This Terrible Moment Before Trump Takes Power

This Terrible Moment Before Trump Takes Power

Author: Really American Media January 3, 2025 Duration: 1:29:20

Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal explore the anxiety surrounding what’s to come when Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Journalist and biographer Laurie Winer returns with her line on what this moment means politically and historically.


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As the New Year unfolds, our hosts consider what Trump's return to power means for democracy, and dive into Donald’s dangerous fantasies–from territorial expansion to increasingly bold threats.


Reflecting on the launch of our show last year, John and Harry renew their commitment to calling out Donald Trump's cognitive decline and severe personality disorders. We’ll also continue to assess MAGA’s sweeping effects on democracy, the press, and the emotional health of America’s public.


The Dr.’s discuss how Trump might be outsourcing decision-making to people like Elon Musk, who many consider a modern-day Rasputin. And they push back against the press for normalizing and downplaying the pair's dangerous behavior. 


Harry offers a cautious optimism for the year ahead, pointing out the sheer logistical and financial roadblocks that stand in the way of Trump's most extreme ideas, like mass deportations. While John and our guest Laurie Weiner warn us against the terrible dangers of complacency. 


Laurie shares eerie parallels with Germany's historic descent into fascism and urges vigilance against incremental normalization of Donald’s extreme authoritarian behaviors.


Our hosts also call upon our listeners to remain steadfast, by nurturing mental well-being and personal connections amid the chaos. We encourage folks to stay engaged and stay informed, because our collective awareness and actions are crucial for navigating the storm ahead. 


Be sure to join us next time as we continue to dissect the psychological and political challenges of this new era, like no one else can.

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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
Trump’s cognitive confusion continues! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:15
Your favorite clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, review Trump’s confusion over the Epstein debacle, sound the alarm about the firing of Colbert and the purchase of CBS, and discuss the implications of…
From Left Field, MAGA Starts to Crack! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:30
Your favorite clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, continue to sound the alarm about the judiciary while Trump is caught on camera stealing a soccer medal. Laurie Winer, journalist and historian, returns…
TRUMP’s Cognitive Decline is on Full Display [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:42
Your favorite shrinks, John Gartner and Harry Segal, look at Trump's meandering tour of the Cabinet Room while sounding the alarm on his encroachment on democracy. And as an added bonus, Harry actually sings! Be sure to…
A Deep Look at Trump's Cognitive Cracks and Courtroom Hacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:13
They’ve done it again. In our 57th episode of Shrinking Trump, clinical psychologists Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel unpack everything you thought you knew about Trump—and then some. It’s been a whirlwind week, wi…
The Doctors Analyze a Nation at a Crossroads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:26
In this all-new episode, Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Anahita Dua joins psychologists Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel to navigate today’s turbulent political landscape. Now on our 55th show, we pull no punc…
Trump might not salvage his big terrible bill with Musk opposing it [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:42
Your favorite psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, follow the big terrible bill and the Donald/Elon break-up, while looking at video proof of the strong-armed tactics of ICE’s masked enforcers. Also, journalist a…
Trump’s Tariffs and Attacks on Harvard are failing in the Courts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:11
Your favorite psychologists, Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal, return after a forced hiatus (watch the opening of the show for details) to dissect the growing pushback from the courts against Trump’s tariffs and his…
Trump’s International Assaults Get Push Back! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:04
Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal review Trump’s retreat on China tariffs, the legal obstacles to deportation, and the first American and (hopefully) Anti-Maga Pope. They are also joined by Dr. Rosalind Watts, t…
Trumpocalypse Now: Trump confuses reality with the movies! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:45
Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal return to the topic of Trump’s cognitive decline and malignant narcissism by interpreting his “decision” on Alcatraz as well as his oval office antics. They are joined by Rep. C…