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The Breakdown

Alberto fo sho
Donald Trump
Jeffrey Epstein
Trump Administration
Democratic Party
Epstein Files
Republican Party
Venezuela
ICE
Greenland
Ghislaine Maxwell
NATO
Midterm Elections
China
Iran
Government Shutdown
Pete Hegseth
Malignant Narcissism
Dementia
Minnesota
Economy

The Lincoln Project's "The Breakdown" is a weekly political commentary show hosted by Rick Wilson and Maya May. The show features analysis of current events, interviews with political figures, and commentary on the 2020 presidential election and the Trump administration.The show's hosts are both experienced political operatives and commentators. Wilson is a Republican strategist who has worked for... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1000Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Recent Guests

Mary Frances Berry
Former head of the US Commission on Civil Rights
University/Smithsonian context referenced, civil rights leader
Episode: Katie Phang 2
Reverend William Barber
Civil rights leader and pastor
NAACP North Carolina; Moral Mondays ally
Episode: Katie Phang 2
Ezra Levin
Co-founder of Indivisible
Indivisible
Episode: Katie Phang 2
Jen Rubin
Co-founder of The Contrarian
The Contrarian
Episode: Katie Phang 2
Tim Dickinson
Senior writer and editor at The Contrarian
The Contrarian
Episode: Katie Phang 2
Jimmy Kimmel
Television host and comedian featured via clip discussion
Jimmy Kimmel Live / ABC
Episode: Trump's Imperial Ballroom Blitz
Wajahat Ali
Guest, commentator and writer
Left Hook / Substack
Episode: DC Rolled Its Eyes
Lev Parnas
Guest, political operative and associate
Parnas LLC / political circles
Episode: DC Rolled Its Eyes
Pam Smith
CAO of Verified Voting
Verified Voting
Episode: War Powers, Gunmen & Democracy

Hosts

Zev Shalev
Host of narrative live show; long-time political commentator and media figure; affiliated with The Lincoln Project network.
Rick Wilson
Co-host with Maya May; Republican strategist and political commentator known for election and policy analysis.
Maya May
Co-host and political commentator; frequently engages in policy critique and interview segments.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 107 ratings
  • Please adjust your volume

    3/3/26 Malcolm Nance’s volume was normal, medium high, while Rick’s was soft. Very difficult and annoying since I don’t want to miss one word.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    xxxfor_Petes_sake
    United States2 months ago
  • So Insightful

    Katie!!! I love you and your show!! You tell it like it is and always look forward to your shows. You keep me engaged in politics and the law.

    Keep up the great work. You have a FOREVER fan!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dennyr65
    United States3 months ago
  • Stop it

    For god's sake, these commercials are DEAFENING. They break in not just mid-speech, or mid-thought, mid-phrase or even mid-word, but mid-SYLLable. What is the point of that? Why are you abusing your listeners this way? I have heard that unbearably obnoxious, supercilious guy (wwwhat would you do/imagine) FOUR TIMES already in the latest Michael Wolff & it's only partway through! Why would you want to assure your audience feels harassed, & absolutely hostile toward your sponsors? Worse, the orig... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    susheg
    United States4 months ago
  • INFURIATING Mid-Sentence Commercial Interruptions

    Good to hear an (uncredited) Joy Reid. But this is the last time I tune in because of the INFURIATING practice of interrupting a speaker in MID-SENTENCE for a shrieky commercial. “Break[s]down” your whole pretentious critique of the capitalist habitus. (look that word up)

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Clancularius1
    United States5 months ago
  • Powerful

    I look forward to listening to what Rick Wilson has to say about our parties /politics as he knows. The Lincoln project are the good guys, and it is beyond me why the Democrats do not listen to and do what they suggest. I recommend this podcast -- it's authentically patriotic, compassionate & politically savvy. As someone who never took a civics class & ignored politics prior to Trump, I'm grateful for the insight and explanations re: this nightmare

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    justeatthedamcake
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience appreciates guest diversity and ability to dissect complex geopolitical topics.
Sound quality and occasional audio glitches are mentioned as a downside by some listeners.
Praise for host chemistry and candid, unapologetic critique of leadership and policy.
Several reviews call out mid-sentence ad interruptions as disruptive to the listening experience.
Listeners frequently note strong, insightful political analysis and insider perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#210
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#248
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#39
Singapore/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#170
Hong Kong/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#171
Sweden/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#173
Denmark/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

After Virginia: What's Next in the Redistricting Wars?
Q: What role could the Supreme Court play in shaping the next decade of redistricting, and what are the risks if the Calais decision goes against voters?
A ruling striking down race-conscious districting could trigger a cascade of new maps nationwide, especially in states like Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana. It could erode minority representation in the short term but may spur a push for systemic reforms to electoral rules and representation that endure beyond one court decision.
After Virginia: What's Next in the Redistricting Wars?
Q: Do you think Democrats should pursue a more aggressive, 'constitutional hardball' approach to redistricting reform, and what would that look like?
Yes, but it must be coupled with a clear democracy agenda—advocating for proportional representation, court-backed reforms, and systemic changes to how districts are drawn and counted. It isn't enough to win a few seats; there needs to be a principled, comprehensive reform that broadens representation and reduces the leverage of partisan mapmaking.
After Virginia: What's Next in the Redistricting Wars?
Q: As someone who has written extensively on gerrymandering, what are your thoughts on what happened last night with this redistricting vote?
The Virginia result signals a meaningful loss for extreme gerrymandering and suggests that voters are open to measures that preserve guardrails and public input. It also underscores how cross-state dynamics—like California's independent process and other voter-approved reforms—are shaping the national conversation about fair maps.
'I Was Elated': Epstein Survivor Jess Michaels on Pam Bondi's Firing
Q: What are the next steps for survivors now that there are ongoing discussions about accountability?
The focus is on perseverance, continued advocacy, and pushing for concrete actions like depositions and investigations, while expanding support networks outside of government channels.
'I Was Elated': Epstein Survivor Jess Michaels on Pam Bondi's Firing
Q: What went through your mind when you heard Pam Bondi was fired?
Jess Michaels says she was elated because it signaled momentum for survivors' advocacy and pressure on the administration and Congress, even though she knew the replacement might be temporary.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Breakdown

What is The Breakdown about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly political commentary show delivering sharp analysis of current events, with interviews from politicians, journalists, and activists. The conversations mix hostile-to-establishment critique with insider perspectives on campaigns, foreign policy, and media coverage, often centering on Trump-era dynamics, accountability, and democratic norms. Noteworthy are the candid insider takes, rapid-fire banter between hosts, and a willingness to challenge conventional narratives, making it a likely fit for listeners who want combative, informed political discourse and behind-the-scenes political insight.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Breakdown?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Breakdown. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Breakdown and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Breakdown get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Breakdown?

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How many subscribers and views does The Breakdown have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Breakdown has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Breakdown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Breakdown:

1. The Lincoln Project
2. Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast
3. The Jim Acosta Show
4. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell
5. The Daily Beast Podcast

How many episodes of The Breakdown are there?

The Breakdown launched 2 years ago and published 1000 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Breakdown?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Breakdown?

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What guests have appeared on The Breakdown?

Recent guests on The Breakdown include:

1. Mary Frances Berry
2. Reverend William Barber
3. Ezra Levin
4. Jen Rubin
5. Tim Dickinson
6. Jimmy Kimmel
7. Wajahat Ali
8. Lev Parnas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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