The Trey Gowdy Podcast

It's December, which means it's almost time for the final questions of the year. Trey answers about the redistricting process and shares the top questions he would ask Special Counsel Jack Smith if given the opportunity. Plus, Trey reflects on the end of the 2025 College Football season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"How often should I forgive someone who sins against me?" Mercy is powerful, but it also raises difficult questions about gratitude and choice. Trey reflects on forgiveness as both a gift and a responsibility, intersecting a modern political moment and a timeless biblical parable about grace and gratitude. He implores listeners to consider how mercy should shape our outcomes, and the choices that follow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello December! Trey answers questions on the evolution of the Republican Party, the DC National Guard shooting and the final touchdown in the South Carolina Gamecocks 2025 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"It is doubtful anyone is going to pay you to sit around and think. And yet, it is one of the most important traits we can develop." Trey reflects on a Thanksgiving weekend filled with family debates, football, and unexpected lessons, and uses it as a springboard into a larger conversation about philosophy. He encourages asking honest questions, listening closely, and weighing ideas before accepting them. In a complicated world, he says critical reasoning is still one thing we can rely on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Thanksgiving, Trey takes a look back at one of his favorite conversations, a thoughtful discussion with New York Times best-selling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, about what truly drives human happiness. Together, they explore whether money can influence joy, how to distinguish pride from confidence, and why moments of unhappiness can be just as important as moments of joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In celebration of Thanksgiving and the kickoff to the holiday season, Trey sits down with his good friend Clinical Psychologist, Kevin Gilliland, Psy.D for a conversation on how to prepare for the holidays mentally and emotionally. They discuss navigating grief, uncomfortable conversations and finding joy and gratitude in the midst of it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“You are in essence surrendering your majority.” Trey explains why the rarely used discharge petition became the center of an internal GOP fight, and why it sparked questions about transparency, consistency, and selective outrage. He also discusses why he believes releasing investigative files is no substitute for real prosecutions and clarifies how lawyers are disciplined by state bars. Plus, Trey gives his take on the Texas officer who collided with South Carolina football players during the Texas A&M game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey reflects on a full-circle moment as he watches his son take the oath to join the South Carolina Bar. He uses that moment to highlight his concerns about political favoritism in the state’s judicial system. Plus, he shares his weekend on the golf course with President Trump and offers his own perspective on questions about the president’s health. Trey closes by addressing the Epstein files and explains why he believes trial transcripts are the clearest path to understanding what justice requires. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"If it is gone, human nature tells you someone in power is not going to voluntarily give that power up." Trey answers a follow-up question about whether a future Senate could ever reinstate a filibuster and explains why, in practice, once the 60-vote rule is gone it is unlikely to return. He uses history, Senate precedent, and even a lesson from Sparta to show how the filibuster serves as both a shield and a limit on majority power. Trey also recommends a favorite myth-inspired novel and offers practical advice for frustrated sports fans navigating YouTube TV’s carriage dispute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I view last Tuesday night as something tantamount to a mock trial for the GOP."Trey breaks down what last week's election results reveal about the Republican Party’s message and strategy heading into the 2026 Midterms. He reflects on why traditional GOP priorities like crime and border security failed to resonate with voters this election cycle, the risks of political infighting, and the importance of humility and authenticity in leadership. Trey also calls on Republicans to focus less on ambition and more on governing with decency and compassion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey answers listener questions about the future of the filibuster, explaining why the Senate’s 60-vote rule protects against one-party control and encourages compromise, even if it frustrates presidents from both parties. He also discusses what happens if an elected official dies before taking office and closes with a heartfelt defense of South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer, praising his hard work, humility, and determination to build a winning program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey reflects on the importance of character and accountability in leadership, calling out the entitlement and misconduct that have made headlines in South Carolina politics. He contrasts that behavior with the humility and hard work of public servants who go unnoticed, and reminds listeners that we should never settle for representatives who fail to lead with decency. Trey also shares his perspective on the ongoing government shutdown and why Americans deserve better from those elected to keep government running. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey explains why Republican efforts to reopen the government haven’t gained more traction, pointing to the power of the media to decide which stories get attention. He also answers questions on immigration enforcement and what defines a criminal in the eyes of the law, and ends on a lighter note about his lifelong loyalty t o the South Carolina Gamecocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Life really is a compilation of your decisions, including the ones you regret and wish you could do over.” Trey reflects on life, time, and the value of accepting where we are instead of longing to go back. After a round of golf with friends and his son, he shares how aging brings both peace and perspective. Trey reminds listeners that contentment comes not from rewriting the past, but from appreciating the moments still left to live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Anger is your enemy. Fear is your enemy. Lack of preparation is your enemy." Trey answers questions on preparation and timing, highlighting his own time in both Congress and the courtroom, as well as Arch Manning's college football performance so far this season. Plus, Trey shares his insight on the ongoing government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey takes a hard look at South Carolina’s criminal justice system, using his home state as an example of how politics, policy, and priorities shape public safety. He explains why prosecutors face impossible caseloads, how judges are chosen, and what it really means to be tough on crime. Trey also closes with a personal reflection on his longtime friend, former DNI and current CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Technically, the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court does not have to be a lawyer." This week, Trey explains how it's possible for a judge to not need a law degree. He answers questions on whether state and local leaders can interfere with federal law enforcement, and weighs in on how college sports are changing under the new NIL era. Plus, Trey shares a hopeful update on last episode's conversation about living with balance issues - and the importance of finding help when an illness feels invisible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"It's a non-fatal disease that can actually wreck your life." Trey sits down with the Director of the Vestibular Program in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Habib Rizk, to uncover the power of the vestibular system - the tiny network inside your head that helps you balance, move, and navigate the world. They discuss what happens when the vestibular system malfunctions, leading to debilitating, and often misunderstood vestibular disorders. Trey and Dr. Rizk also dissect the challenges of diagnosing these invisible illnesses and why awareness, empathy, and patient advocacy matter more than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey explains how judges are chosen to oversee major cases, including the upcoming trial tied to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and why courtroom experience matters more than tenure on the bench. He also answers questions about whether a federal judge could ever overrule a declaration of war, and gives his unfiltered take on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ recent sideline controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trey revisits his thoughts on one of the most foundational principles in the American justice system — due process. He breaks down why every person in the United States, even those guilty of the most horrific crimes, is entitled to fair treatment under the law. He explains the difference between procedural and substantive due process and shares why he believes the conversation surrounding this constitutional right is crucial to have in the world today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"How do we get back to prioritizing fairness as a virtue?" Trey explores how the public can restore their faith in the Department of Justice, answering if it's possible to avoid politically motivated prosecutions. Plus, Trey answers questions on his relationship with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and reveals key character details from his debut novel The Color of Death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Congress cannot charge anyone with anything." Trey responds to the federal indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, how this case will move forward and the role of Congress in criminal proceedings. He also addresses what many are calling the distasteful fan behavior at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Trey answers questions on two topics he knows very well: Congress & the Dallas Cowboys. He also shares his thoughts on whether higher education plays a role in societal indoctrination. Plus, Trey reveals if readers can anticipate a sequel to his New York Times best-seller The Color of Death! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following Charlie Kirk’s memorial, Trey reflects on faith, forgiveness, and the power of dialogue over violence. He shows how grace can rise above anger and how love has the power to echo long after cruelty tries to silence it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Miriam Foundation is a program that renews, inspires, and supports young girls to overcome challenges and excel in all aspects of their lives. Trey looks back at his conversation with a familiar voice on the podcast, Mary Langston to highlight the invaluable work of the foundation and how it's cultivated a loving and supportive community in South Carolina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices