Inside The Trump Administration With Olivia Troye
Inside the Trump Administration With Olivia Troye
I listen to the Stephanie Miller Show faithfully every weekday morning. She brings in the input of people at the center of the news cycle. I appreciate the expose of life inside the Trump Administration on the show. This time she has Olivia Troye to discuss the hidden sense of alarm pervading the Donald Trump Administration. A lifelong Republican who identifies as a âMcCain Republican,â Olivia Troye now describes herself as a âRecovering Republican.â Still fiercely loyal to the values of the GOP, she is actively working to reform it from within as Co-Director of the Republican Accountability Project. Inside the Trump Administration -Stephanie Miller with Olivia Troye They discuss bungled COVID policy and an inside look at Mike Pence as he tries to win redemption from Trumpism.
She is cited in the book, Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration’s Response to the Pandemic That Changed History.
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I believe the conversation went like this.
Stephanie Miller:
You said this moment requires us, as Liz Cheney has said, to love our country even more. But you, Mike Pence, need to decide what you love more. The country or your last chance at political power. As you said, Trumpian Republicans are never going to like you.
Which leaves telling the truth about the election and January 6 as the only option. He seems deluded in that way. In that he is not going to be President, that the Trumpsters all hate him as a traitor. So talk to me about the genesis of writing this piece and if you think he read it and what his reaction would be.
Olivia Troye:
Yeah, look, I thought a lot about it. I have been watching him sort of, I guess, for lack of a better term, waffle on what to do with the January 6th Committee ongoing investigation. I think that really matters so much, regardless of whether people keep calling it a partisan hit job or not. Look, it’s not. Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger. They’re conservatives. They are working very hard to really do what’s right for our democracy here. So I think with Mike Pence, I think about all the people that I worked with. In that circle and what they must be seeing this year.
I think about those people also being self interested, and looking out for their own careers in the future. This is a time where you have to put that aside if you really care about the future. Worry about that later. So that’s why I just wrote this thing because I wanted t. I hope that he read it and that he takes it to heart.
Stephanie Miller:
You talked about his op ed that veers into breathtaking what-about-ism, as you say. You said, it seems Pence has decided the gallows set up outside the capitol and Trump supporters shouting hang Mike Pence are basically equivalent to a piece of voting rights legislation. You said, how does any rational human being whose life and the lives of his family were threatened see debates about voting rights or Senate rules is even remotely similar to the motivations of his would-be attackers.
Sexy Stephy Says:
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buy Malcolmâs book The Plot to Destroy Democracy and read it and give it to everybody you know!
So yeah, it really is sort of breathtaking that he was the target. As you tweeted, you said Trump’s GOP rigged the system to block votes and the will of people, undermine our institutions and democracy. require Republican presidential candidates. To not participate in debates, with no policy platform other than lies and grievance. This is pathetic, but not surprising and I guess, based on his op ed. That’s what he’s thrown in with.
Olivia Troye:
I think so and like the bullying, the intimidation that’s happening amongst all of these people. It’s real and you’re seeing them suffer the consequences. I heard Biden’s remarks after I heard you play them right now. He’s exactly right. There’s all these people behind the scenes who know that what’s happening, it’s horrible.
They know that we’re down a further dark path. But none of them are willing to stick their neck out there. Because when you do, even when you vote for common sense things like, Congressman Upton, I believe was one that got the the threats over the phone just for voting for legislation that would serve his constituents well. That would help his community and what does he get as a thanks?
He gets intimidation, he gets threats, he gets bullied. To him and his family. That is where we are right now and I think fundamentally that’s what’s leading all these people to retreat, but at some point, you’ve got to stand up together to stand up to the bully.
Sexy Stephy Says:
One way to fight back is
buy Malcolmâs book The Plot to Destroy Democracy and read it and give it to everybody you know!
Stephanie Miller:
Do you think this Supreme Court ruling last night, which is huge is going to affect Pence’s calculations or Meadows or any of them? Because obviously, if they even being packed with Trump nominees, they blew up his ridiculous executive privilege claims. Do you think that will affect Pence at all?
Olivia Troye:
Yeah, I think that will definitely cause him to take a step back. This is so significant. I was so excited to see that. Actually relieved, because this is a group of people, especially in the Trump family, that really operate on a system where they use the court system in their favor. They operate by trying to undermine the rule of law, and they think that they’re above it. They think that they’re invincible and so that was an enormous win. To put sort of the hammer down right and say no, enough. This is not going anywhere, stop.
