DiscoverThe Hometown HollerEx-GOP Strategist Reed Galen on How Trump Took Over the Republican Party
Ex-GOP Strategist Reed Galen on How Trump Took Over the Republican Party

Ex-GOP Strategist Reed Galen on How Trump Took Over the Republican Party

Update: 2025-11-03
Share

Description

This week, the Holler sits down with Reed Galen—veteran GOP strategist turned democracy defender, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, founder of The Union, and host of The Home Front podcast.


Reed opens up about his decades inside Republican politics—from running campaigns for John McCain, George W. Bush, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to walking away from the party when Trumpism took hold. He talks war stories from the campaign trail, what really happened inside the McCain–Palin operation, and why he believes both parties helped create today’s political crisis.

We dig into the collapse of trust in democracy, why working-class voters are abandoning the left, and how Democrats keep losing the messaging war. Reed doesn’t hold back on the failures of the establishment, the rise of MAGA, and what it’ll take to rebuild a politics rooted in belief, honesty, and results—not purity tests or platitudes.

Connect with Reed at https://substack.com/@reedgalen

The Hometown Holler is made possible by the generous support of our monthly sustainers. If you find our work valuable, we invite you to consider becoming a sustainer on Patreon. Tap here to join our community and help us keep hollerin'!

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Ex-GOP Strategist Reed Galen on How Trump Took Over the Republican Party

Ex-GOP Strategist Reed Galen on How Trump Took Over the Republican Party

The Hometown Holler