The Imperial President Begins his First Week!

The Imperial President Begins his First Week!

Author: Really American Media January 31, 2025 Duration: 1:39:59

Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal review the norm-crashing first week of the Trump administration, before returning to the issue of authoritarianism with Dr. John Bone, professor and author of “The Great Decline,” a study of the historical and psychological forces contributing to the rapid new rise of the right.


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In this all-new episode, our hosts explore Trump’s rapid succession of executive actions, which they describe as a tactic designed to overwhelm the sensory processing capabilities of an entire nation. By inundating the public and political institutions with a relentless stream of outrageous initiatives, Trump's administration seeks to destabilize any opponents, leaving them grasping for time and unable to respond effectively.

We’ll draw parallels to past regimes and examine how Trump’s deliberate psychological warfare creates an atmosphere of chaos and fear. 

Professor John Bone of the University of Aberdeen joins the show to explain how chronic stress can impair our cognitive functions and make us more susceptible to emotions like fear and anger. This psychological state, Bone argues, is intentionally cultivated by Trump’s malignant narcissism—his drive for power unrestrained by norms or legal constraints.

We’ll also take a look at what role economic insecurities and cultural nostalgia plays in determining whether someone is more or less susceptible to Trump-style populism. 

Amidst the chaos, our hosts remind us that resilience lies in understanding these psychological dynamics and finding ways to counteract them. They emphasize the critical role of media and political figures to resist the reigning disinformation and fear. And they’ll better equip us all to handle the road ahead.

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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: 70

Shrinking Trump
Podcast Episodes
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