Epstein Files Frenzy and Court Losses Fuel Trump’s Collapse

Epstein Files Frenzy and Court Losses Fuel Trump’s Collapse

Author: Really American Media September 16, 2025 Duration: 1:43:25

One of your favorite psychologists, Harry Segal, is back to describe and interpret Trump’s strange behaviors this week, from his tone-deaf response to the Epstein-Maxwell victims to his mysterious medical symptoms. Since John Gartner is on assignment, Ahmed Baba, columnist, journalist, and frequent pundit on cable news, sits in as Harry’s guest co-host. (Check out his bestselling Substack newsletter: AhmedBaba.News.) And be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

Our site

Subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on Spotify

Subscribe on Amazon Music

Subscribe on iHeartRadio


They dive straight into Trump’s two recent court defeats—one over tariffs, another over immigration restrictions—and ask why he keeps dragging outdated laws back into the spotlight. Rather than solving real problems, these lawsuits feel like rehearsals for the next manufactured crisis, with each loss chipping away at his claims of unchecked authority.


They turn next to ICE raids and Trump’s fiery rhetoric about cities like Chicago. When Governor J.B. Pritzker publicly rebuked the suggestion of federal troops on Illinois soil, Baba unpacks the political calculations and racial undertones driving that showdown. It becomes clear this tug-of-war isn’t just about policy; it’s about how power is flexed when constitutional guardrails start feeling optional.


The episode also confronts Trump’s lingering ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Survivors and advocates are demanding the release of Epstein’s files, yet Trump brushed the whole scandal off as a hoax—an impulsive reaction that only deepens doubts about his judgment. With approval ratings sagging, Siegel and Baba trace how these knee-jerk defenses betray deeper cognitive strains, calling into question Trump’s ability to respond thoughtfully under pressure.


Through it all, Shrinking Trump never loses sight of its mission: to spotlight the mind games at work and equip us for the battles ahead. By naming the psychological warning signs—whether it’s crisis-manufacturing lawsuits or off-the-cuff dismissals of serious allegations—we reclaim a degree of clarity in a chaotic political landscape. Listening here isn’t just about critique; it’s about shoring up our own defenses and reminding ourselves why democratic norms matter.


Catch this episode of Shrinking Trump on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. You’ll walk away not just with a sharper take on Trump’s latest maneuvers, but with the language to call out authoritarian playbooks the moment they emerge.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


Each week, psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal sit down for a session focused on a singular, complex subject: the mind of Donald Trump. In their Shrinking Trump podcast, produced by Really American Media, they apply their clinical expertise to publicly available behavior and speech, methodically documenting signs of cognitive decline and exploring the ramifications of his diagnosed malignant narcissism. They are joined by a roster of expert guests from various fields, turning each episode into a nuanced discussion that goes beyond standard political commentary. Dr. Gartner, a former Johns Hopkins psychiatry professor and founder of the Duty To Warn association, brings a particular urgency to these conversations, framing them within a broader ethical context. This isn't about partisan politics; it's a forensic psychological examination of a figure who has profoundly impacted the national landscape. Tuning in, you'll hear a careful, evidence-based analysis that breaks down rhetoric and action through a clinical lens, offering listeners a distinct perspective found in few other news and politics podcasts. The dialogue is direct, informed, and dedicated to understanding the psychological drivers behind the headlines, providing a deeper framework for interpreting ongoing events.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Shrinking Trump
Podcast Episodes
Trump’s Malevolent Actions are Coming Home to Roost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:02
Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal consider Trump’s psychopathology and how it makes his self-destructive course inevitable. They are joined again by Ahmed Baba, journalist and communications expert, on why we sh…
Trump’s OWN Crash Will Follow His Self-Created Economic Disaster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:04
In this all-new, 47th episode of Shrinking Trump, Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal analyze the mental disturbance underlying Trump‘s impulse to crash the world economy through tariffs. How do you stop a mad kin…
Trump's Police State is Here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:42
In this all new, 46th episode of Shrinking Trump, Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segel take listeners on a tour of the unsettling psychological and political landscape of Donald Trump’s second term. Our guest is Georgia-…
How the one-trick pony president is destroying democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08:33
In this all-new, 45th episode of our show, Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal interpret Trump’s devastating sociopathic playbook before discussing it all with Joe Walsh–former congressman, warrior for democracy,…
Donald Is Crashing the World Order [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:05
In the latest episode of "Shrinking Trump," hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel dissect the chaotic and dangerous trajectory of Donald Trump's economic and political turmoil. With 44 episodes under their belt, th…
Trump Has Oval Office MELTDOWN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:38
Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal take a close look at that disastrous meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office before turning to the big picture with George Conway, constitutional lawyer, political activist, an…
Shrinking The Global Repercussions Of The Trump-Musk Mayhem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:26
In this intense episode of Shrinking Trump, Dr. John Gartner, and Dr. Harry Siegel, unravel the layers of psychological complexities and political uncertainties stemming from the chaotic shenanigans of Donald Trump and E…
Trump wants to chop up Ukraine for parts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:49
Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal review the destruction of NATO, the betrayal of Ukraine, and discuss future elections with Joe Jacobson, founder and executive director of the Democratic SuperPAC Progress Action Fund…
Will the courts be Democracy’s last stand? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:05
Dr John Gartner and Dr Harry Segal cover the approaching threat to the rule of law with the help of their guest, Barbara McQuade, law professor at the University of Michigan and frequent legal commentator on MSNBC.Our si…