Podcast Summary: I've Had It
Episode: GOP: Guardians of Pedophiles
Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Guest: Rick Wilson (The Lincoln Project)
Date: November 13, 2025
Overview
This episode of I've Had It dives deeply into the state of the modern Republican Party, the failures and frustrations of Democratic messaging, and the larger existential threats facing American democracy. Joining Jennifer and Angie is Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and ex-Republican strategist, for a raw, hilarious, and often scathing look at party politics, media complicity, populism, and what it will take to push back against authoritarian creep.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Grievances and Pet Peeves
[02:01 – 04:00]
- Angie vents about insincere, overlong emails where people butter her up before asking for something, preferring directness instead.
“Don’t piss down my leg and tell me it’s raining… Just be straight up.” — Angie [02:01]
- Jennifer admits a “twatty” moment at a Tame Impala concert: She accidentally occupies someone else’s seat, grills another concert-goer, then realizes she was the problem (not the other way around).
“I wanted to watch the show, and I wanted to secure the seat for our friend. … As I’m sitting there and I can’t enjoy the second song because I’m really brow beating myself: ‘Why do you have to be such a twat?’” — Jennifer [07:34]
- The group collectively mourns the lack of drink lids at arenas and the prevalence of spilled drinks, leading to a hilarious discussion about “liquidity safety.”
2. Elevator Door Buttons and Psychological Torture
[14:10 – 16:00]
- Kylie brings up the news that most elevator “close door” buttons have been deactivated for decades for accessibility reasons; the hosts react with mock outrage.
“This is psychological torture. … This is your way back into the legal profession with a class action lawsuit for mass fraud.” — Jennifer [14:55]
3. Welcoming Rick Wilson: The Lincoln Project & Leaving the GOP
[20:32 – 24:25]
- Rick explains how he and most of the Lincoln Project founders are ex-Republicans disillusioned by the party’s turn towards authoritarianism.
- Rick references working for George H. W. Bush (“the smart one”), describes the era when being rude got you fired, and sharply contrasts this with today’s GOP.
4. GOP Authoritarianism vs. Democratic “Pick Me” Politics
[23:00 – 26:31]
- Rick declares his central frustration: The false equivalence in media coverage suggesting Democrats and Republicans are mirror images.
“One of these parties… is an authoritarian fascist party… and that’s the Republican party. I’m done with it. … Democrats, and the media too, too often goes, ‘Well, the Democrats and Republicans are just two sides of the same…’ They’re not.” — Rick [23:00]
- Jennifer and Rick both criticize “corporate media” for bending toward Trump and failing to hold the right accountable.
“I don’t want to hear any sh*t from conservatives going, ‘Oh, the liberal media—where?’” — Rick [25:25]
5. Mainstreaming Trump’s Decline and Media Complicity
[27:08 – 28:43]
- Angie and Jennifer highlight the double standard in coverage of Biden’s and Trump’s cognitive slips.
“Trump slurs… He makes no sense. … Not: ‘Rambling Trump made no sense in dementia-ridden press conference.’ What’s that about?” — Angie [27:10]
- Rick: “Donald Trump’s physical and mental collapse is right in our faces every damn day… He is a guy who is physically and mentally knocking on death’s door loudly. And we’re ignoring it as a country.” [27:21]
6. MAGA Populists Are Sensing Trump’s End
[28:59 – 31:38]
- Jennifer: Savvy MAGA figures (MTG, Tucker, Ted Cruz) are quietly building post-Trump brands, noticing Trump’s decline.
- Rick: Some recognize Trump will pass eventually, but they’re lost about what comes next. Anti-semitism, economic populism, and shallow talking points are on the rise among them.
“There’s a part of it that is wildly anti-Semitic. … They don’t know how to make it viable again without him on the ballot.” — Rick [30:19]
7. Democratic Leadership and the Need for Aggression
[33:27 – 38:44]
- Jennifer and Rick share exasperation over Democrats’ lack of public, aggressive messaging and “pick me politics.”
“They are playing two different games. The Republicans and the Democrats are playing two different games.” — Jennifer [33:50] “Democrats need to show America they’ve got some fight in them. … Go in and punch bad people in the face over and over again.” — Rick [35:26]
- Rick recounts a conversation with Harry Reid: True Senate leaders (Reid, LBJ, McConnell) all were ruthless planners; “that is not Chuck Schumer.”
- “Pick me” politics, focus-grouped statements, and vanilla messaging are panned as unpersuasive and counterproductive.
8. The 2026 Elections & Voter Trends
[39:04 – 42:03]
- Rick is not alarmist about some GOP moves (like ending the filibuster), gives insight on redistricting, and notes that Trump’s unpopularity is a drag on all Republicans.
- He observes that moderate Republicans are very much crossing over to support reasonable Democrats, especially in key states.
9. Democrats’ Messaging Fails: Economy & Privatization
[42:03 – 48:57]
- Jennifer slams the myth of Republican economic competency and urges Democrats to directly message how GOP “trickle-down” policies and privatization harm average Americans.
