Will the courts be Democracy’s last stand?

Will the courts be Democracy’s last stand?

Author: Really American Media February 14, 2025 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.

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In this 40th, all-new riveting episode, our hosts analyze another tumultuous week of the Trump administration, headlined by the startling dystopian influence of Elon Musk. We’ll dissect all of the unsettling events that signal a perilous slope towards authoritarianism.

Our guest Barbara McQuaid, a renowned legal expert, joins the show to share her unique perspective on the ongoing constitutional battles and the fragility of our democracy.

We’ll start with a stark reflection on Trump's methodical dismantling of our democracy and discuss the psyche behind Donald’s severe personality disorder and progressing signs of dementia. Dr.’s Gartner and Siegel highlight how Donald's constant lies can have an effect of hypnosis, which is a tactic regularly deployed by authoritarians to instill chaos and fear.

The hosts liken Musk to a contemporary Darth Vader, who is asserting control over vast swathes of Trump’s empire. Donald’s "Hitlerian attack on democracy," as they posit, is only exacerbated by Musk's growing influence. 

Musk’s reckless spree through federal agencies with unchecked hypomania, they explain, is equally alarming to Trump's chaos. We’ll also take a look at the parallels between Musk and other destructive historical figures. 

The doctors caution our listeners to be aware of Elon’s sophisticated use of disinformation, which has too often proved to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Dr. Siegel, drawing on his unparalleled psychological insights, urges us to arm ourselves with consciousness and resilience.  

In this new world, Shrinking Trump continues to deliver messages of resilience and awareness, as we dissect the characters and narratives at play. Be sure to tune in next week as Trump’s unraveling saga continues.

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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
#Untruth: The Psychology of Trumpism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:41
In this episode of Shrinking Trump, Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel are joined by special guest Dr. Dan Partland to analyze the latest evidence of Trump’s cognitive decline. Dr. Parland tells us all about his new h…
Trump is SHRINKING before our eyes. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:31
In this all new episode of Shrinking Trump, hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel are joined by Veteran journalist and Trump expert David Cay Johnston to analyze the latest glaring symptoms of Donald Trump's cognit…
The Psy-Op against Trump Is Working [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:57
In this session of Shrinking Trump, our hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segel are joined by PhD-trained psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis to explore the latest evidence of Trump's rapid cognitive decline, and discuss h…
This is why the Press is FINALLY covering Donald's decline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:39
Hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal highlight Trump’s deteriorating language skills and verbal fluency, and Hafiz Rashid of The New Republic shares his insights on why the Press has finally started to cover Donald…
Conway's Anti-Psycho PAC is "getting inside his head" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:00
In this all-new episode of Shrinking Trump, our hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal are joined by author and expert psychotherapist Dr. Alissa Hirshfield-Flores to diagnose the intricate aspects of Donald Trump's…
Kamala Mania and the 'Weird' Campaign: Turning the Tables on Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:20
This week we are joined by the esteemed Dr. Diane Pomerantz and Anti-Psychopath PAC’s George Conway, as hosts Dr.’s John Gartner and Harry Siegel push forward with their mission to inform the public of Trump's dangerous…
Driving Trump crazy will destabilize and trigger him [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:31
George Conway, President of the all-new Anti-Psychopath PAC, joins the show to warn Americans about Donald Trump's increasing mental instability and discuss what it’s going to take to defeat him in November.Make sure you…
The Real Reason Why Donald Trump raised his fist after being shot at [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:54
Drs. Gartner and Segal are joined by clinical professor Justin Frank MD, who wrote "Trump on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President," who explains how Trump's grandiosity made him able to process the assassination a…
Biden Bounces Back: It's his stutter, NOT cognitive decline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:00
Drs. Gartner and Segal talk to Dr. Eric Jackson, Director of the Stuttering and Variability Lab at NYU who argues that a lot of what looked like cognitive decline in Biden’s debate performance was actually stuttering: a…
Post-debate analysis: We all need to take a breath [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:23
Hosts Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal are joined by geriatrician and dementia expert Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk to analyze Biden’s debate performance and determine what signs of dementia, if any, he actually displayed.…