Sexy Stephy Says:
One way to fight back is
buy Malcolmâs book The Plot to Destroy Democracy and read it and give it to everybody you know!
This is sort of the whole party, but you say in your new piece. Pence has two options. One. Embrace the Trumpism that’s now driving the Republican Party platform. Including the insidious new focus on election integrity meant to further the big lie.
Two. Clear his conscience. Start telling the truth and tell Americans what really happened in four years under Trump. Tell them how we spent every day wondering whether our country with survive. A good place to start would be making clear he’ll cooperate with January 6 investigations should they decide to question him.
Pence knows these details. He knows about the six point Eastman memo to stage a backhanded Pence-led coup using Republican members of Congress. He even made phone calls desperately trying to find a way to appease the madman in the Oval Office. As we’re learning more and more right, he obviously talked to the parliamentarian he knew about the fake electors. I mean, Pence knew all of this. So I think you’re absolutely right. He owes it to his country. I mean, he did the right thing on that one day, right.
Olivia Troye:
He did it and you know, thank goodness, he did. Because I can’t imagine the aftermath. That would have been so much worse. But I think now, here we are. It’s over a year later, we’re still after that election happened. This is still I mean, the big why is the Republican platform right now, right? There’s no policy. There’s no actual real initiative to help America. The platform is the big lie. Anybody who doesn’t support the big lie of the fraudulent, stolen election, in their words. Which we know is just nowhere near factually correct.
That is how they’re running. They’re running these candidates and if you don’t agree with that, sentiment, you get kicked out. Or that they pull you off the primary ticket. So I think this is a moment where I think someone like Mike Pence could change that, if he came forward.
Sexy Stephy Says:
One way to fight back is
buy Malcolmâs book The Plot to Destroy Democracy and read it and give it to everybody you know!
Stephanie Miller:
You said, it’s a political suicide strategy he’s currently executing. You said Pence is forced to further this lie. Because he thinks it will get him back in Trump’s good graces. He’s decided to cater to a base of people who will forever consider him a traitor. You just said, wouldn’t you rather live with the knowledge that when it really mattered, you were catalyst for the rejection of Trump and his movement of divisiveness, hate and violence. That engulf this country. In a two party system where the true party of Lincoln is all but dead. It’s forever remaining in Trump’s shadow. Was that really your end game? And I just wonder in the light of the Supreme Court if his calculus will change at any point.
Olivia Troye:
I hope it will. Because I don’t believe that there is a future where he’s forever going to be seen as a traitor by this group of people because he didn’t go along with what they wanted him to do. He can’t come back from that. But really, I mean, I don’t know that he should be looking to come back from that. Because you should not want to be associated with that. Having lived it every day.
Stephanie Miller:
Let’s talk about the phone call that you all had. Somebody said they were surprised about the number of people on this call strategizing about how to stop Trump. Basically, there was in the group John Kelly, Anthony Scaramucci, Chris Krebs, the head of Homeland Security. Who said this was the safest election ever? Obviously you. John Bolton, but one participant was struck by the sight of a lot of faces. I had not seen speaking publicly about why Trump is dangerous before. Our friend miles Taylor. So what was your take on that? On that call and what what’s the plan is going forward?
Olivia Troye:
Yeah, I think it was significant. I think it was close to 30 people were on that call. Plus, I think it would have been more if some people would have been able to make it. I know there are a couple that couldn’t attend.
What was really striking. There was significant, ongoing concern about what we’re seeing here. These are people that have worked at all levels of the Trump administration and different agencies. Some at a very senior level. Some too, I would say, very loyally like some cabinet level people, perhaps. Who really know firsthand, a lot of the techniques, a lot of the tactics, a lot of the operation. I think that’s why this group collectively, can really make a difference. Putting our divisions within the group aside.
I think that’s also powerful. Because this is not a group where everyone is friends, and we some of them have attacked us. We’ve been on the receiving end of that. Certainly people like me, but I think this is something where everyone’s like, what can I do to make a difference here by putting all of that aside? I’ve seen a lot of comments about, oh, this is a group of people trying to rehab their image.
A lot of these people probably will never come forward publicly. But they’re going to offer to work in whatever capacity behind the scenes. Whether it’s advising or anything on whatever this group decides to do. Yeah. And by the way, in this moment, all hands need to be on deck. Whoever it is, it’s going to work on this.
