Trump stumbles over Epstein while aiming at Chicago

Trump stumbles over Epstein while aiming at Chicago

Author: Really American Media September 12, 2025 Duration: 2:15:32

Your favorite psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, present “this week” in Trump’s power grab encouraged by the Supreme Court. They are joined by the great Andy Borowitz who brings his humor and insight to this dangerous moment in political history.


Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

Our site

Subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on Spotify

Subscribe on Amazon Music

Subscribe on iHeartRadio


Trump announced plans to seize control of the D.C. police, declared multiple states of emergency, and threatened to deploy troops in a city where violent crime has actually declined. Gartner and Segal argue these maneuvers aren’t about public safety at all but about manufacturing chaos in order to justify ever-greater power grabs.


When Trump set his sights on Baltimore, he twisted the city’s story of revitalization into a caricature of dysfunction. Coverage of neighborhood renewal, falling crime rates, and community-led solutions vanished beneath his fearmongering. Gartner and Segal contrast the real on-the-ground progress with Trump’s distorted narrative, showing how he weaponizes urban success to sow division.


This episode isn’t a partisan broadside so much as a civic call to psychological arms. Recognizing cognitive warning signs in our leaders isn’t a cheap political shot—it’s a crucial act of self-defense for democracy. By naming these stunts for what they may be—symptoms of mental strain—we sharpen our defenses against manipulation and reclaim our democratic norms.


Listen to Shrinking Trump on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. Equip yourself with the insight to see past the spectacle and 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: 70

Shrinking Trump
Podcast Episodes
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…
Trump is in trouble, even with his base! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:01
Psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal review “the week in Trump,” paying particular attention to Pam Bondi. They are joined again by Vince Greenwood, clinical psychologist and expert on psychopathy, who has new insi…