish the corrupt and the cruel. We have to do all we can to ruin them.
“Trump’s SOTU Podium Death Grip: MAGA Hospice Edition”
*
Again for those who don’t want to watch, here are my takeaways, sometimes verbatim quotes, but often paraphrased:
The elephant in the room is about decline. Not just Trump, but the MAGA movement.
- The felon was tired. Structure of the speech forced him to talk about other people: firefighters, WWII veteran, hockey players. Wanted associated glory.
- People standing up to clap like trained seals (seals trained to clap, not to stand) were unhappy. Rote, automatic.
- Rule in dictatorships: Don’t be first guy to stop clapping – they’re still doing that had a decade where they were supposed to worship Trump, be cruel, be conspiratorial, to punch down (Wilson maintains that these are not conservative values).
- They know this behavior without consequence is coming to an end. Mike Johnson has said if they don’t keep the majority in the House, Trump’s presidency is over.
- Wilson concedes they can still do tremendous damage, that the billionaires will still funnel money into elections and into corrupting officials. They will try to pick a new Trump.
- But the Trump of 2015 is in decline. Speech was controlled by people who told him that if you don’t stay on the teleprompter, we will lose the House. Note very afraid of being impeached again.
- Note Wilson is “wildly pro-impeachment” these days – but doesn’t want to go for Trump, at least not at first. Special disgust for Pam Bondi (must be something about living in Florida). Also Todd Blanch and Kash Patel. Even if they don’t get removed from office, deserve the stain of impeachment.
- Self-defeating element of MAGA reps: they don’t represent their districts. They abandoned everyone to make Donald Trump happy. Wilson showcases Mike Lawler (a NY congressman from a swing district) on CNN and how Lawler cannot point to anything Trump and Congress has done for them.
- If honest they could point to the damage he has done, such as what tariffs have done to American farmers (American farmers are noticing, and so are consumers — the price of beef! Yikes!). Yet they rose and clapped when Trump talked about the money being brought in by tariffs and how it will replace the income tax system (and they know it’s nonsense).
- Decay of every dictatorship. Strong man is strong until he is not. But there are enforcement mechanisms (I’ll rat you out to the boss). These are still in effect.
- People got up and clapped, but many looked unhappy – in SCOTUS, and in the Cabinet (except for Bondi)
Wilson has advice for us.
- Once we regain power, we have to root them out and salt the earth and destroy their ability to hurt us, they will continue. Because they have a persistent urge to retain power no matter what. Have to haul in all the enablers to hearings and in the spotlight, every day, until they are stopped. Have to make it poisonous for donors to donate to them.
- The GOP chose to obey him (electability, pardon for crimes, money, not being swatted). But Trump is less powerful now. Cognitive decline. Slurring and tired at the end. But warns us that we cannot rely on when he will go, and we certainly can’t rely on the GOP to reform itself. We have to put people in jail and ruin their lives. Their corruption deserves it.
- Also urges Ds not to work so much on policy (not really possible) but on branding. Branding gets to hearts and guts (not to brains). Rs feel the decay the stench, not sure about the death. Urges us to have many hearings. “The history we have to create is easy because it’s true. We are fighting people who are corrupt … pursuing people who are protecting pedophiles”
- We need to go for the hearts, the guts and not the heads. After the primaries, they will pour money into something. Perhaps hating trans people won’t do it this time.
- We must be avenging angels for the country.
- Bruising on Trump’s hand at the SOTU emblematic of the Maga decline.
- We have to accelerate the decline and punish those who enabled it, because pain is their only teacher. Start with hearings on day one – they are so corrupt – contempt and frozen budgets when/if they don’t appear.
*
As always, we need to do everything we can to weaken him and his enablers, now, in the near future, and in the far future. At the moment there are real opportunities. Dividing the Maga base, as so many did not want war. Pointing out, over and over, that they protect crooks and pedophiles. Yes, the truth is on our side, but only if we sell it.
Thanks for reading, as always, comments welcome.
🐦 I do a lot of other writing. Newest offerings: Messing with the Myths — three books so far in this series. Older offerings: the Crow Nickels (chronicles), about crows who want to save birdkind from extinction (Hunters of the Feather). Mysteries based on Jane Austen’s novels, such as The Meryton Murders. Others based on history and Greek mythology, e.g., Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus. All titles also available through Kindle Unlimited. Want to support me but not interested in my books? Buy one and donate to a library.