Sexy Stephy Says:
One way to fight back is
buy Malcolmâs book The Plot to Destroy Democracy and read it and give it to everybody you know!
Stephanie Miller:
I agree. You’re making very good points. If you think I’m distracted it’s because as you’re talking about the destruction of our democracy, my giant puppy is actually eating my chair. It’s interesting, some polling that was discussed on this call shows Trump’s favorability declining. Among registered Republicans and right leaning independents. I mean, some polls are different. But I thought that was an interesting point.
In this article. It said, this cannot just be a professional trolling operation, putting out ads like the Lincoln Project group. I mean, the Lincoln Project grew is kind of proud of it. That’s what they are there for. To sort of troll one person and make him react and whatever. It sounds like you guys are more thinking like, what can you actually do politically to stop him? It seems like you’re kind of aware of the threat of autocracy here and fascism and the real threats to America. Plus what you can do to stop it. What what form do you think that’ll take ultimately?
Olivia Troye:
I think that’s where at the grassroots, especially at the local level. I think that’s going to be key. I think this is bigger than just one man, this is bigger than just Trump, right? What we’re talking about is actually bigger than Trump. We’re talking about Trump-like candidates. That has been part of the conversation as well. There’s a big focus on 2022. Because what happens in this midterm election cycle, will impact what happens in 2024.
I just want to be clear. I know many of the groups have nothing against the Lincoln Project or anything like that. That serves a purpose, and they don’t serve a very important role. It’s just at this point, we’ve all got our approach to this problem collectively, together. The coalition of the willing and and I think when it comes to this group, there’s just so much potential there. Because they have seen this firsthand, and the question is.
How do you change voters’ minds and how do you reach those in the middle who may be on the fence? How do you explain to them what is really happening here at a local level and really communicate in that sense?
Stephanie Miller:
Well just quickly to end. You cite the larger problem on Twitter. It’s not just Trump, you said. Watching these GOP extremists. Senators masquerading as conservatives pushing disinformation, continuously attacking and inciting violence against public health officials, like Dr. Fauci. That is everything you need to know about why the 2022 elections matter.
So you’re right. It’s not just Trump. It’s Trumpism. We have to stop it right now!
Olivia Troye:
It’s gonna take can take all of us. Because I think that this is a very dangerous movement that is still being enabled, and it’s been emboldened. Now we’re seeing this happen at all levels. You see this at school board meetings now, right? I mean, you see this division of communities happening right now. It’s fundamentally dangerous, and I don’t believe that we cannot push back on this. We have to do we have to, we have to at least try.
Stephanie Miller:
One of the members of your group, Stephanie Grisham, the former White House, whatever she was. Does she ever have a press conference. So Trump hosted secret meetings in the White House residence in the days ahead of January 6, according to her statements. She also told house investigators the documents provided to the US Secret Service would memorialize whether Trump actually intended to march with supporters to the Capitol. Between the Supreme Court ruling and just in general,
I actually feel like we may get to justice for January 6. Are you feeling like that? I mean, there is just more and more coming out. That one of the things they’re requesting is all the video and photographic evidence of Pence and anyone that was around him on January 6. I just think we’re, maybe at the tip of the iceberg. What do you think in terms of what we know?
Olivia Troye:
I think the facts are the facts and all of this is starting to surface now. It’s all there. The evidence is all there. The question is getting that evidence out to Americans in a manner that is factual and informative.
Unfortunately, it’s also about reaching the echo chambers on some of these more far right networks. Who are never going to actually share the truth, who were covered no matter what happens here. They’re not going to share factual information to their viewers, and we have to find a way around that. To make sure that we’re educating people about what happened here. So that it never happens again.
Stephanie Miller:
Yep. Olivia in another day, if my dad and Goldwater had won. I feel like we would have been best little Republican girlfriends in grade school and high school, but I like the way it worked out better. So I am here in my leaky basement. Crazy liberal. You have come to the light. You have come to my light and we welcome you to it. Please come back anytime.
Sexy Stephy Says:
One way to fight back is
buy Malcolmâs book The Plot to Destroy Democracy and read it and give it to everybody you know!
Read this supporting news post,
Trump Dismissed Coronavirus Warnings in January 2020: ‘Yeah, Okay’ (businessinsider.com)
Transcribed with help from otter.ai