Never Trump, Still a Republican
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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What does it mean to continue identifying with the party if it's moved beyond the recognition of of what it's been in the past? Which is sort of to say, are you hanging on to a party that isn't your party anymore?
That would be uh you know, easy to say right now, but parties sometimes return as well. You you see uh parties flirt with populism and then uh return. And and I'm hopeful that that's what you see now.
I'm Adam Harris. This is Radio Atlantic. And this week, a conversation with former Republican U.S. Senator and Ambassador Jeff Flake. We talk about the state of the Republican Party, the Senate, and what it means to be principled in politics. Flake is known for crossing party lines. Most recently, he endorsed Georgia's Democratic Senator John Ossoff in his re-election campaign against Mike Collins. Collins, of course, is the Trump-endorsed Republican congressman from Georgia. In announcing his endorsement, Flake told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that his decision boiled down to character. Saying, quote, character is more important. I've been around long enough to know you'll disagree on issues with people across the aisle, or sometimes in your party.
But the more important thing is character. End quote. Ін твої севті Флейк дилирд а фіриспеч вноunced that he would not run for another term in офіс.
There are times when we must risk our careers. In favor of our principles. Now is such a time.
He believed the shift in the Republican Party was temporary. He believed the fever would break. Бо іспанська деда since that speech. Does he still think that's possible? Ambassador Flake joins me now to discuss. Let's get to questions. Ambassador, thank you for joining me. Hey, thanks for having me on. What to you are the characteristics of a moral candidate, of a candidate with character?
Well, I want somebody who respects the institution of the Senate. And you know, the Senate and Senators have always very jealously guarded their prerogative. um you know to and push back against uh any president uh from their own party or not that's just kind of been a hallmark of the Senate. You have six-year terms, you're in more independent, you have more roles than the House does in terms of advice and consent. Then two, I I would fit in character as well. I have a hard time with people who simply won't admit the obvious. Uh one, when your president loses an election and you're you're afraid to tell him. Uh that that I think is uh is doesn't speak well for Character. Um so so yeah, in this case, uh we have that problem as well.
Senator Osoff's opponent um, you know, simply won't admit and claims that President Trump won in Georgia and won the uh 2020 election. That doesn't speak well for character. Also, with character, it's it's realizing in the Senate, too, with uh the special rules, the supermajority rules of filibuster.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–8:05
2
Why did Jeff Flake endorse Democrat Jon Ossoff over Trump‑backed Mike Collins?
8:05–14:19
3
How does Flake define a candidate’s character and why is it more important than policy?
14:19–14:40
4
What role does the Senate play in checking presidential power, according to Flake?
14:40–19:11