How did we get here—and what can we do about it?
On Tuesday, September 1, in a wide-ranging conversation, Anthony Scaramucci, author of “All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump,” and Reed Galen, President of The Union and co-founder of The Lincoln Project, examined the economic and political forces they believe have reshaped American politics, from globalization and tax policy to the financial crisis, rising inequality, and the growing influence of money in politics. Scaramucci argued that economic insecurity has fueled populism across the political spectrum, while both speakers emphasized the need to rebuild opportunity and strengthen the middle class.
The conversation also tackled the future of work and AI, with Scaramucci highlighting the technology’s potential to increase productivity while calling for policies that ensure its benefits are broadly shared. They discussed the costs of war, fiscal responsibility, environmental challenges, and the need to strengthen democratic institutions.
The takeaway was clear: solving today’s challenges requires looking beyond partisan divides—and taking action in our communities, at the ballot box, and through reforms that encourage broader participation.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Anthony Scaramucci is an American investor and entrepreneur. He is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge Capital, a global alternative investment firm, and the founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and investment platform.
Scaramucci co-hosts two podcasts — “The Rest Is Politics US” and “Open Book” — and has authored nine books covering finance and geopolitics, including “All The Wrong Moves,” due out in September 2026.
In 2016, Scaramucci served on President Donald J. Trump’s Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee before a brief tenure as White House Communications Director.
Reed Galen is an independent political strategist, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, and currently serves as the President of The Union, a nationwide coalition working to rebuild American democracy from the ground up. The Union brings together volunteers, organizers, and local leaders to support decent, competent candidates at every level of government. Under Reed’s leadership, The Union is building the infrastructure needed to show up in all 50 states and strengthen civic engagement nationwide.
