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Sarah Fredriksson's avatar

I bought the book “Fight” based on your interview and those of many others on the podcast circuit, and I’m extremely disappointed I did. This book is a sycophant fawning over Trump, talking about his “strong, square jaw” as he grimaced after being shot (no questioning or detailing of the lack of information in the aftermath of a horrific event, if true) and the worry of Susie Wiles as she “sobbed” to an aide about how strong Trump was being with the court cases (no mention of how they were criminal cases). How she worried that if “they” (Democrats of course) couldn’t “get” him in the court cases, that “they” would try to kill him. No mention of the shooter’s history or lack therof. No mention of Trump’s mental decline, rambling, nonsensical speeches, economic “policy” of tariffs, or talk of retribution. Sanewashing and normalizing Trump to a sickening degree.

Then the parts about Biden and his campaign were basically hit pieces. Talking about HIS mental decline (while ignoring Trump’s), denigrating Jill Biden, carping on the Biden family. If they wanted to write this about the Biden’s, ok, it’s their point of view I guess. But including the clear sappy admiration of Trump is a tell that it’s just a Biden hit piece.

To be fair, perhaps they were less fawning and more honest about Trump later in the book, but I couldn’t finish it because it was too hard to get through the adoration of Trump.

And worst of all (IMO), it’s poor writing. They should stick to short news articles.

Do you podcasters even read the books before you have these people on the show?

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Lydia Creydt's avatar

Hmmmm, where to start? Even before he won the nomination, the media was down on Joe Biden. No charisma, won’t generate clicks. When Joe won in SC, the media managed lukewarm and remained there throughout his Administration, with the exceptions of deep coverage of the withdrawal from Afghanistan; Senate failures featuring Manchin and Sinema; and controversial support for Israel. Coverage of the improvements in the economy and infrastructure, record highs for the stock market were dismissed an ineffectual, because, “eggs…”. Wherever the right wing press lead, the rest of the media followed. Then, in the shadow of a Trump Presidential candidacy, Biden aced the SOTA and was finally heralded as a warrior for democracy. Four months and one lousy debate performance later and the same guy was too old and too infirm to govern, and the media forced him out of the race. Now the same folks who brought us the Trump debacle are urgently looking for the evil genius behind our failure to elect Harris. Apparently nobody looks in the mirror anymore.

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Diane Battista's avatar

The tone of these authors was sensationalism, and I’m not sure I believe some of their stories

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Diane Battista's avatar

The issue is the evilness of Trump and Maga.

That is the story

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Diane Battista's avatar

When talking about Trump’s campaign all it was was bullying

Mocking

Ridiculing

Talking vulgar

Repeating lies after lie

The same script over and over

More pathological lying

Fire hose of misinformation damaging to the citizens of our country into our country

Made up stories

I just don’t see that as a well run campaign.

Everything was in the bag and he knew it .

As others have pointed out, look at what everyone was dealing with . It was never a level playing field.

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Elisa C's avatar

All due respect, but, why isnt anyone talking about the international trade org (or is it money org? like the PM of Singapore who seems to have a greater understanding of tariffs historically & worldwide than anyone ive heard in Substack...

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M Virginia Hill's avatar

There will be a time for us to know all the ugly details about the end of the Biden presidency but at this time it seems highly inappropriate, I’m disappointed in you Charlie.

Right now we are in the midst of a disaster for democracy, the Republican Party and our country, we must focus our energies on that.

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Nancy Ulin's avatar

What comes to mind is the Seinfeld mantra, "Serenity now, serenity now ..."

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Groovy Blue Hipster's avatar

Great interview, Charlie! I enjoyed the deep dive. 😊💕

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Diane Battista's avatar

Joe Biden restored respect to the White House and into the oval office. He talked about character, integrity in real family values.

He protected the constitution of the United States of America, the three equal branches of government

The rights and freedoms of every citizen in our country.

He brought calm, normalcy and order back into our lives after Trump 1.0.

He restored our dignity on the world stage and brought the NATO alliances closer together, including adding two new countries.

He stood up for Ukraine and supported president Zelenskyy.

He worked to be bipartisan.

He got past the chips act, and the bipartisan infrastructure act which should be allowed to continue to be implemented doing much needed work in our country on roads and bridges, etc., providing jobs.

The economy under his presidency was declared the envy of the world.

He stood up for injustice

The rights of women

Against racism

And supported the disenfranchised and the vulnerable communities in our country.

He spoke up about the authoritarian fascist movement of Trump and Maga.

He has loved this country and respected this country all of his life and he is a patriot.

I am always 99.9% in agreement with Charlie but I think we’re talking about the mental stability of the wrong person right now.

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Teresa Hall's avatar

It seems like Amy has a soft spot for Trump. When speaking seems distain for Dems .

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Susan Ottignon's avatar

OMG!! What a fabulous podcast💥 Both insightful and in depth knowledge pulls back curtain on political campaigns and politicians 👍 Autopsy necessary (welp, on body politics and enablers) — f**kery indeed🤬 Charlie Sykes delivers👏👍💥

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Eva Seifert's avatar

Lucky Eli and Auggie. Their world is safe and steady. There are days I wish I was a dog with me as the owner. :-)

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Matilda's avatar

Regan had Alzheimer’s his second term. It was not reported in the press as far as I can recall. Maybe nobody but his inner circle noticed. But you know what saved the country? Experienced and competent people in his cabinet and other key positions. Joe Biden also had competent people in his cabinet. So despite his apparent mental decline the government ran smoothly.

Now this country is being run by the intellectual and moral equivalent of sewer clowns. Nothing to offset Trumps mental decline.

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Valentina's avatar

There was no cable news in the 80s, let alone the full time propaganda machine, social media, computers, phones etc. Reagan wouldn't have been able to hide it these days and the fact that the White House thought they could is just further evidence of how horribly out of touch they were.

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Thea's avatar

Kamala was basically on her own with little backing. In the meantime the felon had nothing to do but focus on her. You don't win ball games when you can't keep your eye on the ball. Even the dogs know to watch the ball .

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Adam Johnson's avatar

From the Reagan Library, President Reagan speaks against tariffs in 1987.

https://youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc?si=RY_OiBZEv2KGm8Qf&t=111

In a sign of the world turned inside out, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S posted this video on X.

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