“There is not ONE big red city that’s an economic hub… Democrats need to start doing this and it makes me crazy that they’re playing patty cake at the, at Congress talking about stupid sh*t.” — Jennifer [43:28]
- Rick links the issue to messaging style: Democrats too often rely on esoteric policy papers rather than direct, populist language.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene is craftier than people are giving her credit for.… Democrats for too long come out with policy papers… People don’t need all that nuance and back-of-the-room think-tank bullshit. They want to hear real talk.” — Rick [44:12, 45:32]
10. Populist Language & the Role of Villains
[47:31 – 48:57]
- Rick: Democrats have an abundance of appealing villains to run against (big banks, big pharma, corrupt billionaires), but don’t tell a clear, compelling story.
“There’s a classic American fight of, of, of small against big. Americans were always the small against the big.… They’ve got a cast of villains to run against now.” — Rick [47:31]
11. The Dangers of Privatization & Need for Government Defense
[48:57 – 51:28]
- Jennifer: Privatization results in profit-seeking negligence—in airlines, pharma, and industry. Dems don’t sell how government protections save lives.
“Every time it’s for profit, look no further than the pharmaceutical industry, the fertilizer industry, … they’re going to dick you over and they don’t give a sh*t if you or somebody you love dies. But the government does.” — Jennifer [49:01]
- Rick: Americans want “smaller, smarter, better” government, not just “less.” He outlines post-war examples (“During WWII, we provided childcare”) as proof government can work for people.
12. Holding Republicans to Account
[52:27 – 53:39]
- Jennifer pushes for Democrats to call out Christian nationalist hypocrisy and to brand the GOP as “pedophile protectors” when appropriate.
- The power of ridicule, directness, and plainspoken attacks is lauded.
13. Political Strategy, Happy Warriors, and Zoran’s Campaign
[55:40 – 59:02]
- Rick highly praises Zoran’s disciplined, affordability-focused campaign in NYC and his “happy warrior” persona.
“…His campaign, just from a technical perspective, was brilliant.… The affordability and economics cuts across every ideological boundary right now.” — Rick [55:47]
- Discusses the value of politicians being “happy warriors”—Reagan, Clinton, Obama, Bush—as the best communicators.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “One of these parties... is an authoritarian fascist party...and that’s the Republican party. I’m done with it.” — Rick Wilson [23:00]
- “Trump’s physical and mental collapse is right in our faces every damn day. ...He is a guy who is physically and mentally knocking on death’s door loudly. And we’re ignoring it as a country.” — Rick Wilson [27:25]
- “Marjorie Taylor Greene is craftier than people are giving her credit for. ...Crafty in politics is a good thing.” — Rick Wilson [44:12]
- “If you try to be a pick me politician, you’re going to be milquetoast. Nobody’s going to like you, nobody’s going to dislike you, they’re not going to have a strong opinion about you at all.” — Jennifer [35:45]
- “People want a government that’s Smaller, smarter, and better. ...The Democrats could run on those three things.” — Rick Wilson [50:23]
- “I absolutely refuse to give [America] up to this petty tyrant and his scuzzy little minions and this grotesque movement that they think is going to replace the republic and American democracy—just won’t do it.” — Rick Wilson [70:43]
- “Make me Democratic chair for a week. I will change the entire party. It will not be pretty, but it will be fun.” — Rick Wilson [63:29]
Fun Segments: “Had it or Hit it”
[63:04 – 70:43]
- Internet trolls: Rick “hits it”—understands they're evidence the other side is angry and he’s doing his job.
- Florida: Rick (fifth-generation Floridian) has “had it”—hates what politics and overdevelopment have wrought.
- DeSantis: Staff “must hate him”—“He’s dead but too dumb to lay down.”
- Trump’s ballroom: Had it—calls Trump’s destruction of the East Wing an “obscenity.”
- USA: “Hit it”—Rick’s not giving up, he’ll “keep fighting for this place” [70:43].
Closing Thoughts
The episode is riotously funny, brutally honest, and deeply concerned about the current and future state of both major political parties—but especially the GOP’s authoritarian drift. Rick Wilson’s insights are incisive and sharp, calling for Democrats to abandon tepid messaging and embrace authenticity, populism, and righteous ridicule. The show ends with calls to action, book plugs, and a spirit of fighting for democracy—with humor and plenty of cursing along the way.
Table of Key Timestamps
| Segment | Time | |------------------------------------------|--------------| | Insincere requests, concert mishap | 02:01–09:03 | | Elevator door button revelation | 14:10–16:00 | | Rick Wilson joins | 20:32 | | Authoritarian GOP vs. Dems (“pick me”) | 23:00–26:31 | | Trump’s decline, media coverage | 27:08–28:43 | | MAGA post-Trump, anti-Semitism | 28:59–31:38 | | Democrat messaging & leadership | 33:27–38:44 | | Economic narrative, populism | 42:03–48:57 | | Privatization dangers | 48:57–51:28 | | Political branding & Zoran’s campaign | 55:40–59:02 | | Had It or Hit It - Pop culture | 63:04–70:43 | | Endings, book plugs | 72:08–end |
For more unfiltered political takes and petty grievances, listen to “I’ve Had It.” This episode in particular is a must for anyone frustrated by the state of politics in America but determined to fight for its better future.