352: Trump Is Sabotaging America with Ruth Ben-Ghiat

352: Trump Is Sabotaging America with Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Author: Politicon February 6, 2026 Duration: 23:48

James Carville and Al hunt are joined on the sofa by Ruth Ben-Ghiat discussing the current landscape of education and authoritarianism, the characteristics of strongmen leaders, and the implications of fascism in modern politics. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the rule of law, the reactionary nature of fascism, and the global authoritarian landscape. The discussion also touches on the future of democracy, leadership, and the challenges of restoring trust and diplomacy in America.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Authoritarianism and Strong Men
02:54 The Nature of Strong Men and the Rule of Law
05:50 Fascism and Its Characteristics
09:16 The Reactionary Nature of Fascism
12:07 The Global Landscape of Authoritarianism
15:00 The Future of Democracy and Leadership
17:55 Restoring Trust in America and Its Institutions


Tune in for the kind of unfiltered, insider political conversation that usually happens behind closed doors. Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt brings together two legendary figures from opposite sides of the aisle for a weekly dissection of the American political landscape. James Carville, the fiery Democratic strategist, and Al Hunt, the respected veteran journalist and former Republican, don’t just rehash the headlines. They break down the strategy, the blunders, and the human drama driving the news with a depth of experience few can match. Each episode feels like you’re eavesdropping on a candid, often humorous, and always insightful debate between friends who have seen it all. This podcast, produced by Politicon, cuts through the noise of cable news punditry, offering analysis rooted in decades of firsthand knowledge of campaigns, government, and media. You’ll hear them predict consequences, call out hypocrisy, and unpack the real stakes of policy and elections. It’s a masterclass in political thinking, delivered with sharp wit and genuine camaraderie. For anyone trying to understand not just what’s happening, but why it matters and what might happen next, this is an essential listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt
Podcast Episodes
315: How To be An Opposition with Senator Chris Murphy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:57
VOTE FOR THE WORST OF THE TRUMP ADMINJames and Al welcome Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy to lay out the implications of our attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, explore the risk of blowback in the face of regime change, and…
314: Middle East Redux with Professor Vali Nasr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:47
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James and Al castigate Trump’s narcissistic military parade and contrast his authoritarian impulses with the protestors standing up fo…
313:  Z-Big with Ed Luce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:31
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James and Al dissect the political forces engaged in the battle for L.A. being waged between California and the Trump Administration,…
312: The Haves & The Have-Yachts with Evan Osnos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficialJames and Al celebrate the daring attack by Ukrainian forces against the Russian Air Force and put Trump through the wringer for his tr…
311: Deadly, Dangerous, Decline with Larry Summers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficialJames and Al welcome former Harvard University President and U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers to defend the university system agai…
310: It’s The Keystone State For A Reason with Rep. Brendan Boyle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:45
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficialJames and Al give their take on the growing news surrounding Biden’s health problems in the final days of his presidency and reemphasiz…
309: Politics NOT As Usual with Senator Angus King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:04
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficialJames and Al call out how Trump continues catering to authoritarians around the world and stand up for diversity-focused policies in th…
308: Time For A Democratic Schism with Rep. Ro Khanna [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:03
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficialJames and Al rip the Trump family’s use of crypto for personal enrichment, chastise the Democrat elites, and call for bottom-up activis…
307: 100 Days Of Trump with Ryan Lizza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:43
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James and Al unmask the disastrous impact of Trump’s first 100 days on our economy and democratic principles, call for a revitalizatio…
306: Nip It In The Bud with Governor Andy Beshear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:38
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficialJames and Al welcome Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to discuss the impact of Trump’s tariffs on his state, whether there are any merits…