Speaking at the UN was one of many dangerous decisions Trump made last week
Shrinking Trump
Shrink Wrap: Zombie Democracy Framing
Final analysis framing American democratic hollowing (Orban-style) and the need for vigilance and civic action before midterms.
Your favorite shrinks, John Gartner and Harry Segal, begin their analysis of the week by watching Trump suffer through another terrible press conference by RFK, Jr. From not knowing how to say the generic name for Tylenol, to his claiming Cuba has no autistic children, Trump continues to make the kind of alarming mistakes everyone should be outraged about.
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The show opens by tracing a troubling arc in Donald Trump’s behavior: what began as calculated showmanship has hardened into an overt play for control. Traits of malignant narcissism—grandiosity, a craving for unwavering loyalty—and authoritarian impulses have grown more pronounced since his first term. Each lie, each institutional assault, speaks less to shrewd strategy than to a compulsive need to dominate the narrative and erode the checks that protect democratic life.
They turn next to a profound example of this dynamic: the political exploitation of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. In the wake of that tragedy, rhetoric designed to stifle dissent has surged, with shock and fear wielded as blunt instruments to tarnish any voice labeled “left.” By framing grief as a cover for condemnation, the Trump administration reveals a classic tactic of control—manufacturing crisis to justify a tightening grip on speech, dissent, and public debate.
But the most insidious move may be the deliberate consolidation of media power. Gartner and Siegel outline how conservative billionaires aligned with Trump have quietly scooped up news outlets and social platforms, twisting once-independent journalism into a mouthpiece for authoritarian propaganda. As independent investigative bodies shrink, echo chambers expand, and fact-based reporting gives way to curated spectacle, the foundation of informed consent begins to crack under the weight of concentrated influence.
Into this fractured media ecosystem steps Dr. Vince Greenwood, offering a psychopathy lens on Trump’s tactics. Greenwood underscores traits like impulsivity, emotional shallowness, and a glaring absence of remorse—qualities that have propelled Trump to outsized heights but also sow seeds of instability. He argues that these very characteristics, while enabling bold grabs for power, carry a predictable risk of self-sabotage. A misfired tweet, a rash decree or a scorched-earth feud could fracture alliances and expose the limits of unchecked authority.
That possibility, Gartner and Siegel stress, is no reason for complacency. Recognizing these cognitive warning signs isn’t idle armchair psychology—it’s a civic responsibility. When the machinery of fear, misinformation, and media monopoly begins to hum, the cure lies in active vigilance. Question the sources asking for your trust, demand accountability from outlets once deemed impartial, and refuse to accept spectacle in place of substance.
Ultimately, the path forward depends on our willingness to see beyond the performance. Shrinking Trump reminds us that every authoritarian playbook relies on confusion and emotional contagion. By sharpening our critical lens, cultivating honest conversations, and holding fast to democratic norms, we inoculate ourselves against manipulation. Tune in to this week’s episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows to arm yourself with the insights needed to push back and preserve the open society we all depend on.
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