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.


Make sure you join us here on Patreon to support our work and gain access to exclusive perks: patreon.com/ReallyAmericanMedia

Our site: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/shrinking-trump 

Subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shrinking-trump/id1745797271

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xuuqHxzruLEsQXtTuJjP4

Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a101a15a-8b18-49c8-b556-c201aece30ee/shrinking-trump

Subscribe on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shrinking-trump-175213669/


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.

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
Post-Election Session: Facing the Unthinkable in Uncertain Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:03
Welcome to the session of Shrinking Trump we all need after a difficult week, where Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel address the aftermath of a surprising post-election landscape that has left many Americans grappli…
On the Edge of History: Shrink-Wrapping the Election Stakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:17:06
In our 27th episode, hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel are joined by Dr. Stefan Ducat, to dive into all the latest drama in the pivotal pre-election landscape, underlining the dramatic importance of the imminen…
Kamala Calls out Donald's Decline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:15:53
Welcome to another insightful session of Shrinking Trump, where Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel, along with special guest George Conway, dive into alarming new details of Donald Trump's cognitive decline, and the p…
Donald's Thought Disorder Has Become Psychotic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:11:25
In this 25th episode of Shrinking Trump, hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel are joined by psychologist Dr. Drew Westen to take a hard look at new evidence of the alarming cognitive decline of Donald Trump. Make…
Trump Chickens Out After Kamala Kills It On 60 Minutes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:05
Dr.’s John Gartner and Harry Siegel return for another important session of Shrinking Trump, where they detail more shocking signs of Donald Trump's cognitive decline, and illustrate just how far Trump has drifted from a…
He’s Incoherent - Trump’s Cognitive Decline Accelerates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:51
In this episode of, Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel are joined by George Conway to give you the latest on Jack Smith’s new damning indictment, and present new, clear evidence of Donald Trump's rapid cognitive decli…
Dementia is Not the Only Reason Donald Acts This Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:10
Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel dive into the alarming patterns behind Donald Trump’s increasingly apocalyptic language and what it signals about both his cognitive state and fascist inclinations. And special guest…
Trump's Pet-Eating Claims Will Cost Him The Election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:02
In today’s episode of Shrinking Trump, our hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel take a hard look at the symptoms of Trump’s worsening cognitive and psychological decline. And we’re joined by Arlie Russell Hochschi…